Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 11:06 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 11:06
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
   1   2 
805+ Level|   Modifiers|      
User avatar
LakerFan24
User avatar
Joined: 26 Dec 2015
Last visit: 03 Apr 2018
Posts: 167
Own Kudos:
701
Given Kudos: 1
Location: United States (CA)
Concentration: Finance, Strategy
WE:Investment Banking (Finance: Venture Capital)
Posts: 167
Kudos: 701
Early medieval monasteries, while clearly less accessible to 14 Apr 2017, 09:59
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
chesstitans
LakerFan24
Why is "C" not the right answer? toward the latter end of the sentence, it says "served as repositories ...". Are we not comparing medieval monasteries with modern libraries by their capacity to "serve as repositories"? That's why I believed we need an "as does"

then the problem is which "as does modern libraries" modify. It seems the phrase modify the medieval monastery, so it should be next the the subject, not repositories

hope it clear
Show more

I agree with your point -- "as does modern library" should modify the medieval monastery, BUT A/C "A" is structured the exact same way. Therefore, if "C" commits this error, then "A" does too.

The only other issue I can find with "C" is "modern library" = singular, whereas "medieval monasteries" = plural. it would be better if both were parallel. That said, is this enough to counter the "like" vs. "as does"? I'm not entirely sold.

Any other explanations?
User avatar
sayantanc2k
User avatar
Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Last visit: 09 Dec 2022
Posts: 2,393
Own Kudos:
15,523
Given Kudos: 26
Location: Germany
Schools:
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V47
WE:Corporate Finance (Pharmaceuticals and Biotech)
Expert
Expert reply
Schools:
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V47
Posts: 2,393
Kudos: 15,523
Early medieval monasteries, while clearly less accessible to 15 Apr 2017, 15:53
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
LakerFan24
chesstitans
LakerFan24
Why is "C" not the right answer? toward the latter end of the sentence, it says "served as repositories ...". Are we not comparing medieval monasteries with modern libraries by their capacity to "serve as repositories"? That's why I believed we need an "as does"

then the problem is which "as does modern libraries" modify. It seems the phrase modify the medieval monastery, so it should be next the the subject, not repositories

hope it clear

I agree with your point -- "as does modern library" should modify the medieval monastery, BUT A/C "A" is structured the exact same way. Therefore, if "C" commits this error, then "A" does too.

The only other issue I can find with "C" is "modern library" = singular, whereas "medieval monasteries" = plural. it would be better if both were parallel. That said, is this enough to counter the "like" vs. "as does"? I'm not entirely sold.

Any other explanations?
Show more

In A, the noun modifier "like modern libraries" is misplaced. Since it refers to the noun "Early medieval monasteries", it should have been placed at the beginning of the sentence so that it touched the noun it refers to:

Like modern libraries, early medieval monasteries, while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts.

C is better because two verbs "served" and "does" are compared using "as". The singular plural mix is not really a problem - parallel clauses do not require that their subjects be both singular or both plural.

I believe in transparency as do all my friends... correct ( The parallel clauses have subjects "I" and "friends", one singular and the other plural).
User avatar
LakerFan24
User avatar
Joined: 26 Dec 2015
Last visit: 03 Apr 2018
Posts: 167
Own Kudos:
701
Given Kudos: 1
Location: United States (CA)
Concentration: Finance, Strategy
WE:Investment Banking (Finance: Venture Capital)
Posts: 167
Kudos: 701
Early medieval monasteries, while clearly less accessible to 15 Apr 2017, 17:47
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
In A, the noun modifier "like modern libraries" is misplaced. Since it refers to the noun "Early medieval monasteries", it should have been placed at the beginning of the sentence so that it touched the noun it refers to:

Like modern libraries, early medieval monasteries, while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts.

C is better because two verbs "served" and "does" are compared using "as". The singular plural mix is not really a problem - parallel clauses do not require that their subjects be both singular or both plural.

I believe in transparency as do all my friends... correct ( The parallel clauses have subjects "I" and "friends", one singular and the other plural).[/quote]

sayantanc2k Are you aware that OA is "A"? Or are you saying this is a flawed question?
avatar
dabhishek87
avatar
Joined: 19 Aug 2015
Last visit: 02 Oct 2017
Posts: 62
Own Kudos:
14
Given Kudos: 24
Location: India
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V30
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V30
Posts: 62
Kudos: 14
Early medieval monasteries, while clearly less accessible to 27 May 2017, 05:29
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Early medieval monasteries, while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts like modern libraries.

