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505-555 (Easy)|   Meaning/Logical Predication|   Verb Tense/Form|                              
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Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthqua 09 Oct 2019, 15:25
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Asad
Asad
x2suresh
Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year were constructed in violation of the city's building code.


(A) Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year were

(B) Some buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake last year had been

(C) Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year have been

(D) Last year the earthquake destroyed or heavily damaged some buildings that have been

(E) Last year some of the buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake had been

Hi generis
If I take out Last year from choice E, and put it after "earthquake", will it be correct choice?

The new version:
(E) Last year some of the buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake Last year had been constructed in violation of the city's building code.
MartyTargetTestPrep, jennpt, AjiteshArun, ccooley, DmitryFarber, GMATNinja
Could you help me with the new version of E? I'm really getting stuck in the new version. Is the new version of E legit?
Thanks__
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For starters, it's not generally the best use of your time to invent new answer choices. The GMAT gives us five of them, and that's more than enough. :)

In this particular case, notice that your "new version" of (E) is almost identical to (B) -- the only difference is "some of the buildings" vs. "some buildings", and that doesn't seem terribly significant.

Answer choice (B) -- and the issue of where to place "last year" -- is discussed in detail here.

I hope that helps!
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Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthqua 17 Oct 2019, 02:58
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x2suresh
Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year were constructed in violation of the city's building code.


(A) Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year were

(B) Some buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake last year had been

(C) Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year have been

(D) Last year the earthquake destroyed or heavily damaged some buildings that have been

(E) Last year some of the buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake had been

Hi generis
If I take out Last year from choice E, and put it after "earthquake", will it be correct choice?

The new version:
(E) Last year some of the buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake Last year had been constructed in violation of the city's building code.

For starters, it's not generally the best use of your time to invent new answer choices. The GMAT gives us five of them, and that's more than enough. :)

In this particular case, notice that your "new version" of (E) is almost identical to (B) -- the only difference is "some of the buildings" vs. "some buildings", and that doesn't seem terribly significant.

Answer choice (B) -- and the issue of where to place "last year" -- is discussed in detail here.

I hope that helps!
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Quote:
(B) Some buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake last year had been constructed in violation of the city's building code.

(E) Last year some of the buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake had been constructed in violation of the city's building code.

The new version:
(E) Last year some of the buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake Last year had been constructed in violation of the city's building code.
Show more
GMATNinja
Sir,
In the meantime, I realize that there is meaning difference in choice B and E (new version). Actually, I did not find the 2 versions (choice B and my new version E) same/identical in their meaning! I'm sharing my understanding here.
In B, the subject is "some buildings", but in E (new version), the subject is "some" only.
In B, "that" is modifying "some buildings", but in E (new version), "that" is modifying only "buildings" not "some", I guess. In E ( new version), the meaning says that "buildings are going to be constructed that were destroyed!". How is it possible to construct a buildings that was destroyed? Is it possible in real life?
Or, am I missing anything in explaining my new version (E)?
Thanks__
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Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthqua 19 Oct 2019, 06:41
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Asad
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Asad

Hi generis
If I take out Last year from choice E, and put it after "earthquake", will it be correct choice?

The new version:
(E) Last year some of the buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake Last year had been constructed in violation of the city's building code.

For starters, it's not generally the best use of your time to invent new answer choices. The GMAT gives us five of them, and that's more than enough. :)

In this particular case, notice that your "new version" of (E) is almost identical to (B) -- the only difference is "some of the buildings" vs. "some buildings", and that doesn't seem terribly significant.

Answer choice (B) -- and the issue of where to place "last year" -- is discussed in detail here.

I hope that helps!

Quote:
(B) Some buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake last year had been constructed in violation of the city's building code.

(E) Last year some of the buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake had been constructed in violation of the city's building code.

The new version:
(E) Last year some of the buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake Last year had been constructed in violation of the city's building code.
GMATNinja
Sir,
In the meantime, I realize that there is meaning difference in choice B and E (new version). Actually, I did not find the 2 versions (choice B and my new version E) same/identical in their meaning! I'm sharing my understanding here.
In B, the subject is "some buildings", but in E (new version), the subject is "some" only.
In B, "that" is modifying "some buildings", but in E (new version), "that" is modifying only "buildings" not "some", I guess. In E ( new version), the meaning says that "buildings are going to be constructed that were destroyed!". How is it possible to construct a buildings that was destroyed? Is it possible in real life?
Or, am I missing anything in explaining my new version (E)?
Thanks__
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I'll say it again: obsessively analyzing modified versions of official questions really isn't the most productive use of your valuable study time.

Yes, there is a subtle difference between "some buildings..." and "some of the buildings...", but that difference isn't very important here. The past perfect ("had been constructed") tells us that the "construction" happened before anything was destroyed, but either option is fine from that perspective.
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Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthqua 21 Mar 2020, 05:26
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x2suresh
Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year were constructed in violation of the city's building code.


(A) Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year were

(B) Some buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake last year had been

(C) Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year have been

(D) Last year the earthquake destroyed or heavily damaged some buildings that have been

(E) Last year some of the buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake had been


Verbal Question of The Day: Day 54: Sentence Correction


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(A) Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year were - Wrong: 1) Meaning 2) Verb

(B) Some buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake last year had been - Correct

(C) Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year have been - Wrong: 1) Meaning 2) Verb

(D) Last year the earthquake destroyed or heavily damaged some buildings that have been - Wrong: 1) Verb

(E) Last year some of the buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake had been - Wrong: 1) Modifier
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Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthqua 13 May 2020, 02:46
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Quote:
Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year were constructed in violation of the city's building code.


