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505-555 Level|   Verb Tense/Form|                     
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PVOG
Hey guys, I just wanted to clarify something:

Am I correct in saying that the reason that A,B, and C are wrong is because the opening modifier is modifying "chief executive's plans", when in reality, it was the chief executive that did the action and NOT his plans?


Furthermore, am I correct in saying that the following sentence is grammatically correct? (I am asking this for my own understanding):

"The chief executive's plans are in jeopardy as a result of his error"

I ask because I want to clarify whether or not you CAN have a possessive pronoun even when the antecedent is NOT a noun (in this case it is a possessive noun). I just wanted to make sure that the issue with A, B, and C was nothing to do with the pronoun "his" (as according to MGMAT you can use a possessive pronoun with a possessive noun as its antecedent), but more to do with the opening modifier modifying the wrong thing (the plans instead of the chief executive himself).

Hello PVOG,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, your reasoning for eliminating A, B, and C is correct; in the “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun; this is one of the most frequently tested concepts on GMAT sentence correction.

To understand the concept of "Phrase Comma Subject" and "Subject Comma Phrase" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):



Further, the sentence "The chief executive's plans are in jeopardy as a result of his error." is correct; a possessive pronoun can be used when its antecedent is only present in the sentence as a possessive noun.

All the best!
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PVOG
Hey guys, I just wanted to clarify something:

Am I correct in saying that the reason that A,B, and C are wrong is because the opening modifier is modifying "chief executive's plans", when in reality, it was the chief executive that did the action and NOT his plans?


Furthermore, am I correct in saying that the following sentence is grammatically correct? (I am asking this for my own understanding):

"The chief executive's plans are in jeopardy as a result of his error"

I ask because I want to clarify whether or not you CAN have a possessive pronoun even when the antecedent is NOT a noun (in this case it is a possessive noun). I just wanted to make sure that the issue with A, B, and C was nothing to do with the pronoun "his" (as according to MGMAT you can use a possessive pronoun with a possessive noun as its antecedent), but more to do with the opening modifier modifying the wrong thing (the plans instead of the chief executive himself).
We attempted to address this point earlier in the thread -- check it out, and let us know if you still have questions!
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PVOG
"The chief executive's plans are in jeopardy as a result of his error"

I ask because I want to clarify whether or not you CAN have a possessive pronoun even when the antecedent is NOT a noun (in this case it is a possessive noun).
Hi PVOG,

Using his with chief executive's should be fine. As in, I'm not aware of any rule that would prevent us from using his in your example. In case you're thinking about the "a possessive noun can't be the antecedent for a subject or object pronoun" rule, that "rule" is a problematic one, at best, and we should try not to use it.

Quick recap:
1. Clinton's experience worked against her.Her is an object pronoun here.
is the same as
2. Clinton's experience worked against Clinton.

3. Clinton's experience ended up weakening her candidature.Her is a possessive pronoun here.
is the same as
4. Clinton's experience ended up weakening Clinton's candidature.

Some (very few!) people think that sentence 1 is not possible, but even they wouldn't have a problem with sentence 3.
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Hi I rejected D because I thought 'on' is required before Wednesday. Is it hardcore rule that we can skip 'on' before days or dates?

Thanks
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BansalT
Hi I rejected D because I thought 'on' is required before Wednesday. Is it hardcore rule that we can skip 'on' before days or dates?

Thanks

Hello BansalT,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, no; in most cases, prepositions are needed to refer to times and dates; the preposition can be omitted in certain cases, but this is not the preferred usage.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
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BansalT
Hi I rejected D because I thought 'on' is required before Wednesday. Is it hardcore rule that we can skip 'on' before days or dates?

Thanks

(A), (B) and (C) have serious issues with the opening modifier modifying not the executive but the plan. But it was the executive outlining the strategy so we are left with only options (D) and (E). Both are missing 'on.'
It's a style thing that is used commonly these days. Hence, reading quality current publications becomes necessary. If you do, you would realise that the big error is the modifier problem discussed above. The use of a preposition before a particular day is based on author's preference.
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BansalT
Hi I rejected D because I thought 'on' is required before Wednesday. Is it hardcore rule that we can skip 'on' before days or dates?

