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11 Mar 2021, 23:30
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C
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
65%
(hard)
Question Stats:
44% (01:13) correct
56%
(01:18)
wrong
based on 1068
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
In 1889, two journalists – Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland – set off on separate solo journeys around the world; each of them wanting to break the imaginary record of 80 days set by the fictional character Phileas Fogg in Jules Verne’s 1873 novel Around the World in Eighty Days.
A) world; each of them wanting to break
B) world; each of whom wanted to break
C) world, each of them wanting to break
D) world, each of them was wanting to break
E) world, each of them wanted to break
A) world; each of them wanting to break
B) world; each of whom wanted to break
C) world, each of them wanting to break
D) world, each of them was wanting to break
E) world, each of them wanted to break
11 Mar 2021, 23:32
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OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
THE PROMPT
GMAT tests this rule.
A semicolon must connect two INdependent clauses.
An independent clause, in turn, contains a subject and a verb and can stand on its own as a complete thought.
In fact, a semicolon is typically used to link two full sentences that are closely related.
→ I am a citizen of a democratic republic; I expect my elected leaders to be vocally outraged and to pursue accountability when foreign governments pay bounties to people who murder American soldiers.
→ I helped to file a lawsuit; voting rights, equal protection, and due process were at stake.
We could separate both of those examples into two sentences, insert a period, and capitalize the first letter of the second sentence.
• BIG IDEA #2: a comma alone cannot separate two independent clauses. The comma must be accompanied by a conjunction such as and.
• BIG IDEA #3: each of whom is not a noun; each of them IS a noun.
→ Each of whom is an adjective, a modifier of a noun.
Because each of whom is not a noun, the phrase cannot create an independent clause.
You cannot make an independent clause with an [adjective + verb] or [adjective + verbING].
To create an independent clause, we need [noun + verb].
→ Each of whom is also a relative clause.
Whom is a relative pronoun that must be part of a relative clause. (Each of is a "quantifying" phrase.)
Relative clauses are always subordinate (dependent): they are modifiers that refer to nouns (the two women travelers).
→ Each of whom creates a dependent clause.
Dependent clauses cannot be linked to other clauses by a semicolon. Commas work, though.
Correct: I admire the two women, each of whom wanted to break a fictional but legendary record.
→ Each of them is a noun.
As a noun, if each of them is followed by a working verb, an independent clause is created.
See Notes, below.
• Strip the sentence:
In 1889, two journalists . . . set off on separate solo journeys around the world; each of them wanting to break the imaginary record [for such a trip].
Now, ask: what is before the semicolon or comma? What is after the semicolon or comma?
In 1889, two journalists set off on separate solo journeys around the world.
After the semicolon? Incorrect. NOT an independent clause:
Each of them wanting to break the imaginary record for such a trip.←This thing is not an independent clause (a full sentence).
→ The word wanting is not a working verb, so the part after the semicolon is not an independent clause.
The use of a semicolon is incorrect.
Semicolons can only link independent clauses.
[Corrected: Each of them wanted to break the imaginary record.← That thing is an independent clause: Subject, Verb, Object.]
In other words, each of them wanting to break is a noun modifier, not an independent clause, and so needs to come after a comma and not after a semicolon.
ELIMINATE A
In 1889, two journalists set off on separate solo journeys around the world.
After the semicolon? Incorrect. NOT an independent clause:
Each of whom wanted to break the record.←This thing is not an independent clause.
It's a relative clause. Relative clauses (whose relative pronouns are "related" to their nouns) are always dependent clauses.
Each of whom cannot create an independent clause.
In other words, each of whom wanted to break is a DEpendent clause and so needs to come after a comma and not after a semicolon..
ELIMINATE B
• Each of them wanting to break is a noun modifier (of the two travelers).
Each of them wanting to break the record is not an independent clause.
The italicized phrase should come after a comma.
KEEP
The past progressive tense (was wanting) is used to describe actions or events that began in the past and were still going on when another event occurred.
This sentence does not present the situation just described.
Rather, in this case, at a specific moment in time in the past (in 1889), both women wanted something.
Simple past tense would be correct.
• comma splice: A comma alone cannot be used to link two independent clauses.
Before the comma, independent clause: In 1889, two journalists set off on separate solo journeys around the world.
After the comma, independent clause: Each of them was wanting to break the record.
Not okay.
If a comma links two independent clauses, it must be accompanied by a conjunction (FANBOYS). See Notes, below.