(A) Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year were

(B) Some buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake last year had been

(C) Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year have been

(D) Last year the earthquake destroyed or heavily damaged some buildings that have been

(E) Last year some of the buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake had been
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So, can I say: choice A is wrong because of 'redundant issue' (apart from verb tense issue)?

Thanks__
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Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthqua 30 Jan 2021, 10:17
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x2suresh
Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year were constructed in violation of the city's building code.

A)Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year were
"destroyed and heavily damaged" is nonsensical. A thing cannot be destroyed and damaged at the same time.
B)Some buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake last year had been
"Last year" modifies "earthquake". "Had been constructed" indicates the point in time before "were destroyed". Makes sense.
C)Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year have been
Wrong for the same reason as A.
D)Last year the earthquake destroyed or heavly damaged some buildings that have been
"Have been constructed" means that the buildings still stand illogically neglecting the earthquake.
E) Last year some of the buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earth quake had been.
"that were destroyed..." is a modifier of "the buildings", making "Last year" a modifier of "had been constructed".
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I do not understand why option D is incorrect? Because if you see, if the buildings got constructed after the earthquake then they must be standing still in the present. And hence, use of have should be CORRECT.

Please some experts- can you help ? manhattan @e-gmat Magoosh
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Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthqua 30 Jan 2021, 15:14
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HumptyDumpty
x2suresh
Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year were constructed in violation of the city's building code.

A)Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year were
"destroyed and heavily damaged" is nonsensical. A thing cannot be destroyed and damaged at the same time.
B)Some buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake last year had been
"Last year" modifies "earthquake". "Had been constructed" indicates the point in time before "were destroyed". Makes sense.
C)Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year have been
Wrong for the same reason as A.
D)Last year the earthquake destroyed or heavly damaged some buildings that have been
"Have been constructed" means that the buildings still stand illogically neglecting the earthquake.
E) Last year some of the buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earth quake had been.
"that were destroyed..." is a modifier of "the buildings", making "Last year" a modifier of "had been constructed".


I do not understand why option D is incorrect? Because if you see, if the buildings got constructed after the earthquake then they must be standing still in the present. And hence, use of have should be CORRECT.

Please some experts- can you help ? manhattan @e-gmat Magoosh
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Those buildings have been destroyed or damaged. Their standing is not valid anymore.
We are talking of the buildings that have damaged which had been constructed

I hope it is clear.
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Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthqua 30 Jan 2021, 20:22
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If we wanted to say that the buildings had been reconstructed after the earthquake, we could say that, but there's no indication in any of the choices that this is the author's intent, and that would need to be made very clear. We can't construct buildings (for the first time) that have already been knocked down.
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Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthqua 28 Feb 2021, 05:09
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Hi ,
Kindly guide me with my query .


Main clause
Some buildings (s of main clause )

Sub clause
that(s of sub clause) were destroyed(v1)and heavily damaged(v1) in the earthquake last year

Main clause
have been(verb for main clause )
constructed in violation of the city's building code.



As per my understanding
IF (have been constructed in violation of the city's building code) falls under the Sub clause then the main clause will be devoid of verb .
IS my split of main and sub clause correct
How do i find were to stop with my sub clause

Some buildings(s)

At first i considered this entire () as my sub clause

( that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year have been)

constructed in violation of the city's building code.
ZIllions of thanks in advance
Suganya
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Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthqua 28 Feb 2021, 07:15
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Independent clause: Some buildings had been constructed in violation of the city's building code.

Dependent clause: that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake last year

You can watch our video on Independent & Dependent Clauses.

p.s. Our book EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana discusses Clauses, their application and examples in significant detail. If you or someone is interested, PM me your email-id; I can mail the corresponding section.
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Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthqua 28 Feb 2021, 18:16
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suganyam
You can tell the modifier is over because a new verb is introduced. I can say "The book (that I read) was good," but not "The book (that I read was good) is on the table." If I wanted to extend the modifier, I'd need to add some structure: "The book, which I read thoroughly and found surprisingly good, is now a bestseller."

Similarly, I can't say "Some buildings (that were destroyed and damaged have been constructed)," because there's nothing to connect "damaged" to "have been." I could say "Some buildings (that were destroyed and damaged and that were subsequently reconstructed) are now worth millions."
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Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthqua 17 Mar 2021, 09:17
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GMATNinja

How we know that the passage tends to mean buildings were constructed or destroyed first?

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Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthqua 20 Mar 2021, 08:13
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GMATNinja

How we know that the passage tends to mean buildings were constructed or destroyed first?

Posted from my mobile device
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I might be misunderstanding your question, but I think the simple answer is that it doesn't make sense for a building to be destroyed before it is even constructed!

A building could be destroyed WHILE it is being constructed or AFTER it has been constructed, but it can't actually be destroyed before construction. (Well, maybe it can in a metaphorical way. But in this case we are talking about an earthquake destroying actual buildings, so there's no need to overcomplicate things.)

I hope that helps a bit!
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Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthqua 11 Aug 2023, 14:14
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