Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 03:27 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 03:27
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 
Sub 505 Level|   Clauses|                  
User avatar
manhasnoname
User avatar
Joined: 21 Apr 2016
Last visit: 03 Feb 2025
Posts: 138
Own Kudos:
74
 [1]
Given Kudos: 79
Products:
My Reviews
Posts: 138
Kudos: 74
 [1]
The period when the great painted caves at Lascaux and Altamira were 02 Nov 2016, 16:04
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mikemcgarry,

"This is one of the few that leaves me a bit queasy"

In the quote above, I think the highlighted portion is a typo, but please correct me if I'm wrong. Shouldn't that be "leave" plural verb.?

I know this is 180 to the discussion, but very tempted to ask.
User avatar
mikemcgarry
User avatar
Magoosh GMAT Instructor
Joined: 28 Dec 2011
Last visit: 06 Aug 2018
Posts: 4,479
Own Kudos:
30,534
 [1]
Given Kudos: 130
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 4,479
Kudos: 30,534
 [1]
The period when the great painted caves at Lascaux and Altamira were 03 Nov 2016, 10:08
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
manhasnoname
mikemcgarry,

"This is one of the few that leaves me a bit queasy"

In the quote above, I think the highlighted portion is a typo, but please correct me if I'm wrong. Shouldn't that be "leave" plural verb.?

I know this is 180 to the discussion, but very tempted to ask.
Show more
Dear manhasnoname,

Good catch! Yes, you are perfectly correct. When I was writing it quickly, I was thinking of a "vital noun modifier" construction, but that doesn't withstand logical analysis. Of course, it's the few that bother me, not simply this one in isolation. A very perceptive catch. I corrected this mistake in the post above. Thanks!

Mike :-)
User avatar
PathFinder007
User avatar
Joined: 10 Mar 2014
Last visit: 21 Oct 2018
Posts: 129
Own Kudos:
733
Given Kudos: 13
Posts: 129
Kudos: 733
The period when the great painted caves at Lascaux and Altamira were 05 Mar 2017, 23:37
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi Experts,

Could you please provide your comments for subject-verb issue. what is the subject for second clause is it reason or the clause (What is much more difficult to determine)

Please clarify.
Thanks
User avatar
sayantanc2k
User avatar
Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Last visit: 09 Dec 2022
Posts: 2,393
Own Kudos:
15,523
 [1]
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
 [1]
The period when the great painted caves at Lascaux and Altamira were 06 Mar 2017, 11:33
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
PathFinder007
Hi Experts,

Could you please provide your comments for subject-verb issue. what is the subject for second clause is it reason or the clause (What is much more difficult to determine)

Please clarify.
Thanks
Show more

The subject is "what is much more difficult to determine", and therefore singular verb "is" is correct.
User avatar
vijaisingh2001
User avatar
Joined: 17 Aug 2015
Last visit: 16 May 2020
Posts: 55
Own Kudos:
103
Given Kudos: 834
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V29
Products:
My Reviews
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V29
Posts: 55
Kudos: 103
The period when the great painted caves at Lascaux and Altamira were 21 Mar 2017, 19:49
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The period when the great painted caves at Lascaux and Altamira were occupied by Upper Paleolithic people has been established by carbon-14 dating，but what is much more difficult to determine are the reason for their decoration，the use to which primitive people put the caves，and the meaning of the magnificently depicted animals．


first sentence the subject is - period- verb has is correct


second clause starting with but- subject is - what is much more difficult to determine- the entire phrase so verb are is wrong as phrase is always singular
avatar
daviddaviddavid
avatar
Joined: 26 Mar 2017
Last visit: 20 Jul 2017
Posts: 58
Own Kudos:
265
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 58
Kudos: 265
The period when the great painted caves at Lascaux and Altamira were 09 Jun 2017, 01:35
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
(A) has been established by carbon-14 dating，but what is much more difficult to determine are
(B) has been established by carbon-14 dating，but what is much more difficult to determine is
(C) have been established by carbon-14 dating，but what is much more difficult to determine is
(D) have been established by carbon-14 dating，but what is much more difficult to determine are
(E) are established by carbon-14 dating，but that which is much more difficult to determine is
avatar
mba757
avatar
Current Student
Joined: 15 Jun 2020
Last visit: 04 Aug 2022
Posts: 305
Own Kudos:
94
Given Kudos: 245
Location: United States
Schools: Darden '24 (A) Fuqua '24 (WL) Kellogg '24 (D)
GPA: 3.3
Schools: Darden '24 (A) Fuqua '24 (WL) Kellogg '24 (D)
Posts: 305
Kudos: 94
The period when the great painted caves at Lascaux and Altamira were 19 Dec 2020, 16:54
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
A. has been established by carbon dating, but what is much more difficult to determine are
(1) SV agreement: “….what is much more difficult to determine IS the use…” relative clause is the subject

B. have been established by carbon dating, but what is much more difficult to determine are
(1) SV agreement: “The period….have been….” – the when-clause is a super long modifier of “period”

