OFFICIAL EXPLANATIONProject SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC1)
THE PROMPTQuote:
Results from numerous studies show that if a diabetic plans his or her diet and exercised with fellow diabetics, they will regain control quicker and stick to weight goals for a longer period of time than do someone who attempts to do so alone.
Issues• pronoun/noun agreement→ the subject
a diabetic is singular; the correct pronoun for the third person singular is
his or
her.The pronoun
they can stand only for plural nouns.
GMAC writers test this issue because they know that native speakers very often incorrectly say "they" when referring to a singular person.
Yes, using
his or
her is awkward.
But doing so is correct.This "his or her" problem is inherent in the English language. If the subject is a singular person, do not use "they."
• parallel verb tenses: exercises must be parallel to plans and thus in present tense→ the nonunderlined portion commits us to the present tense with the verb
plans.
The other verbs must be in present tense because the word
and between the first two verbs is a parallelism marker
(. . .that if a diabetic plans his or her diet and ______ with)
The word in the blank must be present tense (i.e., the word should be
exercises).
• quicker vs. more quicklyGet this one straight. GMAT tests this issue, too.
More quickly is an adverb that modifies the verb phrase
regain control.
Quicker is a comparative adjective that can describe
only a noun, never a verb:
→ Correct:
Jerry has a quicker temper than he used to have and often says strangely cruel things.→ Correct: Most professional athletes possess reflexes that are quicker than those of average people.
• subject/verb agreement:
someone is singular. If a verb is used, it should be
does, not
do.
THE OPTIONSQuote:
A) exercised with fellow diabetics, they will regain control quicker and stick to weight goals for a longer period of time than do
•
exercised should be
exercises in order to be parallel with
plans• the singular subject
a diabetic does not agree with the plural pronoun
they•
quicker should be
more quickly in order to modify the verb phrase
regain control• the verb
do should be
does, this way:
... than does someone who attempts to do so alone.ELIMINATE A
Quote:
B) exercises with fellow diabetics, he or she regains control more quickly and sticks to weight goals for a longer period of time than
• I do not see any errors
•
exercises is parallel to
plans• "he or she" agrees with the singular subject
a diabetic•
more quickly correctly modifies
regains control• what about the fact that this option contains no
does?
That fact does not matter.
The sentence is not ambiguous. We understand the comparison: a diabetic who has support is compared to a diabetic without support
Do not waste precious time trying to decide whether the verb
does is required in what would be ellipsis and substitution.
That issue is among the most difficult in sentence correction.
Read and compare the other options.
KEEP B
Quote:
C) exercises with fellow diabetics, they regain control quicker and stick to weight goals for a longer period of time than does
• as is the case in option A,
they is incorrect
• also as is the case in option A,
quicker should be
more quicklyELIMINATE C
Quote:
D) exercised with fellow diabetics, he or she had regained control more quickly and had stuck to weight goals for a longer period of time than
•
exercised should be
exercises to be parallel with
plans•
had regained and
had stuck are sequentially illogical
→ HAD + past participle (verbED), called "past perfect," is used to indicate the
earlier of two events in the past
→ the diabetic had not regained control and stuck to weight goals
before she planned her diet and exercised with friends, but rather after the diet and exercise.
ELIMINATE D
Quote:
E) exercises with fellow diabetics, he or she will regain control quicker and stick to weight goals for a longer period of time than
•
quicker should be
more quickly• ignore the verb tense issue
→ is this a zero conditional? (IF simple present, THEN simple present)
→ or is this a Type 1 conditional? (IF simple present, THEN simple future)
The answer does not matter.You have your error in the word
quicker.
(If you were to push me, I'd say that all of the verbs should be used in the present tense because this sentence seems to be describing a general truth in which both the condition (the IF) clause and the result (the THEN) clause are rendered in simple present.
ELIMINATE E
The correct answer is B.
COMMENTSI must keep this part brief.
These answers range from very good to excellent.
Answers with explanations get kudos.
Keep up the good work.