Last visit was: 20 Nov 2025, 00:45 It is currently 20 Nov 2025, 00:45
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 
User avatar
AjiteshArun
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 15 Jul 2015
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 5,949
Own Kudos:
5,080
 [1]
Given Kudos: 732
Location: India
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q83 V90 DI83
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q83 V90 DI83
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Posts: 5,949
Kudos: 5,080
 [1]
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did 31 Mar 2020, 11:13
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Harsh2111s
Without noun also sentence is making sense. Didn't get you.

Why option B is incorrect ?
Show more
Hi Harsh2111s,

As mentioned in this post, the meaning we're looking for is ~"time spent in class". To attend doesn't convey that meaning.

Let's take a (rough) example:

1. He spent $10 playing...
2. He spent $10 to play...

(1) seems to say that he spent $10 during the activity of playing something. (2), however, seems to say that he spent $10 in order to play something (like a buy-in).
User avatar
NandishSS
User avatar
Joined: 06 Jan 2015
Last visit: 28 Jan 2021
Posts: 720
Own Kudos:
1,721
Given Kudos: 579
Location: India
Concentration: Operations, Finance
GPA: 3.35
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Posts: 720
Kudos: 1,721
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did 03 May 2020, 03:36
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did complaining about them, he would have been a good student.

(A) had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did complaining
(B) had spent half as much time to attend his classes as he did to complain
(C) were to spend as much time attending his classes as he does complaining
(D) were to spend half as much time attending his classes as complaining
(E) should spend half as much time attending his classes as to complain
Show more

HI GMATGuruNY, MentorTutoring , generis,

I'm bit confused with had/were when we have a conditional statement here and also attending/attend

Can you add your thoughts here :-)
avatar
AndrewN
avatar
Volunteer Expert
Joined: 16 May 2019
Last visit: 29 Mar 2025
Posts: 3,502
Own Kudos:
7,512
 [4]
Given Kudos: 500
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,502
Kudos: 7,512
 [4]
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did 03 May 2020, 08:18
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
NandishSS


HI GMATGuruNY, MentorTutoring , generis,

I'm bit confused with had/were when we have a conditional statement here and also attending/attend

Can you add your thoughts here :-)
Show more
Hello, NandishSS, and thank you for drawing my attention to this question. Concerning the first split you mentioned, it is appropriate to use had with a conditional statement in the past tense, when commenting on what could have been (as opposed to the actual outcome), while were is used in the present tense, as though projecting a potential outcome. Compare the following:

1) If Deion were to focus on one sport instead of two, he could be the best cornerback in the history of American football.

2) If Deion had focused on one sport instead of two, he could have been the best cornerback in the history of American football.

The above sentences shed some light on the second split as well, even if we are not dealing with an -ing conjugation of a verb. Notice in sentence 1 that the present conditional utilizes a were + [infinitive] construct. The past conditional in sentence 2 does not. The only way we could use an -ing construct in sentence 2 is if it included a past perfect had been focusing, but there is no compelling reason to do so over the version that already appears. In the sentence at hand, the non-underlined portion tells us that an outcome has already been reached. I will draw attention to the errors in usage. See if you can understand the logic behind my markings.

Bunuel
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did complaining about them, he would have been a good student.

(A) had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did complaining
(B) had spent half as much time to attend his classes as he did to complain
(C) were to spend as much time attending his classes as he does complaining
(D) were to spend half as much time attending his classes as complaining
(E) should spend half as much time attending his classes as to complain
Show more

I hope that helps. If something does not make sense in my color coding, feel free to ask about it.

- Andrew
User avatar
NandishSS
User avatar
Joined: 06 Jan 2015
Last visit: 28 Jan 2021
Posts: 720
Own Kudos:
1,721
Given Kudos: 579
Location: India
Concentration: Operations, Finance
GPA: 3.35
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Posts: 720
Kudos: 1,721
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did 03 May 2020, 19:39
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Thank you MentorTutoring (Andrew) for clear explanation :-)
User avatar
navderm
User avatar
Joined: 30 May 2019
Last visit: 26 May 2023
Posts: 152
Own Kudos:
31
Given Kudos: 331
Location: United States
Concentration: Technology, Strategy
GMAT 1: 700 Q49 V35
GPA: 3.6
GMAT 1: 700 Q49 V35
Posts: 152
Kudos: 31
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did 28 Jul 2020, 14:52
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
janadipesh
Other than awkwardness as mentioned in replies , any other reason to eliminate B
Show more

The construction doesn't make sense, "to -verb" isn't modifying as you'd expect. you would never write it this way.
User avatar
nkme2007
User avatar
Joined: 11 Mar 2012
Last visit: 14 Feb 2022
Posts: 175
Own Kudos:
60
Given Kudos: 103
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Operations
Schools: IIMB EPGP'22 (M)
GMAT 1: 670 Q50 V31
GPA: 4
WE:Project Management (Real Estate)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: IIMB EPGP'22 (M)
GMAT 1: 670 Q50 V31
Posts: 175
Kudos: 60
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did 28 Jul 2020, 19:23
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
daagh
Adi
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did complaining about them, he would have been a good student.

