Nups1324 wrote:
DmitryFarber wrote:
The GMAT would not make the correct answer hinge on a superficial difference such as "entertainment centers" vs. "centers of entertainment." Semicolon vs. comma is a clear rule; therefore, the answer must be E. (Did you like my semicolon?)
Hi
DmitryFarber Why is E better than A.? I mean why is the use of seeking right after the semi colon wrong.?
Is it because the part after semi colon should be an independent sentence? Seeking .... also seems like independent, doesn't it or am I missing something?
Tagging others just in case
GMATNinja VeritasKarishma AndrewN Thank you
Posted from my mobile deviceHello,
Nups1324. The part of the sentence that begins with
seeking is, in fact, a phrase, not a clause, so it certainly cannot be called an independent clause. It is not that such a phrase could not constitute an independent clause. Consider the following variant, for example:
Seeking sand, sun, and palm trees, rather than centers of entertainment, draws in more tourists each year than any other activity.The subject is the gerundive phrase, and
draws begins a predicate that helps to create an independent clause. Note, too, that even though there are three nouns following the gerund, the verb continues to be conjugated with
seeking: seeking draws in tourists, whether that entails one place or thing or several.
Of the answer choices, only (C) and (E) are grammatically viable. The first two use a phrase after a semicolon in a non-list format, while (D), by joining a second independent clause to a first with nothing more than a comma—i.e. without a conjunction—creates a comma splice.
I would move on from this one. Thank you, in any case, for bringing the question to my attention. If you have further questions, feel free to ask.
- Andrew
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