C. have been established by carbon dating, but that which is much more difficult to determine is
(1) SV agreement: “The period….have been….” – the when-clause is a super long modifier of “period”

D. has been established by carbon dating, but what is much more difficult to determine is
correct

E. are established by carbon dating, but that which is much more difficult to determine is
(1) SV agreement: “The period….are been….” – the when-clause is a super long modifier of “period”
User avatar
Romil042
User avatar
Joined: 26 Dec 2019
Last visit: 18 Sep 2022
Posts: 57
Own Kudos:
27
Given Kudos: 112
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Operations
Schools: Schulich Jan'23 intake (A)  (A)  (S)
GMAT 1: 600 Q49 V22
GMAT 2: 670 Q49 V31
GPA: 4
WE:Research (Manufacturing)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Schulich Jan'23 intake (A)  (A)  (S)
GMAT 2: 670 Q49 V31
Posts: 57
Kudos: 27
The period when the great painted caves at Lascaux and Altamira were 22 Jan 2021, 08:27
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The period when the great painted caves at Lascaux and Altamira were occupied by Upper Paleolithic people has been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine are the reason for their decoration, the use to which primitive people put the caves, and the meaning of the magnificently depicted animals.

Let's reread it without modifiers.
The period when the great painted caves at Lascaux and Altamira were occupied by Upper Paleolithic people has been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine are the reason for their decoration, the use to which primitive people put the caves, and the meaning of the magnificently depicted animals.

(A) has been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine are
(B) has been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine is
(C) have been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine is
(D) have been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine are
(E) are established by carbon-14 dating, but that which is much more difficult to determine is

The subject is singular.
Hence C, D, and E are out.
for A, ...what is... determine ARE...
Inconsistency in helping verb.

B is correct.
avatar
TarunKumar1234
avatar
Joined: 14 Jul 2020
Last visit: 28 Feb 2024
Posts: 1,107
Own Kudos:
1,348
Given Kudos: 351
Location: India
Posts: 1,107
Kudos: 1,348
The period when the great painted caves at Lascaux and Altamira were 24 Jan 2021, 04:46
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The period when the great painted caves at Lascaux and Altamira were occupied by Upper Paleolithic people has been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine are the reason for their decoration, the use to which primitive people put the caves, and the meaning of the magnificently depicted animals.

(A) has been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine are -> "are" is incorrect, we need singular verb.
(B) has been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine is -> It is better. Let's keep it.
(C) have been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine is -> "the period" subject is singular, so "have" is incorrect to use.
(D) have been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine are -> "the period" subject is singular, so "have" is incorrect to use.
(E) are established by carbon-14 dating, but that which is much more difficult to determine is -> -> "the period" subject is singular, so "are" is incorrect to use.

So, I think B. :)
User avatar
mcelroytutoring
User avatar
Joined: 10 Jul 2015
Last visit: 15 Nov 2025
Posts: 1,204
Own Kudos:
2,644
 [2]
Given Kudos: 282
Status:Expert GMAT, GRE, and LSAT Tutor / Coach
Affiliations: Harvard University, A.B. with honors in Government, 2002
Location: United States (CO)
Age: 45 (10 years and counting on GMAT Club!)
GMAT 1: 770 Q47 V48
GMAT 2: 730 Q44 V47
GMAT 3: 750 Q50 V42
GMAT 4: 730 Q48 V42 (Online)
GRE 1: Q168 V169
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 4: 730 Q48 V42 (Online)
GRE 1: Q168 V169
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Posts: 1,204
Kudos: 2,644
 [2]
The period when the great painted caves at Lascaux and Altamira were 01 Nov 2021, 08:32
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Well, this is a fun and tricky one.

This is a good example of why it's important to "see the big picture" in SC. Although the verb "are" is technically correct because of the plural subject that follows the verb (decoration + use + meaning = plural), it is not possible to use "are" in this case, because we have boxed ourselves in by using the phrase "what is _____ " in all of the answer choices, which cannot be followed by "are" due to a lack of parallelism.

What is ____ is _____ = correct
What is ____ are ___ = incorrect

Another arguably correct choice would be "what are ____ are ____", but let's face it: in the real world, no one talks like that. Why? Because unlike most sentences, where the subject precedes the verb, in this particular sentence the subject follows the verb, so it doesn't sound right to use the plural verb "are"—even though it's technically correct.

For example:

The minimum amount of force required to break a concrete block with one's hand is well-known. What is more difficult to determine is the precise angle, technique, and speed required to avoid injury.

sounds better than

The minimum amount of force required to break a concrete block with one's hand is well-known. What are more difficult to determine are the precise angle, technique, and speed required to avoid injury.

...even though the 2nd version is more technically correct.
User avatar
GraceSCKao
User avatar
Joined: 02 Jul 2021
Last visit: 18 Dec 2022
Posts: 124
Own Kudos:
54
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1,247
Location: Taiwan
Schools: Columbia CBS '24 Darden '24 LBS '24 Wharton '24
GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V39
Schools: Columbia CBS '24 Darden '24 LBS '24 Wharton '24
GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V39
Posts: 124
Kudos: 54
 [1]
The period when the great painted caves at Lascaux and Altamira were 17 Jan 2022, 02:06
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mcelroytutoring
Well, this is a fun and tricky one.

