Some analysts warn that, if the projected expenditures for

Question

Some analysts warn that, if the projected expenditures for the social security administration over the next ten years prove to be accurate, the entire social security system  will have been and will continue to be  in danger of failing.

(A) will have been and will continue to be
(B) has been and will continue to be
(C) will continue, as it already has begun to be
(D) would continue to be
(E) will continue to be

amit2k9 · Accepted Answer

as the analysis turns out to be accurate, the prediction done in the 2nd clause will be true.

Now in Hypothetical subjunctive cases -

1. If Future ( then clause - definitive ) --- if clause (cause), will be clause (prediction/ effect).

If Obama made accurate policies,America will be transformed. E fits here perfectly, hence the OA.

2. If Future ( then clause - uncertain) --- if clause (cause), would be clause (prediction/effect) conditional clause
basically.

If Amit slept tonight,then he would be a rock star tomorrow at work.

3. If Past perfect ( then clause conditional perfect) -- if clause had verb+en , then clause (would + have)

If Amit had not slept for an entire week,he would have become an owl.

metallicafan · Answer

+1 E

Usually, when the "if" part of the sentence has a verb in simple present, you will need another verb in simple present or simple future. In this case, the GMAT is using "will" because the meaning of the sentence refers to the future.

In addition, E is more concise.

Onell · Answer

+1 for E. 1st conditionals.
For details regarding conditionals Please refer  https://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/conditional.htm

pesfunk · Answer

I am still confused between B and E.

Could someone please help me with....Why not B ?

Regards - Manish

GMATPill · Answer

Hi Manish,

(B) is wrong because of "has been"

With, (B) "has been and will continue to be"  
the sentence basically breaks down to:
"Some analysts warn that, if  , the system "has been..."

You cannot say "has been" because the conditional word "if" indicates something in the future. You can't jump back into the past with "has been."

On its, you could say "the system has been and continues to be XYZ"---but once you add the beginning with "some analysts warn" (present tense) along with the IF conditional word, then you can't jump back into the past.

Analysts warn that XYZ would continue
Analysts warn that XYZ will continue

but NOT: Analysts warn that XYZ was continued
NOT: Analysts warn that XYZ has been continued

Answer (E) has the simple answer:   "will continue to be" without getting unnecessarily complicated.

gmatpapa · Answer

I think the answer is D. "if" introduces a hypothetical conditional, so shouldn't the verb "would continue" be required here rather than "will continue" ?m

Also, i think there's a typo in the opening sentence: "some analysts warns that.." has S-V agreement problem.

sudhir18n · Answer

Hi Gmat papa..
Answer has to be D
For a second even I thought it was subjunctive, but its not. If....were/would.. ( contrary to fact) are subjunctives...this sentence doesnt intent such meaning.
 
 IF/Then... its conditional clause.. in this case.. 'if' must be followed by'Will'
Hope this helps.

Thanks
PS: Your are right on the typo 
If ..subjunctive

WaterFlowsUp · Answer

Bumping for review and further discussion*.

*New project from GMAT Club!!! Check HERE

Theory on Verb Tense, mood and voice erros: in-a-nutshell-independent-clause-and-dependent-clause-160401.html#p1270476

Bunuel · Answer

KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

The sentence includes a conditional clause (if/then, even though the then is implied) so focus on the verb tenses in that construction. Without needing to memorize the relevant rule, you probably know that if something happens, then something else will happen; the second verb will be in the future tense. Eliminate (D). Choices (A), (B), and (C) give you a verb in the future tense and an additional verb in the future perfect (will have been) or perfect tense (has been or has begun). These additions are unnecessary because continue to be already suggests that the social security system is in danger of failing. Therefore, (E) is the correct choice.

When you see conditional sentences or multiple verb tenses within a single sentence, pay particular attention to the tenses and determine whether they're correct.

Some analysts warn that, if the projected expenditures for

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Some analysts warn that, if the projected expenditures for

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