Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
nightwing79 wrote:
Nobody knows exactly how many languages there are in the world, partly because of the difficulty of distinguishing between a language and the sub-languages or dialects within it, but those who have tried to count typically have found about five thousand.
(A) and the sub-languages or dialects within it, but those who have tried to count typically have found
(B) and the sub-languages or dialects within them, with those who have tried counting typically finding
(C) and the sub-languages or dialects within it, but those who have tried counting it typically find
(D) or the sub-languages or dialects within them, but those who tried to count them typically found
(E) or the sub-languages or dialects within them, with those who have tried to count typically finding
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that although it is difficult to distinguish between a language and the sub-languages or dialects within it, those who have tried to count have found about five thousand.
Concepts tested here: Tenses + Meaning + Pronouns + Verb Forms• The present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present.
• The simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature.
• The simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past.
• The infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb”) is preferred over the present participle (“verb+ing”) for referring to the purpose/intent of an action.
• “distinguish A from B” and “distinguish between A and B” are the only two correct usages of “distinguish”.
A: Correct. This answer choice correctly refers to the singular noun “language” with the singular pronoun “it”. Further, Option A uses the phrase "but those who have tried to count", conveying the intended meaning - that although it is difficult to distinguish between a language and the sub-languages or dialects within it, those who have tried to count have found about five thousand. Additionally, Option A correctly uses the present perfect tense verbs "have tried" and "have found" to refer to actions that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present. Besides, Option A correctly uses the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb” – “to + count” in this sentence) to refer to the intent behind the action “tried”. Moreover, Option A correctly uses the idiomatic construction “distinguish between A (“a language”) and B (“the sub-languages or dialects”)”.
B: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun “language” with the plural pronoun “them”. Further, Option B alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “with those who have tried “; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that it is difficult to distinguish between a language and the sub-languages or dialects within it,
and those who have tried to count have found about five thousand; the intended meaning is that
although it is difficult to distinguish between a language and the sub-languages or dialects within it, those who have tried to count have found about five thousand.
C: This answer choice incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb “find” to refer to an action that concluded in the past but continues to affect the present; please remember, the present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present, and the simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature. Further, Option C uses the present participle (“verb+ing” – “counting” in this sentence) to refer to the intent behind the action “tried”; please remember, the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb”) is preferred over the present participle (“verb+ing” – “counting” in this sentence) for referring to the purpose/intent of an action.
D: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun “language” with the plural pronoun “them”. Further, Option D incorrectly uses the simple past tense verb “tried” to refer to an action that concluded in the past but continues to affect the present; please remember, the present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present, and the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past. Moreover, Option D incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb “find” to refer to an action that concluded in the past but continues to affect the present; please remember, the present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present, and the simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature. Additionally, Option D incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “distinguish between A (“a language”) or B (“the sub-languages or dialects”)”; please remember, “distinguish A from B” and “distinguish between A and B” are the only two correct usages of “distinguish”.
E: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun “language” with the plural pronoun “them”. Further, Option E alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “with those who have tried “; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that it is difficult to distinguish between a language and the sub-languages or dialects within it,
and those who have tried to count have found about five thousand; the intended meaning is that
although it is difficult to distinguish between a language and the sub-languages or dialects within it, those who have tried to count have found about five thousand. Additionally, Option E incorrectly uses the present participle (“verb+ing” – “finding” in this sentence) to refer to an action that concluded in the past but continues to affect the present; please remember, the present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present. Besides, Option E incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “distinguish between A (“a language”) or B (“the sub-languages or dialects”)”; please remember, “distinguish A from B” and “distinguish between A and B” are the only two correct usages of “distinguish”.
Hence, A is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
To understand the concept of "Present Perfect Tense" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
To understand the concept of using "Infinitive Verb Forms" and "Present Participles" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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