Corrected: In 1889, two journalists set off on separate solo journeys around the world, and each of them was wanting to break the fictional but legendary record.
In other words, each of them was wanting to break is part of an independent clause and needs to come after a semicolon and not after a comma.
Before the comma, independent clause: In 1889, two journalists set off on separate solo journeys around the world.
After the comma, independent clause: Each of them wanted to break the fictional but legendary record.
Same problems as those in option D.
In other words, each of them wanted to break is part of an independent clause and needs to come after a semicolon and not after a comma.
ELIMINATE E
The answer is C.
Notes
Each of whom/Each of them
You can and should read more about these pesky phrases in my post, here.
Comma splice
You can and should read more about semicolons and comma splices in my post, here.
When two sentences (independent clauses) are "stuck together" improperly, we have a run-on sentence.
Wrong → I love reading fiction I wish I could read a novel a day.
When two independent clauses are "stuck together" with nothing more than a comma, we have a type of run-on sentence called a comma splice.
Wrong → I love reading fiction, I wish I could read a novel a day.
Notice that we can join those independent clauses with a semicolon.
Correct: I love reading fiction; I wish I could read a novel a day.
If a comma links two independent clauses, the comma must be accompanied by a conjunction.
Coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS): for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
I love reading fiction, so I wish I could read a novel a day.
Semicolon vs. comma, summary
If a semicolon links two clauses, both clauses must be independent clauses.
If a comma links two clauses, both clauses cannot be independent clauses.
COMMENTS
Thank you all for being patient; I could not get to OEs this week. I'll be playing catch up in the next few days.
I have tested the Butler crew on these issues fairly recently, although the issues were split between two different Butler questions.
See the links to two of my posts in "Notes," above.
I'd read them.
Let me address questions.
warrior1991 , your reasoning in A, B, and C is spot on.
jrk23 (long time! good to see you) and Gknight5603 , you asked about zhanbo 's analysis of option B.
You both want to know how each of whom "introduces a subordinate clause."
I'm not sure how to answer to your satisfaction.
A relative clause IS a subordinate clause.
For the sake of simplicity, I am going to fudge the jargon a little bit.
Each of whom is a relative pronoun phrase. Relative pronouns must be followed by a verb.
The relative pronoun and the verb create a relative clause. (Often relative clauses are "reduced" and the verb is omitted but implied. We'll ignore this kind, though the same rule holds true.)
Relative clauses can never stand alone as a sentence in the way that independent clauses can stand alone.
→ Not an independent clause/sentence: Each of whom earned a PhD in quantum physics.
→ Main clause, dependent (subordinate) clause: The study about genetic influence included identical twin sisters, each of whom earned a PhD in quantum physics.
Relative clauses are always dependent clauses.
Dependent clauses are also called "subordinate clauses."
So relative clauses are always subordinate clauses.
Relative clauses depend for their meaning on another clause.
Google these words: dependent clause vs subordinate clause
Also, click here for a short overview about subordinate clauses from Lexico.
The entry is a bit too short. It neglects clauses of concession, of contrast, and others.
But it does explain that one type of subordinate clause is the relative clause.
The important part of this analysis is not the grammar jargon.
Option B is wrong because Each of whom wanted to break the record is not a full sentence.
The part before the semicolon is a full sentence. The part after the semicolon is not. That setup is wrong.
Both parts linked by a semicolon must be full sentences.
I do see one potentially confusing aspect in these posts. (I could be wrong. It's late. My eyes are blurry.)
As far as I can tell, no one actually states both of these facts explicitly:
(1) if a semicolon is used to link two clauses, those two clauses must both be independent, and
(2) if a comma is used to link two clauses, those two clauses cannot both be independent.
This question is hellish to explain.
Good explanations get kudos, even if the answers contain a few mistakes.
Bravery is good.
(Whew!)
I hope this analysis helps.
Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC2)
THE PROMPT
Quote:
• BIG IDEA #1: WHATEVER COMES BEFORE AND AFTER A SEMICOLON MUST BE AN INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
GMAT tests this rule.
A semicolon must connect two INdependent clauses.
An independent clause, in turn, contains a subject and a verb and can stand on its own as a complete thought.
In fact, a semicolon is typically used to link two full sentences that are closely related.
→ I am a citizen of a democratic republic; I expect my elected leaders to be vocally outraged and to pursue accountability when foreign governments pay bounties to people who murder American soldiers.