A. had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did complaining
B. had spent half as much time to attend his classes as he did to complain
C. were to spend as much time attending his classes as he does complaining
D. were to spend half as much time attending his classes as complaining
E. should spend half as much time attending his classes as to complain


C. were to spend as much time attending his classes as he does complaining
D. were to spend half as much time attending his classes as complaining

As far as I see, all the first four choices are essentially past subjunctive mood clauses. If you are asking why both the above choices are incorrect despite being subjunctive, then the answer lies in that, both of them flout the conditional norms.

Choices C and D are past subjunctive mood sentences as they talk about some unreal or impossible happenings that can not happen now, as the non-underlined part (would have been) points to a bygone event. However, the use of ‘would have been’ entails that the subordinate clause has to use a past perfect verb as - had spent - and not a simple past such as “were”. C is particularly more wrong as it says ‘as much time’ and not ‘half as much time’.

Show more

Thank You daagh, Sir. I was just looking for why D can be wrong.
avatar
VS1412
avatar
Joined: 03 Aug 2020
Last visit: 12 Sep 2021
Posts: 5
Own Kudos:
1
Posts: 5
Kudos: 1
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did 02 Sep 2020, 12:57
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Isn't this a subjunctive usage where the if clause should have were.
User avatar
MartyTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 24 Nov 2014
Last visit: 11 Aug 2023
Posts: 3,476
Own Kudos:
5,580
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1,430
Status:Chief Curriculum and Content Architect
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V51
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V51
Posts: 3,476
Kudos: 5,580
 [1]
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did 02 Sep 2020, 13:10
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
VS1412
Isn't this a subjunctive usage where the if clause should have were.
Show more
"Were" is used in sentences about the present.

The context clue "he would have been a good student" indicates that this sentence is about the past.

Thus, "were" is not called for.

When discussing hypothetical conditions in the past, we use the past perfect "had + participle," which is not exactly the past subjunctive but is essentially the past form of the subjunctive.

Thus, "if Charles had spent" is correct.
User avatar
himanshu0077
User avatar
Joined: 18 Mar 2021
Last visit: 21 Nov 2023
Posts: 39
Own Kudos:
2
Given Kudos: 151
GMAT 1: 680 Q50 V31
GMAT 1: 680 Q50 V31
Posts: 39
Kudos: 2
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did 03 Feb 2023, 05:03
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
GMATNinja
Shipra123
In this question ATTENDING is used as Verb+ing modifier or not? If yes then how it is modifying nearest noun that is TIME???
The word "attending" doesn't just modify the noun "time". In fact, it modifies the entire preceding clause. The -ing modifier tells us how Charles should have spent his time.

This is a little easier to see if we get rid of the conditional "if" for a moment: "Charles spent a lot of time attending classes." How did Charles spend a lot of time? Attending classes.

For more on -ing modifiers, check out this post.

I hope this helps!
Show more

But comma+verb-ing modify the action/ clause. IMHO there has to be comma before attending OR it can be "charles spent a lot of time in attending classes".
Please clarify where I am wrong.
Due Regards.
User avatar
ExpertsGlobal5
User avatar
Experts' Global Representative
Joined: 10 Jul 2017
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 5,198
Own Kudos:
4,768
 [1]
Given Kudos: 43
Location: India
GMAT Date: 11-01-2019
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 5,198
Kudos: 4,768
 [1]
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did 04 Feb 2023, 06:37
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
himanshu0077
GMATNinja
Shipra123
In this question ATTENDING is used as Verb+ing modifier or not? If yes then how it is modifying nearest noun that is TIME???
The word "attending" doesn't just modify the noun "time". In fact, it modifies the entire preceding clause. The -ing modifier tells us how Charles should have spent his time.

This is a little easier to see if we get rid of the conditional "if" for a moment: "Charles spent a lot of time attending classes." How did Charles spend a lot of time? Attending classes.

For more on -ing modifiers, check out this post.

I hope this helps!

