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KaranB1

Thanks, Shraddha.

I see the use of the work likening. Likening can in other words be said comparing.

So, if we use the structure Likening x to y, compositions of X and Y don't have to be parallel?

egmat


Hey KaranB1,

"Likening X to Y" is not a comparison idiom that is bound by the rules of parallelism. In this structure, X and Y can be any entities. The structure presents the meaning very clearly.


Hope this helps. :-)
Thanks.
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KaranB1

Thanks, Shraddha.

I see the use of the work likening. Likening can in other words be said comparing.

So, if we use the structure Likening x to y, compositions of X and Y don't have to be parallel?

egmat


Hey KaranB1,

"Likening X to Y" is not a comparison idiom that is bound by the rules of parallelism. In this structure, X and Y can be any entities. The structure presents the meaning very clearly.


Hope this helps. :-)
Thanks.
Shraddha


Thanks, Shradhha.

Does GMAC or any reliable grammar book says Likening X to Y is not bound by rules of parallelism?

Please help me understand the logic or share the source of information you are referring to.
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KaranB1

Thanks, Shradhha.

Does GMAC or any reliable grammar book says Likening X to Y is not bound by rules of parallelism?

Please help me understand the logic or share the source of information you are referring to.


Hello KaranB1,


This word "likening" does not feature as the comparison expression either in OG or in any other GMAT SC book. The word "like" does, but not "likening" for the simple fact that it has been used as a modifier. This expression has been used to mean "equating".

I have been dealing with GMAT SC official questions for a decade now. I am sure that this expression is not bound by the rule of parallelism because it has been used as an action modifier.


Hope this helps. :-)
Thanks.
Shraddha
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KarishmaB GMATNinja

(D) likening it to a Greek statue with lipstick put on it
Can we reject D based on meaning?
Meaning - Comparing technique to a Greek Statue (more info about statue)
I think "IT" is not a deterministic error. First "it" refers to technique and second "it" refers to statue. Please let me know your thoughts.

(A) which they liken to putting lipstick on a Greek statue
Can you explain the sentence structure?
"Which" - Is it object of the dependent clause?

Thank for your time!
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KarishmaB GMATNinja

(D) likening it to a Greek statue with lipstick put on it
Can we reject D based on meaning?
Meaning - Comparing technique to a Greek Statue (more info about statue)
I think "IT" is not a deterministic error. First "it" refers to technique and second "it" refers to statue. Please let me know your thoughts.

(A) which they liken to putting lipstick on a Greek statue
Can you explain the sentence structure?
"Which" - Is it object of the dependent clause?

Thank for your time!



In (A) 'which' is a relative pronoun referring to "major works of art". It is the object of the verb 'liken'
If it were an independent clause, we would say
"They liken it to ..."
To make it a relative clause, we say "which they liken to..."

Yes, we eliminate (D) because it likens the technique to a Greek statue. We need to liken the technique to the process of putting lipstick on a Greek statue.

(E) is correct.
What do they liken to "putting lipstick on a Greek statue"? The technique.
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KarishmaB GMATNinja

(D) likening it to a Greek statue with lipstick put on it
Can we reject D based on meaning?
Meaning - Comparing technique to a Greek Statue (more info about statue)
I think "IT" is not a deterministic error. First "it" refers to technique and second "it" refers to statue. Please let me know your thoughts.

(A) which they liken to putting lipstick on a Greek statue
Can you explain the sentence structure?
"Which" - Is it object of the dependent clause?

Thank for your time!

Hello Sneha2021,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, you are correct; Option D features a faulty comparison, as you have described.

Further, in Option A "which" refers to "major works of art", which is, indeed, the object of the clause; remember, when “which” is preceded by a comma, it refers to the noun immediately before the comma.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
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KarishmaB ma'am,

,likening in options D and E is functioning as comma+verb-ing modifier.
What role is the verb-ing modifier performing in this sentence.

We eliminated D because Comma+verb-ing should make sense with the subject of the previous clause.
So in option D the meaning that is conveyed is that The technique is linking the technique to a Greek Statue. Hence, this is an illogical comparison.

In option E, the meaning that is conveyed is that The technique is linking the technique to putting lipstick on a Greek Statute.

Is my reasoning above correct?
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KarishmaB ma'am,

,likening in options D and E is functioning as comma+verb-ing modifier.
What role is the verb-ing modifier performing in this sentence.

We eliminated D because Comma+verb-ing should make sense with the subject of the previous clause.
So in option D the meaning that is conveyed is that The technique is linking the technique to a Greek Statue. Hence, this is an illogical comparison.

In option E, the meaning that is conveyed is that The technique is linking the technique to putting lipstick on a Greek Statute.

Is my reasoning above correct?

Option (E)
... many others contend that the technique degrades major works of art, likening it to putting lipstick on a Greek statue.

The -ing participle modifies the clause "many others contend that the tech degrades works". The modifier modifies the entire previous clause. It tells us how many others contend that the technique degrades. They contend by likening the technique to putting lipstick on a Greek statue.
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KarishmaB ma'am,

,likening in options D and E is functioning as comma+verb-ing modifier.
What role is the verb-ing modifier performing in this sentence.

We eliminated D because Comma+verb-ing should make sense with the subject of the previous clause.
So in option D the meaning that is conveyed is that The technique is linking the technique to a Greek Statue. Hence, this is an illogical comparison.

In option E, the meaning that is conveyed is that The technique is linking the technique to putting lipstick on a Greek Statute.

Is my reasoning above correct?

Hello krndatta,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, the "comma + present participle ("verb+ing" - "likening" in this sentence)" construction modifies the entirety of the preceding clause to provide more information about the main action of the clause; in this case, the clause is "many others...contend that the technique degrades major works of art"; so, the phrase "likening it..." conveys that "many others" make their contention about the technique by likening it to putting lipstick on a Greek statue.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
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