This is a good example of why it's important to "see the big picture" in SC. Although the verb "are" is technically correct because of the plural subject that follows the verb (decoration + use + meaning = plural), it is not possible to use "are" in this case, because we have boxed ourselves in by using the phrase "what is _____ " in all of the answer choices, which cannot be followed by "are" due to a lack of parallelism.

What is ____ is _____ = correct
What is ____ are ___ = incorrect

Another arguably correct choice would be "what are ____ are ____", but let's face it: in the real world, no one talks like that. Why? Because unlike most sentences, where the subject precedes the verb, in this particular sentence the subject follows the verb, so it doesn't sound right to use the plural verb "are"—even though it's technically correct.

For example:

The minimum amount of force required to break a concrete block with one's hand is well-known. What is more difficult to determine is the precise angle, technique, and speed required to avoid injury.

sounds better than

The minimum amount of force required to break a concrete block with one's hand is well-known. What are more difficult to determine are the precise angle, technique, and speed required to avoid injury.

...even though the 2nd version is more technically correct.
Show more

Hi mcelroytutoring

Thank you for your clear explanation!
User avatar
louisinau
User avatar
Joined: 15 Aug 2020
Last visit: 16 Dec 2022
Posts: 30
Own Kudos:
2
Given Kudos: 15
Posts: 30
Kudos: 2
The period when the great painted caves at Lascaux and Altamira were 22 Oct 2022, 23:58
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi experts

Could you please explain the restrictive clause "the use to which primitive people put the caves"
I have learnt "put something to use" in which "use" is a verb

But how come here the use, which is a noun can be used here in a put's verbal phrase??
User avatar
ekanshgoyal
User avatar
Joined: 09 Jan 2022
Last visit: 11 Nov 2025
Posts: 63
Own Kudos:
3
Given Kudos: 37
Location: India
Posts: 63
Kudos: 3
The period when the great painted caves at Lascaux and Altamira were 26 Mar 2023, 00:56
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
EducationAisle
Hi Srishti_15, an easy rule to remember is that when a clause is the subject of a sentence, the subject is always singular.

Here, the subject is the following clause: what is much more difficult to determine.

Since clause is the subject of the sentence under consideration, the subject is singular (and hence the verb is).

p.s. Our book EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana discusses Subject clause, its application and examples. If someone is interested, PM me your email-id; I can mail the corresponding section.
Show more

Hello!
But what would be logical reason of placing "is" in that clause " what is much more difficult.." against "are"?
User avatar
ekanshgoyal
User avatar
Joined: 09 Jan 2022
Last visit: 11 Nov 2025
Posts: 63
Own Kudos:
3
Given Kudos: 37
Location: India
Posts: 63
Kudos: 3
The period when the great painted caves at Lascaux and Altamira were 26 Mar 2023, 00:57
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
EducationAisle
Hi Srishti_15, an easy rule to remember is that when a clause is the subject of a sentence, the subject is always singular.

Here, the subject is the following clause: what is much more difficult to determine.

Since clause is the subject of the sentence under consideration, the subject is singular (and hence the verb is).

p.s. Our book EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana discusses Subject clause, its application and examples. If someone is interested, PM me your email-id; I can mail the corresponding section.
Show more

Hello!
But what would be logical reason of placing "is" in that clause " what is much more difficult.." against "are"?
User avatar
EducationAisle
User avatar
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 3,891
Own Kudos:
3,579
Given Kudos: 159
Location: India
Schools: ISB
GPA: 3.31
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: ISB
Posts: 3,891
Kudos: 3,579
The period when the great painted caves at Lascaux and Altamira were 26 Mar 2023, 21:15
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
ekanshgoyal
But what would be logical reason of placing "is" in that clause " what is much more difficult.." against "are"?
Show more
Let's wait for others to chip in as well....you do realize Ekansh that all the five options use exactly the same structure " what is much more difficult.."..right?
User avatar
ekanshgoyal
User avatar
Joined: 09 Jan 2022
Last visit: 11 Nov 2025
Posts: 63
Own Kudos:
3
Given Kudos: 37
Location: India
Posts: 63
Kudos: 3
The period when the great painted caves at Lascaux and Altamira were 26 Mar 2023, 22:21
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
EducationAisle
ekanshgoyal
But what would be logical reason of placing "is" in that clause " what is much more difficult.." against "are"?
Let's wait for others to chip in as well....you do realize Ekansh that all the five options use exactly the same structure " what is much more difficult.."..right?
Show more

Yes. But some other question can have an option with 'are' in front of what. So what is the reason for placing 'is'?
User avatar
VerbalBot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 01 Oct 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 18,832
Own Kudos:
986
Posts: 18,832
Kudos: 986
The period when the great painted caves at Lascaux and Altamira were 23 Oct 2025, 16:46
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
   1   2 
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7445 posts
GMATNinjaTwo
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
234 posts
miag
188 posts