Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 20:26 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 20:26
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
   1   2 
655-705 Level|   Parallelism|      
User avatar
sayantanc2k
User avatar
Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Last visit: 09 Dec 2022
Posts: 2,393
Own Kudos:
15,523
Given Kudos: 26
Location: Germany
Schools:
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V47
WE:Corporate Finance (Pharmaceuticals and Biotech)
Expert
Expert reply
Schools:
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V47
Posts: 2,393
Kudos: 15,523
Researchers have discovered a new species of sparrow that lives only 18 Jun 2016, 14:39
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Pri2506
sayantanc2k
Pri2506
E also exhibits parallelism. So, why not E?
B seems a little awkward.

Please help.

The idiom "different than" is wrong, correct form is "different from". Thus E is wrong.

If you could elaborate why B seems awkward, then we may discuss further on the specific issue.


Thank you so much, sayantanc2k. I had completely ignored the idiom structure there.

However, I have another question.
If option E had the correct idiom (different 'from'), then would that (option) have been correct?
Show more

Not quite. The phrase "that of" would still be required after "different from" in order to maintain parallelism in comparison.
avatar
anuj11
avatar
Joined: 19 Jan 2016
Last visit: 21 Apr 2018
Posts: 28
Own Kudos:
3
Given Kudos: 10
Posts: 28
Kudos: 3
Researchers have discovered a new species of sparrow that lives only 08 Oct 2016, 06:25
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Whats wrong with option D ?? i dont seem to get the parallel issue in D !
User avatar
sayantanc2k
User avatar
Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Last visit: 09 Dec 2022
Posts: 2,393
Own Kudos:
15,523
 [2]
Given Kudos: 26
Location: Germany
Schools:
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V47
WE:Corporate Finance (Pharmaceuticals and Biotech)
Expert
Expert reply
Schools:
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V47
Posts: 2,393
Kudos: 15,523
 [2]
Researchers have discovered a new species of sparrow that lives only 08 Oct 2016, 08:12
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
anuj11
Whats wrong with option D ?? i dont seem to get the parallel issue in D !
Show more

There are 3 modifiers for "a new species of sparrow":
1. "that lives only in cypress groves": relative clause
2. "almost wholly dependent ........... on cypress trees": phrase
3. "whose coloring is completely different...": relative clause

The second modifier is not a relative clause, but an adjective phrase... hence not parallel.
User avatar
PSP92
User avatar
Joined: 03 Sep 2018
Last visit: 13 Jun 2024
Posts: 97
Own Kudos:
26
Given Kudos: 300
Location: India
Schools: Darden '26 (II) Fuqua '26 (D) McCombs '26 (I)
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42
Schools: Darden '26 (II) Fuqua '26 (D) McCombs '26 (I)
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42
Posts: 97
Kudos: 26
Researchers have discovered a new species of sparrow that lives only 14 Jul 2021, 11:03
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
CrackVerbalGMAT
ugimba
Researchers have discovered a new species of sparrow that lives only in cypress groves, almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees and whose coloring is completely different from all other sparrows.


(A) that lives only in cypress groves, almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows in cypress trees and whose coloring is completely different from

(B) that lives only in cypress groves, is almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and has coloring completely different from that of

(C) living only in cypress groves, is almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and whose coloring is completely different from

(D) that lives only in cypress groves, almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and whose coloring is completely different from that of

(E) living only in cypress groves, depending almost wholly on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and having coloring completely different than


This question is part of the GMAT Club Sentence Correction : Parallelism" Revision Project.

This question is based on Parallelism, Comparison and Idiomatic Usage.

This question gives us a number of ways to eliminate options:
1. Parallelism – the sentence gives three descriptions of the new species of sparrow, so all three descriptions must be parallel in form. The three descriptions should be as follows: that lives only in cypress groves, that is almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees and that has coloring….

2. Comparison – if we look at the end of the sentence, we see the phrase “different from all other sparrows". To make the comparison parallel, we must identify what is being contrasted with what – is the coloring being compared to sparrows or is the coloring of the new species of sparrow being compared to the coloring of all other sparrows. The latter is more appropriate.

3. Idiomatic Usage – A vertical scan of the last part of the options shows us the choice between ‘different from’ and ‘different than’. The phrase “different from” is idiomatically appropriate.

Option A lacks parallelism - (A) that lives only in cypress groves, almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows in cypress trees and whose coloring is completely different from
In this option, the second description is in the form of a participle modifier and the second description is in the form of an adjective clause. As can be seen, the three descriptions are not parallel in structure to each other. To be parallel, all three descriptions must start with the relative pronoun ‘that’ followed by a verb + phrase.
This option also indicates that the comparison is between the coloring of the new species and all other sparrows. So, Option A can be eliminated.