Thanks

I'm not totally seeing how a statement with "can" (as opposed to "must", etc) could be called a "hardcore rule".

In any case, yes, there are broad idiomatic uses for both forms.



Quote:
or dates?

Dates, too, can potentially appear with or without the preceding "on".

e.g.,
The first round of voting in Brazil's presidential contest will take place October 2.
The first round of voting in Brazil's presidential contest will take place on October 2.
Both of these sentences are ok.
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Hi DmitryFarber EducationAisle GMATNinja AjiteshArun GMATNinjaTwo GMATGuruNY ChiranjeevSingh AnishPassi RonTargetTestPrep KarishmaB


I keep reading (E) is wrong because (E) implies the plans themselves will cut the company's huge debt.

I disagree on this reasoning

Reason - the verb within the THAT modifier is a to-be verb [to-be verbs, describe the condition of the subject]

that are to cut the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12 billion in assets over the next 18 months

So its not the plans themselves THAT are going to to do the cutting (because the verb is are)

If (E) had instead said

(E-variant) that (are to) cut the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12 billion in assets over the next 18 months

Then I think you can say "PLANS themselves are cutting the company's huge debt

Thoughts ?

So i am not sure how to eliminate (e) over (d)
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^^ Maybe i am wrong. Maybe the usage of the to-be verb (in this case, Are) does imply the PLANS will do the cutting in the future tense. I am not sure :(

analogies
(d) Samantha announced plans to marry
(e) Samantha announced plans that are to marry
(e variant) Samantha announced plans that marry

I think (e-analogy) and (e-variant) BOTH give the impression that the PLANS are going to marry (in the future in the case of e) or Plans marry in general (in the case of e variant), instead of Samantha marrying next year.
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jabhatta2
^^ Maybe i am wrong. Maybe the usage of the to-be verb (in this case, Are) does imply the PLANS will do the cutting in the future tense.

analogies
(d) Samantha announced plans to marry
(e) Samantha announced plans that are to marry
(e variant) Samantha announced plans that marry

I think (e-analogy) and (e-variant) BOTH give the impression that the PLANS are going to marry (in the future in the case of e) or Plans marry in general (in the case of e variant), instead of Samantha marrying next year.

Hello jabhatta2,

We hope this finds you well.

To clarify, Option E does not change the meaning; D is simply superior to E because E is needlessly wordy.

Consider this sentence, "My plan is to get to the airport as early as I can."

This sentence clearly describes the content of the plan, not an action that the plan is meant to take.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
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jabhatta2
Hi DmitryFarber EducationAisle GMATNinja AjiteshArun GMATNinjaTwo GMATGuruNY ChiranjeevSingh AnishPassi RonTargetTestPrep KarishmaB


I keep reading (E) is wrong because (E) implies the plans themselves will cut the company's huge debt.

I disagree on this reasoning

Reason - the verb within the THAT modifier is a to-be verb [to-be verbs, describe the condition of the subject]

that are to cut the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12 billion in assets over the next 18 months

So its not the plans themselves THAT are going to to do the cutting (because the verb is are)

If (E) had instead said

(E-variant) that (are to) cut the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12 billion in assets over the next 18 months

Then I think you can say "PLANS themselves are cutting the company's huge debt

Thoughts ?

So i am not sure how to eliminate (e) over (d)


Consider the meaning - you want to achieve something - for that you make a plan of action.

I plan to win her back.
The aim of the plan is to win her back. 'How?' is not given here.

The plan is to travel to her city and convince her.
This is what the plan is - how it will be executed.

It is logical that 'to cut the company's huge debt' is the aim of the plan, not the execution. Hence, (D) makes sense.

