Although it claims to delve into political issues, television can be

Yes, the placement is correct and the placement has a decisive impact on the verb (whether it would be singular or plural).

"Each of" placed before the subject takes a singular verb -

Correct. Each of the three major networks broadcasts. (singular verb)

"Each" placed after the subject does not have any bearing on the verb form -

Correct. The three major networks each broadcast. (plural verb)

People are confused about the right answer.

Though E is mentioned as OA in most of the posts, in my opinion E is structurally wrong.

A dependent clause (also known as subordinate clause) starts with a subordinator - it can be a subordinating conjunction ( as, if, although etc.) or a relative pronoun ( who, which etc.). However in a dependent clause if the subordinator is taken out, we MUST get a complete clause having the same structure as an Independent clause. e.g.,

As I see, this question is very confusing.
Dependent clause: As I see. ... if the subordinator "as" is taken out, we are left with "I see", which is a complete clause having the same structure as an Independent clause.

Now examine the depedent clause in option E:
..,as when the three major networks each broadcast...

Take out "as" - we are left with "when the three major networks each broadcast". We see that this part is again a dependent clause without a main clause to pair with and hence incomplete. Thus Option E is wrong.

Option B in that respect is better.

It is fairly easy to eliminate options B, C and D. So you are left with A and E.

While at first sight it may seem to be a choice between 'such as' and 'as', there's another factor here. It is the placement of the word 'each'.
In A, 'each' is the subject and it is singular. But the verb 'broadcast' is plural. So we have a subject verb error is A.
In E, the subject is 'networks' which is plural. This agrees with the plural verb 'broadcast'.

So E is the correct answer.

Rules for usage of each
1) If each is placed before a plural subject, the subject becomes singular and it should have a singular verb
2) If each is placed after a plural subject, the subject remains plural and it should have a plural verb

This question is testing the concept of using each before the subject and using each after the subject.

Each before the subject --> Makes the verb Singular.

Each after the subject --> Does not impact the form of the verb.

In this question, we have verb in plural form, so 1st form of each cannot be used.

(A) superficial such as when each of the three major networks --> OUT for reasons stated above.

(B) superficial, as can sometimes occur if all of the three major networks --> Changing the meaning and a bit awkward.

(C) superficial if the three major networks all --> "all" is problematic here. It should be if all the three major networks.

(D) superficial whenever each of the three major networks --> Same as A

(E) superficial, as when the three major networks each --> Correct 2nd form of each.

Can someone explain why "each of the three major networks" is singular, but "the three major networks each" are suddenly plural?

In "each of the three major networks", "each" is the subject (pronoun), representing one single network, hence singular. The phrase "of the three major networks" is a prepositional phrase modifier referring to pronoun "each".

In "the three major networks each", "The three major networks" is the subject and hence plural. Here "each" is an adverb referring to the verb "broadcast".

Hi AjiteshArun mcelroytutoring

I have doubt C vs E.


1. Doesn't if represents anytime, but when represents only at particular point of time. Is not C better with such a thought?
2. If in E, each can be corret, I think all in C should have no issues? Your comments.
3. I am not clear what as is doing in option E. Why not use simple structure in C . ( as when xx is not simple as compared to C). I am still not very clear why this construction is better than C.

Please suggest AjiteshArun mcelroytutoring

EducationAisle

The meaning conveyed in options B and C is that "if three major networks broadcast, then they are superficial". Only in that particular case they are superficial. In other cases they are not.

So how is the above meaning different from the meaning conveyed in "when".
"when they broadcast, television can be superficial".

Please share your 2 cents on the above and on the difference between "if" and "when".

Thanks

Hello krndatta,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, "when" is used to refer to points in time, and "if" is used to present conditional statements.

In this case, the use of "when" conveys that television can be superficial on those occasions when each of the three major networks broadcast exactly the same statement from a political candidate.

The use of "if" conveys that television can be superficial, should a certain hypothetical condition be met - that each of the three major networks broadcast exactly the same statement from a political candidate.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team

ExpertsGlobal5

So the meaning conveyed in the "if" sentence is that should the "if" condition be met, then Television would be superficial.

However, in the "when" part the meaning conveyed is that at those times the television would be superficial.
The original sentence follows the "when" meaning, hence we stick to that.

Am I correct in my reasoning?

Hello krndatta,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, your understanding here is, indeed, correct.

Kudos.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team

Can you explain the difference between If and When? Cannot understand the same and answer why B and C option choice is wrong?
GMATNinja

Consider these two examples:

1. "Tim can be mean, as when he hasn't eaten lunch."

In this context, "as when" introduces an example of when Tim can be mean. Tim could certainly be mean under a variety of other circumstances -- not eating lunch is just one example.

2. "Tim can be mean if he hasn't eaten lunch."

"If" is used for conditional statements. In this case, the condition is that Tim has not eaten lunch. If that condition is met (i.e. if Tim has not eaten lunch), then Tim might be mean.

There's nothing inherently wrong with this, but it does leave the reader wondering, "Well, what if Tim HAS eaten lunch? Is it impossible for him to be mean if his belly is full? Or can he also be mean if he HAS eaten lunch?"

Similar questions come up in choice (C). Does (C) imply that television can be superficial ONLY if the three major networks all broadcast exactly the same statement from a political candidate? Or can television be superficial under other circumstances too?