In Option C, the error of comparison is repeated. Furthermore, this option also lacks parallelism. In this option, it is the first description that is in the form of a participle phrase, but the last description is not in the same form. So, Option C can also be eliminated.

Option D is almost identical to Option A, except that the error of comparison has been corrected in the option. However, the lack of parallelism is still present in this option. So, Option D can also be eliminated.

In Option E, the three descriptions are parallel in form to each other. However, this option contains an idiomatic error. The phrase “different than” is idiomatically inappropriate.

(B) that lives only in cypress groves, is almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and has coloring completely different from that of – In this option, the three descriptions are parallel in structure. The relative pronoun ‘that’ is not repeated but has been used once at the beginning. Thus, parallelism is maintained.
This option also contains the logical comparison between the coloring of the new species of sparrow and that of all other sparrows.
Therefore, B is the most appropriate option.

Jayanthi Kumar.
Show more
Hi CrackVerbalGMAT, GMATNinja , IanStewart
I have a doubt about usage of that and whose (As used in options A and D).
Can you please throw some light on when both the subordinators should be same and when they can be different in a parallel structure?
avatar
gmatBoy123456
avatar
Current Student
Joined: 02 Jun 2019
Last visit: 05 Oct 2022
Posts: 53
Own Kudos:
10
Given Kudos: 378
Location: India
Schools: Stanford '24 Kellogg '24 Anderson '24 (A$$$) Haas '24 (D) Sloan '24
GMAT 1: 770 Q50 V44
GPA: 3.56
Schools: Stanford '24 Kellogg '24 Anderson '24 (A$$$) Haas '24 (D) Sloan '24
GMAT 1: 770 Q50 V44
Posts: 53
Kudos: 10
Researchers have discovered a new species of sparrow that lives only 23 Oct 2021, 01:55
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi moderators/experts,

I am really confused between Option B and D in this qn:

22.Researchers have discovered a new species of sparrow that lives only in cypress groves, almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees and whose coloring is completely different from all other sparrows.
A.that lives only in cypress groves, almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees and whose coloring is completely different from
B.that lives only in cypress groves, is almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and has coloring completely different from that of
C.living only in cypress groves, is almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and whose coloring is completely different from
D.that lives only in cypress groves, almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and whose coloring is completely different from that of
E.living only in cypress groves, depending almost wholly on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and having coloring completely different than


I couldn’t eliminate D and I chose D. I read it as, species that lies in groves, dependent on berries growing on trees, and (species) whose colouring is ….


Do you need all three to be parallel. Isn’t dependent (food dependency) related to living in cypress trees?
avatar
Englishmaster
avatar
Joined: 22 Jun 2019
Last visit: 20 Aug 2022
Posts: 8
Given Kudos: 214
Location: Canada
Posts: 8
Kudos: 0
Researchers have discovered a new species of sparrow that lives only 13 Feb 2022, 21:04
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
blueseas
ugimba
Researchers have discovered a new species of sparrow that lives only in cypress groves, almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees and whose coloring is completely different from all other sparrows.

A) that lives only in cypress groves, almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows in cypress trees and whose coloring is completely different from

B) that lives only in cypress groves, is almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and has coloring completely different from that of

C) living only in cypress groves, is almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and whose coloring is completely different from

D) that lives only in cypress groves, almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and whose coloring is completely different from that of

E)living only in cypress groves, depending almost wholly on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and having coloring completely different than

can some one explain?

HERE IS OE

The original sentence intends to identify a sparrow by the fact that it lives in cypress groves, eats certain berries, and has certain coloring. All these facts about the sparrow must be presented in parallel form. However, in the original sentence, these facts are presented in different forms. We need to find a choice that presents them all in parallel fashion. Moreover, "whose coloring is different from all other sparrows" is incorrect. The sparrow's coloring is different from the coloring of other sparrows, not from the sparrows themselves. We need to find a choice that makes this clear.

(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.

(B) CORRECT. This choice remedies the parallelism issue: "lives only in...., is almost wholly... and has coloring..." The comparison issue is also remedied: "has coloring different from that of all other sparrows." The comparison is now logically drawn between the coloring of the new species and the coloring ("that") of other species.

(C) This answer choice remedies neither the parallelism issue ("living..., is almost..., and whose coloring") nor the illogical comparison (coloring and sparrows).

(D) While this answer choice remedies the comparison, the parallelism issue persists from the original sentence.

(E) This parallelism issue has been remedied in this answer choice, but the illogical comparison has not. In addition, the correct idiomatic expression is "different from," not "different than."
Show more

could you please explain why the use of "lives" is correct when "a new specieS" is present, isn't species plural?
User avatar
ExpertsGlobal5
User avatar
Experts' Global Representative
Joined: 10 Jul 2017
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 5,195
Own Kudos:
4,766
Given Kudos: 43
Location: India
GMAT Date: 11-01-2019
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 5,195
Kudos: 4,766
Researchers have discovered a new species of sparrow that lives only 14 Feb 2022, 06:54
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Englishmaster
blueseas
ugimba
Researchers have discovered a new species of sparrow that lives only in cypress groves, almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees and whose coloring is completely different from all other sparrows.