Besides, "plans that are to cut the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12 billion in assets over the next 18 months" makes me a tad uncomfortable because we use the plural 'plans are' but then give only one course of action.

Something like the following would likely make more sense:
... plans are to cut the company's debt by selling assets and to increase the production by hiring more experienced people.

All in all, (D) makes much more sense.
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The Sentence starts with a modifier

"Outlining his strategy for nursing the.......", which can modify "executive's plans"

Eliminate A, B and C

In Option E


We simply need "announced ...to ......"

"to verb" is used to state intention, and here we are stating an intention

Usage of "that are" is wrong.

Eliminate E


Hence, D is correct answer
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daagh
If the problem is about using Wednesday barely without the preposition on, then I would say tht it is an accepted version all over American journalism and composition to use timelines without the proposition on. This choice also proves GMAT has taken it. Otherwise, D is the correct choice for reasons given by gmatdog

How could there is always post of Late Sir Daagh, which provides the specific answer to a non native speaker such as me. I owe him an immense gratitude for such a great help his work brings to me.
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EMPOWERgmatVerbal
Hello Everyone!

This is a great example of a GMAT question that focuses on active voice and wordiness! Let's take a closer look at the options, and highlight any major difference in orange:

Outlining his strategy for nursing the troubled conglomerate back to health, the chief executive's plans were announced on Wednesday for cutting the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12 billion in assets over the next 18 months.

(A) executive's plans were announced on Wednesday for cutting the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12billion in assets over the next 18 months
(B) executive's plans, which are to cut the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12 billion in assets over the next 18 months were announced on Wednesday
(C) executive's plans for cutting the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12 billion in assets over the next 18 months were announced on Wednesday
(D) executive announced plans Wednesday to cut the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12billion in assets over the next 18 months
(E) executive announced plans Wednesday that are to cut the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12billion in assets over the next 18 months

After a quick glance over the options, we have 2 key items to focus on:

1. executive's plans were announced / executive announced = Passive vs. Active Voice
2. for cutting / which are to cut / for cutting / to cut / that are to cut = Clarity & Wordiness


Let's start with #1 on our list because it will remove 2-3 options right away. Any time you're asked to choose between active or passive voice on the GMAT exam, you should always choose ACTIVE voice. Here is a short example to remind you about the difference:

The children put away their toys. --> ACTIVE VOICE (places the focus on the person doing the action)
The toys were put away by the children. --> PASSIVE VOICE (places the focus on the action being done by the person)

Let's check each option and rule out any that use passive voice:

(A) executive's plans were announced on Wednesday for cutting the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12billion in assets over the next 18 months
(B) executive's plans, which are to cut the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12 billion in assets over the next 18 months were announced on Wednesday
(C) executive's plans for cutting the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12 billion in assets over the next 18 months were announced on Wednesday
(D) executive announced plans Wednesday to cut the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12billion in assets over the next 18 months
(E) executive announced plans Wednesday that are to cut the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12billion in assets over the next 18 months

We can rule out options A, B, and C because they all use passive voice. They all place the focus on the action being done, rather than the person doing the action. They also cause confusion because they say that the executive's plans were announced, but it's not clear if he/she announced their own plans, or if someone else announced the plans on his/her behalf!

Now that we only have 2 options left to choose from, let's tackle #2 on our list: clarity & wordiness. For each option, we must make sure that they are written using the clearest and most concise language possible that still conveys the intended meaning:

(D) executive announced plans Wednesday to cut the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12billion in assets over the next 18 months
This is CORRECT! It uses active voice, and it also uses the most concise language to convey meaning. It's clear and to the point!

(E) executive announced plans Wednesday that are to cut the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12billion in assets over the next 18 months
This is INCORRECT because it's overly wordy. It's not necessary to say "that are to cut" when simply saying "to cut" will suffice.


There you have it - option D is our correct choice!


Don't study for the GMAT. Train for it.

I eliminated D because "plans Wednesday" did not sound right. Please help
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Can someone explain when all the omission of prepositions is allowed, as mentioned above?
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