OFFICIAL EXPLANATIONProject SC Butler: Day 237 Sentence Correction (SC1)
THE PROMPTEither stocks or bonds have advantages: stocks can increase in value and give investors more income over time, while bonds can not only provide predictable income but also are guarantees of the return of investors' principal.
THE OPTIONSQuote:
A) Either stocks or bonds have advantages: stocks can increase in value and give investors more income over time, while bonds can not only provide predictable income but also are guarantees of the return of investors' principal.
• meaning and logic error -
either is illogical
-- The first clause before the colon indicates that either stocks or bonds, but not both, have advantages.
-- What follows the colon, however, describes advantages of both types of investments.
-- The coordinating conjunction
either . . . or is an illogical connector
• parallelism error in
not only X but also Y--
not only marks the beginning of the parallel structure
-- the verb
are follows
but also. -- By contrast,
not only is flanked by and splits a helping and main verb. Not good.
Incorrect because the structures do not match: . . . can NOT ONLY provide ... BUT ALSO are ...
Corrected by moving the helping verb
can to put both verb words
after "not only":
. . . bonds
not only can provide .. .
but also are guarantees
ELIMINATE A
Quote:
B) Both stocks and bonds have advantages: stocks can increase in value and give investors more income over time, while bonds can not only provide predictable income but also guarantee the return of investors' principal.
• I see no errors
• parallelism is maintained by using the helping verb
can "once outside." See option C
Correct, can is once outside: ... bonds
can || not only provide ABC but also guarantee CDE
KEEP
Quote:
C) Both stocks have advantages and so do bonds: stocks can increase in value and give investors more income over time, while bonds not only can provide predictable income but also guarantee the return of investors' principal.
• In the idiomatic structure BOTH X AND Y, the X and Y elements must be parallel and are not
X = stocks have advantages → → noun-verb order
Y = so do bonds [have advantages] → → verb-noun order
ELIMINATE C
Quote:
D) Advantages are to be had from both stocks and bonds: stocks can increase in value and give investors more income over time, while bonds can not only provide predictable income but also guarantee the return of investors' principal.
• wow that intro is horrible.
Advantages are to be had is grammatical, but the phrasing is needlessly passive.
Compared to B? No contest.
ELIMINATE D
Quote:
E) Both stocks and bonds have advantages: stocks can increase in value and give investors more income over time, while bonds can not only provide predictable income but also can guarantee the return of investors' principal.
• parallelism is lacking. The elements are not parallel
X = can NOT ONLY provide
Y = BUT ALSO can guarantee
→ X and Y are not parallel. What follows Y [BUT ALSO helping verb main verb] does not follow X [helping verb NOT ONLY verb].
• the rule for split helping verbs such as
can (and for infinitives and prepositions) in the NOT ONLY X BUT ALSO Y structure is
once outside, twice inside. The words "not only" create the beginning boundary of the closed construction.
Correct,
can is
once outside: . . . bonds
can || not only provide ABC but also guarantee CDE||
Correct,
can is
twice inside: . . . bonds || not only
can provide ABC but also
can guarantee CDE ||
Wrong, once outside and once inside: . . . bonds
can || not only provide ABC but
can also guarantee CDE
ELIMINATE E
THE BEST ANSWER IS OPTION B.NOTES• COLONS are rarely tested on the GMAT, but just in case
1) whatever comes before the colon must be an independent clause (a sentence with a subject and verb that can stand alone)
2) whatever comes after the colon does not have to be an independent clause, and
3) whatever comes after the colon should expand upon the first part of the sentence
No option contains a colon error.
In option A, in fact, the colon indicates that the second part of the sentence should be logically connected to the first part.
COMMENTSSuryakumar and
h31337u , welcome to SC Butler.
We have a couple of "veterans" and "kinda veterans" as well; it is always good to see you all.
These explanations range from good to outstanding.
Regarding the latter, I'm impressed. Nice work.
Kudos to all.