A) that lives only in cypress groves, almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows in cypress trees and whose coloring is completely different from

B) that lives only in cypress groves, is almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and has coloring completely different from that of

C) living only in cypress groves, is almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and whose coloring is completely different from

D) that lives only in cypress groves, almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and whose coloring is completely different from that of

E)living only in cypress groves, depending almost wholly on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and having coloring completely different than

can some one explain?

HERE IS OE

The original sentence intends to identify a sparrow by the fact that it lives in cypress groves, eats certain berries, and has certain coloring. All these facts about the sparrow must be presented in parallel form. However, in the original sentence, these facts are presented in different forms. We need to find a choice that presents them all in parallel fashion. Moreover, "whose coloring is different from all other sparrows" is incorrect. The sparrow's coloring is different from the coloring of other sparrows, not from the sparrows themselves. We need to find a choice that makes this clear.

(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.

(B) CORRECT. This choice remedies the parallelism issue: "lives only in...., is almost wholly... and has coloring..." The comparison issue is also remedied: "has coloring different from that of all other sparrows." The comparison is now logically drawn between the coloring of the new species and the coloring ("that") of other species.

(C) This answer choice remedies neither the parallelism issue ("living..., is almost..., and whose coloring") nor the illogical comparison (coloring and sparrows).

(D) While this answer choice remedies the comparison, the parallelism issue persists from the original sentence.

(E) This parallelism issue has been remedied in this answer choice, but the illogical comparison has not. In addition, the correct idiomatic expression is "different from," not "different than."

could you please explain why the use of "lives" is correct when "a new specieS" is present, isn't species plural?
Show more

Hello Englishmaster,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, "species" is both the plural and singular form of the word; we can tell that this question uses the singular "species" because it is referred to with the preposition "a".

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
avatar
Englishmaster
avatar
Joined: 22 Jun 2019
Last visit: 20 Aug 2022
Posts: 8
Given Kudos: 214
Location: Canada
Posts: 8
Kudos: 0
Researchers have discovered a new species of sparrow that lives only 14 Feb 2022, 17:45
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
To answer your query, "species" is both the plural and singular form of the word; we can tell that this question uses the singular "species" because it is referred to with the preposition "a".

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team[/quote]

You most certainly did! Did not realize the "a" new species; also, didn't know until now that species is both singular and plural! Thanks for your prompt answer :)
I don't have enough level to reply to you in the original thread.
User avatar
dbcoupie123
User avatar
Joined: 30 Jan 2022
Last visit: 22 May 2025
Posts: 39
Own Kudos:
8
 [1]
Given Kudos: 28
Location: Canada
Concentration: Finance
Schools: Yale '26 (A) Stern '26 (WL)
GMAT 1: 670 Q49 V32
GMAT 2: 690 Q46 V40
GMAT 3: 680 Q49 V34
GMAT 4: 710 Q48 V39
GPA: 3.7
WE:Operations (Finance: Investment Banking)
Schools: Yale '26 (A) Stern '26 (WL)
GMAT 4: 710 Q48 V39
Posts: 39
Kudos: 8
 [1]
Researchers have discovered a new species of sparrow that lives only 05 Feb 2023, 10:36
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
parallelism tying everything back to the subject itself (the bird)

that lives only in cypress groves, is almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and has coloring completely different from that of

Answer B
User avatar
austin316
User avatar
Joined: 07 Nov 2022
Last visit: 21 Jan 2025
Posts: 55
Own Kudos:
19
Given Kudos: 618
Location: India
Schools: IIM (I) ISB '27 (A)
GMAT Focus 1: 695 Q86 V82 DI86
GPA: 8.81
Schools: IIM (I) ISB '27 (A)
GMAT Focus 1: 695 Q86 V82 DI86
Posts: 55
Kudos: 19
Researchers have discovered a new species of sparrow that lives only 27 Jul 2023, 23:50
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi,

I have a question on option D.

D. that lives only in cypress groves, almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine that grows on cypress trees, and whose coloring is completely different from that of

Why can't we have the following parallel construction?
1. that lives only in cypress groves -
almost wholly dependent on the berries of a certain type of vine (absolute phrase modifying "lives")
that grows on cypress trees (relative clause, modifying "vine")

2. whose coloring is completely different from that of (relative clause like 1.)

Since the original sentence is constructed in a similar manner as D), why do we create three parallel items instead of two?

Thanks in advance.
   1   2 
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7443 posts
GMATNinjaTwo
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
231 posts
miag
189 posts