But comma+verb-ing modify the action/ clause. IMHO there has to be comma before attending OR it can be "charles spent a lot of time in attending classes".
Please clarify where I am wrong.
Due Regards.
Show more

Hello himanshu0077,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, in some cases, present participles ("verb+ing") can actually serve as adverbs even without a comma, if an appropriate preposition can be applied.

For example, "He lost a lot of money (by) gambling."

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
User avatar
himanshu0077
User avatar
Joined: 18 Mar 2021
Last visit: 21 Nov 2023
Posts: 39
Own Kudos:
2
Given Kudos: 151
GMAT 1: 680 Q50 V31
GMAT 1: 680 Q50 V31
Posts: 39
Kudos: 2
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did 06 Feb 2023, 17:48
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Thanks for your explanation.
But my doubt is: What "attending his classes modify".
It appears as if its modifying "time" and the action without comma

Due Regards.
User avatar
ExpertsGlobal5
User avatar
Experts' Global Representative
Joined: 10 Jul 2017
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 5,198
Own Kudos:
4,768
Given Kudos: 43
Location: India
GMAT Date: 11-01-2019
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 5,198
Kudos: 4,768
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did 07 Feb 2023, 06:43
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
himanshu0077
Thanks for your explanation.
But my doubt is: What "attending his classes modify".
It appears as if its modifying "time" and the action without comma

Due Regards.
Show more

Hello himanshu0077,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, here "attending" modifies the verb phrase "spent his time".

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
User avatar
GMATNinja
User avatar
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 7,443
Own Kudos:
69,788
 [1]
Given Kudos: 2,060
Status: GMAT/GRE/LSAT tutors
Location: United States (CO)
GMAT 1: 780 Q51 V46
GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V170
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V170
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Posts: 7,443
Kudos: 69,788
 [1]
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did 22 Feb 2023, 11:57
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
himanshu0077
GMATNinja
Shipra123
In this question ATTENDING is used as Verb+ing modifier or not? If yes then how it is modifying nearest noun that is TIME???

The word "attending" doesn't just modify the noun "time". In fact, it modifies the entire preceding clause. The -ing modifier tells us how Charles should have spent his time.

This is a little easier to see if we get rid of the conditional "if" for a moment: "Charles spent a lot of time attending classes." How did Charles spend a lot of time? Attending classes.

For more on -ing modifiers, check out this post.

I hope this helps!

But comma+verb-ing modify the action/ clause. IMHO there has to be comma before attending OR it can be "charles spent a lot of time in attending classes".

Please clarify where I am wrong.

Due Regards.
Show more

Keep in mind that the GMAT is actually pretty lenient when it comes to comma usage. You always need a comma if you're connecting two independent clauses with a conjunction, but any other comma "rule" should be taken with a grain of salt.

In some cases, the comma helps to clarify the meaning. For example:

  • "Charles spent a lot of the money sitting on his couch." - Without a comma, "sitting" seems to modify the "money" -- money that was apparently sitting on Charles's couch.
  • "Charles spent a lot of the money, sitting on his couch." - The comma makes it clear that "sitting" should describe the clause, not the money. So now it's clear that Charles spent the money as he was sitting on his couch.

In the pair of examples above, the comma makes a huge difference. But is the comma as crucial in something like, "Charles spent a lot of time attending classes."?

In the first example above, it was reasonable enough to imagine a stack of money piled up on Charles's couch (i.e. "money sitting on his couch"). But can you imagine "time attending classes"? And if so, how does one "spend" this special type of time that can somehow go to class?

That interpretation doesn't make any sense, and the intended meaning (as described earlier in the thread) is perfectly clear and logical.

In other words: unlike in our last pair of examples, the reader doesn't NEED the comma to figure out what's going on, so the comma isn't really necessary.

If you see a comma + verb-ing modifier, there's a pretty good chance that the "-ing" modifies the preceding clause. Could the GMAT come up with some example that breaks this "rule"? Sure -- the GMAT loves to mock our so-called grammar rules, and there are disturbingly few rules that apply universally. Likewise, does the absence of the comma mean that the "-ing" modifies the preceding noun? Not necessarily.

In general, if you see something that seems to break a "rule", but the meaning is perfectly clear and logical, you should be conservative and look for other decision points.