(A) while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts like modern libraries correct

(B) like modern libraries, often served as text repositories, though they were clearly less accessible to outsiders

(C) while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts as does the modern libary wrong comparison

(D) like modern libraries, while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts wrong modifier

(E) while clearly less accessible to outsiders, acted like modern libraries act by serving as repositories for texts should be acted as
User avatar
aaba
User avatar
Joined: 08 Jan 2018
Last visit: 20 Nov 2019
Posts: 165
Own Kudos:
1,024
Given Kudos: 332
Location: United States (ID)
Schools: UC Davis '20 Anderson '20 SMU '19
GPA: 3.33
WE:Accounting (Accounting)
Schools: UC Davis '20 Anderson '20 SMU '19
Posts: 165
Kudos: 1,024
Early medieval monasteries, while clearly less accessible to 04 Feb 2018, 20:58
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
the problem with C is that "library" needs a plural form to be parallel with "medieval monasteries".
User avatar
lary301254M7
User avatar
Joined: 28 Jan 2018
Last visit: 17 Apr 2023
Posts: 111
Own Kudos:
80
Given Kudos: 273
Location: Taiwan
GMAT 1: 690 Q47 V38
GPA: 3.34
GMAT 1: 690 Q47 V38
Posts: 111
Kudos: 80
Early medieval monasteries, while clearly less accessible to 10 Feb 2018, 01:46
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Early medieval monasteries, while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts like modern libraries.

(A) while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts like modern libraries

(B) like modern libraries, often served as text repositories, though they were clearly less accessible to outsiders

(C) while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts as does the modern library

(D) like modern libraries, while clearly less accessible to outsiders, often served as repositories for texts

(E) while clearly less accessible to outsiders, acted like modern libraries act by serving as repositories for texts

(B) & (D) are out right away because "while clearly less accessible" is misplaced.
Monasteries are less accessible; modern libraries are not less accessible, in fact, they should be more accessible.
This is the intended meaning of the sentence. Monasteries have similar functions modern libraries do, but monasteries were less accessible.

(C) is out because at the end of the sentence it changes to a singular library. It's comparing monasteries (a general term) to "the modern library" (a specific).

Between (A) and (E), (A) just seems better.
User avatar
dharam44
User avatar
Joined: 03 Nov 2018
Last visit: 19 Mar 2021
Posts: 71
Own Kudos:
151
Given Kudos: 209
Location: India
Schools: LBS '21
GMAT 1: 580 Q44 V28
GPA: 3.44
Schools: LBS '21
GMAT 1: 580 Q44 V28
Posts: 71
Kudos: 151
Early medieval monasteries, while clearly less accessible to 12 May 2020, 02:18
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
why c is incorrect ? GMATNinja generis
User avatar
gmat1102
User avatar
Joined: 12 Dec 2019
Last visit: 22 Oct 2021
Posts: 120
Own Kudos:
39
Given Kudos: 13
Location: India
Schools: LBS '24
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
Schools: LBS '24
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
Posts: 120
Kudos: 39
Early medieval monasteries, while clearly less accessible to 12 May 2020, 03:01
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
GMATNinja

Why is Option A correct.

Here the comparison is between how the 'Early medieval libraries' act v/s how do the modern libraries act.

So shouldn't this comparison be explicitly indicated by 'as' rather than 'like'
User avatar
CrackverbalGMAT
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 03 Oct 2013
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 4,844
Own Kudos:
8,945
 [1]
Given Kudos: 225
Affiliations: CrackVerbal
Location: India
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 4,844
Kudos: 8,945
 [1]
Early medieval monasteries, while clearly less accessible to 19 May 2020, 00:40
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
gmat1102
GMATNinja

Why is Option A correct.

Here the comparison is between how the 'Early medieval libraries' act v/s how do the modern libraries act.

So shouldn't this comparison be explicitly indicated by 'as' rather than 'like'
Show more

Hi

Let me try to answer your query.

"Like" is typically used to indicate similarity and is used preceding nouns. For eg:

John and Stuart, like their father Benjamin, are left handed.

Here, we communicate the idea that John and Stuart are similar to their father Benjamin in the fact that they are right handed.

"As", on the other hand, is used to indicate "the same". It is typically used before a clause. However, "as" can also be used to indicate roles or functions, in which case it can be used before a noun as well. For eg:

John works in an auto firm, as does Stuart. Here, we intend to communicate that John and Stuart are the same in the specific fact that both work for auto firms.
As your teacher, I must tell you about your weaknesses. Here, we communicate my role of a teacher and hence the use of "as" is justified.

Now, coming to the question under consideration, the idea being communicated clearly is that early monasteries are similar to modern libraries in that they "served as repositories for texts". Hence, "like" is the correct usage.

Hope this helps.
User avatar
VerbalBot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 01 Oct 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 18,829
Own Kudos:
986
Posts: 18,829
Kudos: 986
Early medieval monasteries, while clearly less accessible to 13 Oct 2023, 01:58
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
   1   2 
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7443 posts
GMATNinjaTwo
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
231 posts
miag
189 posts