The meaning is clearer in choice (E): "as when" indicates that we're just getting an example. In other words, this isn't the ONLY circumstance in which television can be superficial.

(B) is confusing for similar reasons, and it has another subtle issue, thanks to the phrase "as can sometimes occur":

• The action "television can be superficial" isn't really something that occurs (or happens) -- it's just a change in potential. Before, television could NOT be superficial, and now it could be superficial.
• In contrast, being superficial is certainly something that can actually occur. For example: "Yesterday, while the networks were broadcasting the same stuff, television was superficial."
• But using "occurs" with "television can be superficial" is confusing because it leaves the reader wondering, "well, what actually occurred or happened?"Was television actually superficial? Or did television simply become able to be superficial?"

(B) and (C) don't really have any obvious grammar errors, and they don't violate any clear-cut rules about "if" vs "as when". (E) is simply a better answer because it's clearer: television can be superficial, and an example of that is when the three major networks broadcast the same stuff.

Those are some subtle meaning differences, and it's no wonder that so many people struggle with this question!

look at choice e.
we, non natives, are uneasy with " as when". I feel disppointed and I think I neve can write a sentence with this phrase.

some time, meaning analysis or logic help us not need to know grammar to solve the problem. but , honestly, non natives need good grammar to do.

come back to " as when".

I speak English in viet nam as in US.

in this sentense, "in us" work as adverb, which is parallel with adverb " in vietnam" to make comparison logical.

"as when" is strange phrase, I , non native, seldom meet. we have to know grammatical role of each phrase to use the phrase. "as when" is an adverb, and its role is similar to the role of " in US".

the television can be superficial FOR YOU as FOR ME
the television can be superficial NOW as AT THAT TIME
the television can be superficial NOW as WHEN THE THREE NETWORK EACH BROADCAST THE SAME THING

only when we understand the role of "as when...", we can accept it and be confident . the error of " all" in choice c is hard and the role of " as when" is also hard. both hard points make the sentence a 700 level.

we do need a strong grammar and we need the experts, most of them, natives, to explain grammar points.

Although it claims to delve into political issues, television can be superficial such as when each of the three major networks broadcast exactly the same statement from a political candidate.

Option Elimination -

This is a good question. Let's consolidate our learnings on basics first.
1. "such as" is typically used to share examples: a list of items or nouns
2. "as when" is used to describe situations or events. E.g., As when the storm arrived, everyone sought shelter.
3. One deception here is "can be," which can also be used in the "if X then Y" conditional. But we must remember that "if" conditional describes the hypothetical or uncertain condition. E.g., If the weather clears up, the outdoor event can be a success. In this sentence, we have an uncertain situation: "If the weather clears up," we don't know, and if it does, the condition can be fulfilled.
4. In our question, "can be" has been used to describe the general tendency. Television can be superficial, which means TV has the tendency or potential to be superficial; it is not conditional. E.g., The Chef can be creative in the kitchen. This means the Chef can be creative in the Kitchen without any conditional.

Option Elimination -

(A) superficial such as when each of the three major networks - "each" singular and "broadcast" plural. SV issue. We intended to use "as when" to describe the adverbial situation.

(B) superficial, as can sometimes occur if all of the three major networks - "as can sometimes occur" is redundant in the presence of "can be." There is no conditional here as in "if all of the three major networks broadcast," only "TV can be superficial." Here, we are describing a general tendency or a situation that "TV can be superficial," and we need "as when" to describe that situation.

GMAT uses deception under challenging questions. Here are some of the similar questions to make ourselves aware of some of the deceptions. The only mantra in such questions is "meaning." If we can spend time understanding the meaning, then we stand a chance to solve these questions successfully.
https://gmatclub.com/forum/as-criminal- ... l#p3293101
https://gmatclub.com/forum/not-only-did ... l#p3293065
https://gmatclub.com/forum/gone-are-the ... l#p3291266

(C) superficial if the three major networks all - This is a bit complicated.
If the three major networks all broadcast, TV can be superficial. ("All" can be singular when it refers to a group (All of the team is at the stadium), but "all" can be plural when it refers to individual members of the group (All of the team are wearing different jerseys.)). Here, "the three major networks all" is plural. "All" refers to the individual major networks, and the intent is to emphasize that each of them can take a specific action (broadcasting the same statement). So, in this context, "all" is used in a plural sense to indicate each network individually. There is no "grammatical" problem with this sentence. The challenge here is that it's not conditional. There is no uncertainty. TV can be superficial, and it just happens. We need to describe a situation when it happens.

(D) superficial whenever each of the three major networks - "each" singular and "broadcast" plural. SV issue. We use "whenever" to describe situations that occur repeatedly. E.g. Whenever she hears her favorite song on the radio, she can't help but dance. The word "whenever" introduces a recurring or conditional relationship between the event (hearing her favorite song) and her response (dancing). It conveys that her dancing is a reaction that occurs each time the specified condition (hearing the favorite song) is met.
But in our question, we don't mean to convert the general situation but a specific political situation. Of course, the three networks can show the same advertisements or the same series or movies. They don't become superficial every time they do something similar.

(E) superficial, as when the three major networks each - "TV can be superficial" intends to convey that TV has a tendency or potential to be superficial. And "as when" describes that situation. This is also adverbial and modifies the entire clause. "each" acts as a pronoun. It's an indefinite pronoun referring to every one of the three major networks individually.