I hope that helps!
User avatar
rsvelc
User avatar
Haas & Fuqua Moderator
Joined: 03 Nov 2021
Last visit: 30 May 2024
Posts: 53
Own Kudos:
42
Given Kudos: 113
Location: India
Schools: Anderson '26 (A) Fuqua '26 (D) Ross '26 (A) Haas '26 (D) Tuck '26 (D) Cornell '26 (A$$) Foster (A$$) Booth '26 (WL) Kellogg '26 (WA) Sloan '26 (D) Tepper '26 (A$$) Marshall '26 (A$)
GRE 1: Q170 V161
GRE 2: Q170 V164
GPA: 4
Schools: Anderson '26 (A) Fuqua '26 (D) Ross '26 (A) Haas '26 (D) Tuck '26 (D) Cornell '26 (A$$) Foster (A$$) Booth '26 (WL) Kellogg '26 (WA) Sloan '26 (D) Tepper '26 (A$$) Marshall '26 (A$)
GRE 1: Q170 V161
GRE 2: Q170 V164
Posts: 53
Kudos: 42
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did 27 Jul 2023, 00:54
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
GMATNinja
Shipra123
In this question ATTENDING is used as Verb+ing modifier or not? If yes then how it is modifying nearest noun that is TIME???
The word "attending" doesn't just modify the noun "time". In fact, it modifies the entire preceding clause. The -ing modifier tells us how Charles should have spent his time.

This is a little easier to see if we get rid of the conditional "if" for a moment: "Charles spent a lot of time attending classes." How did Charles spend a lot of time? Attending classes.

For more on -ing modifiers, check out this post.

I hope this helps!
Show more


Can you also please explain why "to + verb" cannot be used in this case?
When can we and when can we not use this "to+verb" form?
User avatar
NakulDiwakar10
User avatar
Joined: 14 Jun 2021
Last visit: 16 Nov 2025
Posts: 141
Own Kudos:
33
Given Kudos: 65
Location: India
Products:
My Reviews
Posts: 141
Kudos: 33
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did 31 Jul 2023, 06:19
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
AjiteshArun MartyTargetTestPrep can you please explain why b) is incorrect in detail
User avatar
AjiteshArun
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 15 Jul 2015
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 5,949
Own Kudos:
5,080
Given Kudos: 732
Location: India
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q83 V90 DI83
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q83 V90 DI83
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Posts: 5,949
Kudos: 5,080
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did 31 Jul 2023, 20:09
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
NakulDiwakar10
AjiteshArun MartyTargetTestPrep can you please explain why b) is incorrect in detail
Show more
Hi NakulDiwakar10,

We can take a meaning call here. First, let's take a somewhat similar example:

1. He earned a lot of money working as a hedge fund manager. ← This means that he earned a lot of money ~during the time he spent working as a hedge fund manager.

2. He earned a lot of money to work as a hedge fund manager. ← Because this to means "in order to", this version tells us that he earned a lot of money so that he could work as a hedge fund manager.

Take another look at options A and B:

A. If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes...

B. If Charles had spent half as much time to attend his classes...

We don't want to say that Charles spent time so that he could attend his classes. What we actually want to say is ~"if Charles had spent... time performing the action of attending his classes".
User avatar
GMATNinja
User avatar
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 7,443
Own Kudos:
69,788
Given Kudos: 2,060
Status: GMAT/GRE/LSAT tutors
Location: United States (CO)
GMAT 1: 780 Q51 V46
GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V170
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V170
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Posts: 7,443
Kudos: 69,788
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did 10 Aug 2023, 15:23
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
ramyasree0299
GMATNinja
Shipra123
In this question ATTENDING is used as Verb+ing modifier or not? If yes then how it is modifying nearest noun that is TIME???

The word "attending" doesn't just modify the noun "time". In fact, it modifies the entire preceding clause. The -ing modifier tells us how Charles should have spent his time.

This is a little easier to see if we get rid of the conditional "if" for a moment: "Charles spent a lot of time attending classes." How did Charles spend a lot of time? Attending classes.

For more on -ing modifiers, check out this post.

I hope this helps!

Can you also please explain why "to + verb" cannot be used in this case?

When can we and when can we not use this "to+verb" form?
Show more
Here are a couple of examples that might help:

  • "Charles attended class TO learn about physics."

Why did Charles attend class? To learn about physics. That makes sense.

  • "Charles spent time TO attend class."

Why did Charles spend time? To attend class?? That doesn't make sense.

In other words, the "to" suggests that Charles spent time in order to attend class, and that doesn't make any sense in this context. An "-ing" modifier is more appropriate in this case, as discussed this post.

That said, if you're trying to memorize some concrete rules governing "to + verb" vs "-ing" modifiers, you're barking up the wrong tree. The GMAT wants you to think about meaning and context -- that's hard work, and I'd be careful not to lean too heavily into "rules" that don't necessarily apply consistently on the GMAT.

I hope that helps a bit!
   1   2 
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7443 posts
GMATNinjaTwo
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
231 posts
miag
189 posts