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605-655 Level|   Idioms/Diction/Redundancy|               
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Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United S 11 Mar 2021, 20:48
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Luckisnoexcuse


can anyone throw some light on the construct of option C & E

is the construction of C better is the only thing which makes it the right option or option E has some grammer/ly mistake?
I don't think there are grammar errors, exactly, in (E), but it's a little bit illogical. This doesn't happen a whole lot on the GMAT, but the comma warps the meaning in (E):

Quote:
Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United States since introducing it in the 1920s to thwart soil erosion, has overrun many houses and countless acres of roadside.

(C) that has grown rampant in the southern United States since it was introduced in the 1920s to thwart
(E) growing rampantly in the southern United States, since it was introduced in the 1920s to thwart
If we look very literally at (C), it's saying that the vine has grown rampant in the time since it was introduced in the 1920s. That makes perfect sense, and the word "since" is a reference to time.

But as soon as we put the comma before "since" in (E), the word "since" takes on a different meaning. The phrase "since it was introduced in the 1920s to thwart soil erosion" becomes a non-essential modifier -- and it seems to be giving us an explanation. "Since" now functions as a synonym for "because": "the vine growing rampantly in the southern US, because it was introduced to thwart erosion, has overrun..."

That's not quite what we're trying to say here: the vine hasn't grown rampant because it was introduced in the 1920s to thwart erosion -- it's just become rampant in the time since the 1920s.

Nasty and subtle, no? :(

For more on the "rampant" vs. "rampantly" issue, see my explanation above: https://gmatclub.com/forum/kudzu-an-asi ... l#p1854183


GMAT Ninja- Can you please explain to me one small b/w option B and option C?
Why is rampant the correct usage here?
Isn't rampantly (adverb) modifies the grown (verb) aptly? Is the use of Rampantly incorrect? The official guide comments that "The adverbial clause since it was introduced in the 1920s should not be set off from has grown rampantly, which it modifies" in option B? Can you please explain to me why there is a need for that? Is it an essential modifier? If yes, how do we come to know about it?

Cheers! And thank you in advance.
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You're absolutely right that rampantly seems logical here. That's not the problem with (B). The real issue is the way the meaning of "since" changes when it become part of a non-essential modifier. Consider an example:

    Tim has been screaming at his children since they put detergent in the pancake batter this morning.

In this example, "since" seems to function as a time stamp, telling us when Tim began screaming.

However, watch what happens if we put a comma before "since."

    Tim has been screaming at his children, since they put detergent in the pancake batter this morning.

Now, "Tim has been screaming at his children," is cut off from the "since" modifier by a comma, and the pause makes it sound as though "since" is functioning as a synonym for "because," telling us why Tim began screaming.

Either construction could work -- it's all context dependent.

Take another look at (B):

Quote:
Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United States, since it was introduced in the 1920s for thwarting soil erosion, has overrun many houses and countless acres of roadside.
Show more
Notice that this is more like the second example in which we have the initial clause set off from the "since" modifier with a comma. Again, the pause makes it seem as though "since" means "because," and is essentially telling why the first clause happened. But that meaning doesn't work here. The vine isn't growing out of control because it was introduced in the 20's. Rather it started growing out of control in the 20's. This is the meaning we get in (C), which has a construction similar to that of our first example above.

To summarize, because we want to communicate when the growth happened, and not why it happened, (C) is more logical than (B).

Takeaway: The rampant vs rampantly choice is a red herring in this question, and a good reminder that just because there is a difference between options, it doesn't mean that the difference is actually relevant, so make sure not to agonize too much over any supposed decision point. If one option is clearly superior to the other, use it. If not, look for other issues to attack.

Also, that comma thing is really, really subtle, and I can't think of many other official GMAT questions that torment test-takers over that particular issue. So don't lose too much sleep over it.

I hope that helps!
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Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United S 13 May 2021, 22:12
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Quote:
Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United States since introducing it in the 1920s to thwart soil erosion, has overrun many houses and countless acres of roadside.


(A) that has grown rampantly in the southern United States since introducing it in the 1920s to thwart
Show more
since introducing it: who introduced it? Reject

Quote:

(B) that has grown rampantly in the southern United States, since it was introduced in the 1920s for thwarting
Show more
",since" denotes the reason.
"Since" may be used either to show the passage of time or to introduce the reason. In this option, latter is the case. It changes the intended meaning. Incorrect
Quote:

(C) that has grown rampant in the southern United States since it was introduced in the 1920s to thwart
Show more
Use of since shows the passage of time. No grammatical error. We can keep it for now.