→ I helped to file a lawsuit; voting rights, equal protection, and due process were at stake.
We could separate both of those examples into two sentences, insert a period, and capitalize the first letter of the second sentence.
• BIG IDEA #2: a comma alone cannot separate two independent clauses. The comma must be accompanied by a conjunction such as and.
• BIG IDEA #3: each of whom is not a noun; each of them IS a noun.
→ Each of whom is an adjective, a modifier of a noun.
Because each of whom is not a noun, the phrase cannot create an independent clause.
You cannot make an independent clause with an [adjective + verb] or [adjective + verbING].
To create an independent clause, we need [noun + verb].
→ Each of whom is also a relative clause.
Whom is a relative pronoun that must be part of a relative clause. (Each of is a "quantifying" phrase.)
Relative clauses are always subordinate (dependent): they are modifiers that refer to nouns (the two women travelers).
→ Each of whom creates a dependent clause.
Dependent clauses cannot be linked to other clauses by a semicolon. Commas work, though.
Correct: I admire the two women, each of whom wanted to break a fictional but legendary record.
→ Each of them is a noun.
As a noun, if each of them is followed by a working verb, an independent clause is created.
See Notes, below.
• Strip the sentence:
In 1889, two journalists . . . set off on separate solo journeys around the world; each of them wanting to break the imaginary record [for such a trip].
Now, ask: what is before the semicolon or comma? What is after the semicolon or comma?
Quote:
Quote:
Before the semicolon? Correct, an independent clause (subject + verb, can stand on its own as a complete thought):
In 1889, two journalists set off on separate solo journeys around the world.
After the semicolon? Incorrect. NOT an independent clause:
Each of them wanting to break the imaginary record for such a trip.←This thing is not an independent clause (a full sentence).
→ The word wanting is not a working verb, so the part after the semicolon is not an independent clause.
The use of a semicolon is incorrect.
Semicolons can only link independent clauses.
[Corrected: Each of them wanted to break the imaginary record.← That thing is an independent clause: Subject, Verb, Object.]
In other words, each of them wanting to break is a noun modifier, not an independent clause, and so needs to come after a comma and not after a semicolon.
ELIMINATE A
Quote:
Before the semicolon? Correct, an independent clause:
In 1889, two journalists set off on separate solo journeys around the world.
After the semicolon? Incorrect. NOT an independent clause:
Each of whom wanted to break the record.←This thing is not an independent clause.
It's a relative clause. Relative clauses (whose relative pronouns are "related" to their nouns) are always dependent clauses.
Each of whom cannot create an independent clause.
In other words, each of whom wanted to break is a DEpendent clause and so needs to come after a comma and not after a semicolon..
ELIMINATE B
Quote:
• I do not see any errors
• Each of them wanting to break is a noun modifier (of the two travelers).
Each of them wanting to break the record is not an independent clause.
The italicized phrase should come after a comma.
KEEP
Quote:
• wrong verb tense
The past progressive tense (was wanting) is used to describe actions or events that began in the past and were still going on when another event occurred.
This sentence does not present the situation just described.
Rather, in this case, at a specific moment in time in the past (in 1889), both women wanted something.
Simple past tense would be correct.
• comma splice: A comma alone cannot be used to link two independent clauses.
Before the comma, independent clause: In 1889, two journalists set off on separate solo journeys around the world.
After the comma, independent clause: Each of them was wanting to break the record.
Not okay.
If a comma links two independent clauses, it must be accompanied by a conjunction (FANBOYS). See Notes, below.
Corrected: In 1889, two journalists set off on separate solo journeys around the world, and each of them was wanting to break the fictional but legendary record.
In other words, each of them was wanting to break is part of an independent clause and needs to come after a semicolon and not after a comma.
Quote:
• comma splice
Before the comma, independent clause: In 1889, two journalists set off on separate solo journeys around the world.
After the comma, independent clause: Each of them wanted to break the fictional but legendary record.
Same problems as those in option D.
In other words, each of them wanted to break is part of an independent clause and needs to come after a semicolon and not after a comma.
ELIMINATE E
The answer is C.
Notes
Each of whom/Each of them
You can and should read more about these pesky phrases in my post, here.
Comma splice
You can and should read more about semicolons and comma splices in my post, here.
When two sentences (independent clauses) are "stuck together" improperly, we have a run-on sentence.