Quote:

(D) growing rampant in the southern United States since introducing it in the 1920s for thwarting
Show more
Same as (A). Discard
Quote:

(E) growing rampantly in the southern United States, since it was introduced in the 1920s to thwart
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Same as (B). Discard

Therefore, (C) is the most suited answer.

Please let me know if my approach, partly or wholly, is incorrect.
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Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United S 25 May 2021, 08:51
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Hello thereisaFire,
Thank you for reaching out through the PM. :-)

You said:

Quote:
Hi Shraddha,

I have one doubt on this question.

I want to confirm my logic for eliminating choice E. I eliminated it as it says "growing rampantly.....since it was introduced" and I think as we are using since as a time marker here, we need to use present perfect tense with it, whereas here it is not. Hence I eliminated option E.

Can you please confirm whether my reason to eliminate is correct.

Regards
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Yes, your reason to eliminate Choice E is correct indeed. The usage of "has grown" presents the action that has taken place over a long period of time. It does NOT present a feature of Kudzu or even an action that takes place habitually. But in Choice E, usage of "growing rampantly" presents a habitual action. It does not convey the sense presented by "has grown" in Choice A.


Hope this helps. :-)
Thanks.
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Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United S 13 Jun 2021, 03:44
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GMATNinja

You're absolutely right that rampantly seems logical here. That's not the problem with (B). The real issue is the way the meaning of "since" changes when it become part of a non-essential modifier. Consider an example:

    Tim has been screaming at his children since they put detergent in the pancake batter this morning.

In this example, "since" seems to function as a time stamp, telling us when Tim began screaming.

However, watch what happens if we put a comma before "since."

    Tim has been screaming at his children, since they put detergent in the pancake batter this morning.

Now, "Tim has been screaming at his children," is cut off from the "since" modifier by a comma, and the pause makes it sound as though "since" is functioning as a synonym for "because," telling us why Tim began screaming.

Either construction could work -- it's all context dependent.

Take another look at (B):

Quote:
Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United States, since it was introduced in the 1920s for thwarting soil erosion, has overrun many houses and countless acres of roadside.
Notice that this is more like the second example in which we have the initial clause set off from the "since" modifier with a comma. Again, the pause makes it seem as though "since" means "because," and is essentially telling why the first clause happened. But that meaning doesn't work here. The vine isn't growing out of control because it was introduced in the 20's. Rather it started growing out of control in the 20's. This is the meaning we get in (C), which has a construction similar to that of our first example above.

To summarize, because we want to communicate when the growth happened, and not why it happened, (C) is more logical than (B).

Takeaway: The rampant vs rampantly choice is a red herring in this question, and a good reminder that just because there is a difference between options, it doesn't mean that the difference is actually relevant, so make sure not to agonize too much over any supposed decision point. If one option is clearly superior to the other, use it. If not, look for other issues to attack.

Also, that comma thing is really, really subtle, and I can't think of many other official GMAT questions that torment test-takers over that particular issue. So don't lose too much sleep over it.

I hope that helps!
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Hi GMATNinja

I would like to know that comma(,) + since is always interpreting as 'because'? or it is more likely flexible depending on context?
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Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United S 31 Jul 2021, 08:33
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Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United States since introducing it in the 1920s to thwart soil erosion, has overrun many houses and countless acres of roadside.


(A) that has grown rampantly in the southern United States since introducing it in the 1920s to thwart

(B) that has grown rampantly in the southern United States, since it was introduced in the 1920s for thwarting

(C) that has grown rampant in the southern United States since it was introduced in the 1920s to thwart

(D) growing rampant in the southern United States since introducing it in the 1920s for thwarting

(E) growing rampantly in the southern United States, since it was introduced in the 1920s to thwart




Show Spoiler
https://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/27/us/a-fungus-to-kill-marijuana-has-environmentalists-wary.html

Kudzu, a Chinese vine that has grown rampant in the South since its introduction in the 1920's to thwart soil erosion, has swallowed houses and acres of roadside in Florida, as it grows a foot a day. Melaleuca trees, planted decades ago to help drain the Everglades because they suck up so much water, have infested hundreds of thousands of acres.
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Hi!
I have read somewhere that whenever we have verb, we need a subject too. In A introducing acts as verb but there is no subject. Now, in B and C too , "it was introduced" is there, where was introduced is verb but we don't have subject. How does this work? maybe there's a conceptual error. IanStewart GMATNinja avigutman DmitryFarber .
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Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United S 31 Jul 2021, 09:19
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Hi!
I have read somewhere that whenever we have verb, we need a subject too. In A introducing acts as verb but there is no subject. Now, in B and C too , "it was introduced" is there, where was introduced is verb but we don't have subject. How does this work? maybe there's a conceptual error. IanStewart GMATNinja avigutman DmitryFarber .
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"introducing" is not a verb. In general, words that end with "...ing" aren't verbs unless they have a helping verb in front of them.
For example:
The bird flying overhead is getting tired.
"flying" isn't a verb - it's just describing which bird I'm talking about.
"is getting" is a verb.
Note the word "is" in front of "getting". That's a helping verb.
"flying" doesn't have a helping verb in front of it.
In the next example, "is flying" is a verb:
The bird is flying overhead.
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Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United S 31 Jul 2021, 09:24
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pk6969


Hi!
I have read somewhere that whenever we have verb, we need a subject too. In A introducing acts as verb but there is no subject. Now, in B and C too , "it was introduced" is there, where was introduced is verb but we don't have subject. How does this work? maybe there's a conceptual error. IanStewart GMATNinja avigutman DmitryFarber .

"introducing" is not a verb. In general, words that end with "...ing" aren't verbs unless they have a helping verb in front of them.
For example:
The bird flying overhead is getting tired.
"flying" isn't a verb - it's just describing which bird I'm talking about.
"is getting" is a verb.
Note the word "is" in front of "getting". That's a helping verb.
"flying" doesn't have a helping verb in front of it.
In the next example, "is flying" is a verb:
The bird is flying overhead.
Show more

Hi! I know this distinction between participles, gerunds and verbs. Sorry, I was not clear in my question. I want to ask that should we always have subject when introducing the verb. Like in option C, it "was introduced" is the verb, but we don't have doer of action or who introduced it. So, is that okay? I have seen in many questions that when subject is missing , we tend to reject answer choice because it displays some sort of ambiguity. Thanks.
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Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United S 31 Jul 2021, 09:48
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In the phrase "since it was introduced", the subject is "it", which refers back to "kudzu". You're right to be a bit wary of that phrasing, because it's a passive construction, and most of the time active constructions are preferable to passive ones. But when it's really the object of the verb that is the main topic or focus of a sentence, then passive constructions can be preferable to active ones. So in this sentence, we really don't care who introduced kudzu, because that's not the point of the sentence. The sentence is trying to describe the effects the rampant growth of kudzu has had, so passive voice is fine here.

That said, if on the GMAT you see two answer choices that both look good, but one is passive and one is active, you'll probably be right nine times out of ten if you pick the active construction. "Timmy threw the ball" is much clearer writing than "The ball was thrown by Timmy."
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Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United S 18 Oct 2021, 11:50
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isn't E is wrong because it has no Independent clause?
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Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United S 18 Oct 2021, 23:38
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linuschoudhury
isn't E is wrong because it has no Independent clause?
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Hi linuschoudhury, E does have the following Independent clause:

Kudzu has overrun many houses and countless acres of roadside.
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Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United S 02 Jan 2022, 07:31
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it is true that when the word "since" is used after comma (Choice E), it means "because"??
please help
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Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United S 02 Jan 2022, 07:57
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I am confused between C & E.
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Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United S 02 Jan 2022, 08:08
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(C) that has grown rampant in the southern United States since it was introduced in the 1920s to thwart

the vine has grown is the perfect verb to show us the timeline of the events. It has grown until now (X) and now we have the following consequences (Y)

(E) growing rampantly in the southern United States, since it was introduced in the 1920s to thwart

1) the vine (at most ) IS growing...........growing alone means zero as verb

2) The comma has no sense, thereafter does the IT refer to US ??

ridiculous, we are dealing with the vine, not the US. The US is just the place/country/land/continent where all the phenomenon is happening NOW
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Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United S 08 Jan 2022, 08:29
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Elyazid
it is true that when the word "since" is used after comma (Choice E), it means "because"??
please help
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Check out our post about the usage of "comma + since" here. If you still have questions, let us know!
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Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United S 09 Jan 2022, 07:17
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Elyazid
it is true that when the word "since" is used after comma (Choice E), it means "because"??
please help
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Hello Elyazid,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your question, yes - the "comma + since" construction is a prepositional construction that carries the same meaning as "because".

We hope this helps.

All the best!
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Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United S 23 Nov 2022, 16:36
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Hi, can you please explain why we needed a that after Asian vine.. I had chosen E since it did not contain that :( why cant we go without a that in the sentence?
Can someone please help!!
The presence or absence of the word "that" is not a deciding factor on this question. There's nothing inherently wrong with the phrase "a vine that has grown" nor the phrase "a vine growing" -- it's just that (C) and (E) have different meanings, and that's the more important issue, as described here: https://gmatclub.com/forum/kudzu-an-asi ... l#p1930060.
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GMATNinja
Thank you sir for the explanation. I try not to miss your any explanation, but the problem is that when I read your explanation I try to find something different issues that make me just crazy. :lol:
Here is one important issue-->
Quote:
Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United States since introducing it in the 1920s to thwart soil erosion, has overrun many houses and countless acres of roadside.