Wrong → I love reading fiction I wish I could read a novel a day.
When two independent clauses are "stuck together" with nothing more than a comma, we have a type of run-on sentence called a comma splice.
Wrong → I love reading fiction, I wish I could read a novel a day.
Notice that we can join those independent clauses with a semicolon.
Correct: I love reading fiction; I wish I could read a novel a day.
If a comma links two independent clauses, the comma must be accompanied by a conjunction.
Coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS): for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
I love reading fiction, so I wish I could read a novel a day.
Semicolon vs. comma, summary
If a semicolon links two clauses, both clauses must be independent clauses.
If a comma links two clauses, both clauses cannot be independent clauses.
COMMENTS
Thank you all for being patient; I could not get to OEs this week. I'll be playing catch up in the next few days.
I have tested the Butler crew on these issues fairly recently, although the issues were split between two different Butler questions.
See the links to two of my posts in "Notes," above.
I'd read them.
Let me address questions.
warrior1991 , your reasoning in A, B, and C is spot on.
jrk23 (long time! good to see you) and Gknight5603 , you asked about zhanbo 's analysis of option B.
You both want to know how each of whom "introduces a subordinate clause."
I'm not sure how to answer to your satisfaction.
A relative clause IS a subordinate clause.
For the sake of simplicity, I am going to fudge the jargon a little bit.
Each of whom is a relative pronoun phrase. Relative pronouns must be followed by a verb.
The relative pronoun and the verb create a relative clause. (Often relative clauses are "reduced" and the verb is omitted but implied. We'll ignore this kind, though the same rule holds true.)
Relative clauses can never stand alone as a sentence in the way that independent clauses can stand alone.
→ Not an independent clause/sentence: Each of whom earned a PhD in quantum physics.
→ Main clause, dependent (subordinate) clause: The study about genetic influence included identical twin sisters, each of whom earned a PhD in quantum physics.
Relative clauses are always dependent clauses.
Dependent clauses are also called "subordinate clauses."
So relative clauses are always subordinate clauses.
Relative clauses depend for their meaning on another clause.
Google these words: dependent clause vs subordinate clause
Also, click here for a short overview about subordinate clauses from Lexico.
The entry is a bit too short. It neglects clauses of concession, of contrast, and others.
But it does explain that one type of subordinate clause is the relative clause.
The important part of this analysis is not the grammar jargon.
Option B is wrong because Each of whom wanted to break the record is not a full sentence.
The part before the semicolon is a full sentence. The part after the semicolon is not. That setup is wrong.
Both parts linked by a semicolon must be full sentences.
I do see one potentially confusing aspect in these posts. (I could be wrong. It's late. My eyes are blurry.)
As far as I can tell, no one actually states both of these facts explicitly:
(1) if a semicolon is used to link two clauses, those two clauses must both be independent, and
(2) if a comma is used to link two clauses, those two clauses cannot both be independent.
This question is hellish to explain.
Good explanations get kudos, even if the answers contain a few mistakes.
Bravery is good.
(Whew!)
I hope this analysis helps.
General Discussion
ravigupta2912
GMAT 2: 720 Q49 V40
Posts: 726
11 Mar 2021, 23:46
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Bookmarks
A) world; each of them wanting to break -- 2nd IC has no verb.
B) world; each of whom wanted to break -- Not convinced that we need 2 ICs construction. An appositive would work better here. Also "whom" is incorrect. It should be "them" since we are referring to them in the subject case. Eliminate.
C) world, each of them wanting to break -- Fixed the error in B. Correct.
D) world, each of them was wanting to break -- We are talking of a certain timeline i.e. in 1989. At that time, they still wanted to break the record. We don't need past progressive here. Eliminate.
E) world, each of them wanted to break -- Comma Splice. 2 ICs connected sans FANBOYS conjunction.
Eagerly awaiting the OA for this.
B) world; each of whom wanted to break -- Not convinced that we need 2 ICs construction. An appositive would work better here. Also "whom" is incorrect. It should be "them" since we are referring to them in the subject case. Eliminate.
C) world, each of them wanting to break -- Fixed the error in B. Correct.
D) world, each of them was wanting to break -- We are talking of a certain timeline i.e. in 1989. At that time, they still wanted to break the record. We don't need past progressive here. Eliminate.
E) world, each of them wanted to break -- Comma Splice. 2 ICs connected sans FANBOYS conjunction.
Eagerly awaiting the OA for this.