(C) that has grown rampant in the southern United States since it was introduced in the 1920s to thwart
(E) growing rampantly in the southern United States, since it was introduced in the 1920s to thwart
Show more

So far I know that COMMA (punctuation) is NOT tested in GMAT. But, in this case (choice E) if we don't put any comma then the meaning is going to be changed. So, it seems that GMAC tests punctuation! Can I have your opinion, please?
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Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United S 06 Jun 2023, 15:55
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Is the use of the word "growing" in option D and E incorrect? Is it required in this context to be "has grown"?
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Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United S 21 Jul 2023, 02:48
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I am not able to make a decision on to thwart/for thwarting. After searching a lot on Google, I found to + verb is used to show the intent of the action, and for + verbing is used to show the reason or cause of the action. But I am not able to apply this here. Can you guys please explain in detail how to pick in this question, also a generalized method on how to pick the correct choice?
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Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United S 21 Jul 2023, 04:33
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I am not able to make a decision on to thwart/for thwarting. After searching a lot on Google, I found to + verb is used to show the intent of the action, and for + verbing is used to show the reason or cause of the action. But I am not able to apply this here. Can you guys please explain in detail how to pick in this question, also a generalized method on how to pick the correct choice?
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I think the posts on the first page of this thread make far too big a deal about the distinction between "to thwart" and "for thwarting" in this question. In a context like this one, they have the same meaning. That said, when you have the choice, absent idiom considerations it's usually better to use the "to verb" construction, and not the "for verbing" construction, and I'd expect the right answer to GMAT SC questions to observe that preference most of the time (as the correct answer does in this question).

The "to thwart" and "for thwarting" distinction is not the one to focus on here -- there are much more serious issues with the wrong answers that use "for thwarting". The comma in answer B is fatal; it makes "since" mean "because" (and then it's unclear what that 'since' phrase even modifies), and "since" here is supposed to mean "from the time", which is why it's followed by "the 1920s". And the "introducing it" in answer D makes it sound like the kudzu vine introduced some unnamed thing, which makes no sense; it was the vine that was introduced to the region by some unnamed people.
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Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United S 20 Aug 2023, 08:45
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can anyone throw some light on the construct of option C & E

is the construction of C better is the only thing which makes it the right option or option E has some grammer/ly mistake?
I don't think there are grammar errors, exactly, in (E), but it's a little bit illogical. This doesn't happen a whole lot on the GMAT, but the comma warps the meaning in (E):

Quote:
Kudzu, an Asian vine that has grown rampantly in the southern United States since introducing it in the 1920s to thwart soil erosion, has overrun many houses and countless acres of roadside.

(C) that has grown rampant in the southern United States since it was introduced in the 1920s to thwart
(E) growing rampantly in the southern United States, since it was introduced in the 1920s to thwart
If we look very literally at (C), it's saying that the vine has grown rampant in the time since it was introduced in the 1920s. That makes perfect sense, and the word "since" is a reference to time.

But as soon as we put the comma before "since" in (E), the word "since" takes on a different meaning. The phrase "since it was introduced in the 1920s to thwart soil erosion" becomes a non-essential modifier -- and it seems to be giving us an explanation. "Since" now functions as a synonym for "because": "the vine growing rampantly in the southern US, because it was introduced to thwart erosion, has overrun..."

That's not quite what we're trying to say here: the vine hasn't grown rampant because it was introduced in the 1920s to thwart erosion -- it's just become rampant in the time since the 1920s.

Nasty and subtle, no? :(

For more on the "rampant" vs. "rampantly" issue, see my explanation above: https://gmatclub.com/forum/kudzu-an-asi ... l#p1854183
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Hi, GMATNinja , KarishmaB , AjiteshArun

It was easy to eliminate rest of the options using ''to thwart/for thwarting and introducing it/it was introduced'' split.
But i find it tough to choose (C) over (D):

Would ''comma before since'' in option (E) be the only deciding factory here OR am i missing something?
Also, i am confused about the verb-form in non-essential modifier. Is it that, because the main-verb is in present-perfect the modifier too should be in present perfect?

(C) that has grown rampant in the southern United States since it was introduced in the 1920s to thwart
(E) growing rampantly in the southern United States, since it was introduced in the 1920s to thwart

Thanks
ASHUTOSH
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