V02-26

Question

Due to the highly selective nature of admissions, the admissions committee  has been advised to prevent passing of the feedback to the students.

A. has been advised to prevent passing of the feedback to the students.
B. have been advised to prevent passing of the feedback to the students.
C. has been advised to prevent them from passing feedback to the students.
D. have been advised in an attempt to prevent them from passing feedback to the students.
E. has been advised that they prevent the passing of feedback to the students.

Bunuel · Answer

Official Solution:

Due to the highly selective nature of admissions, the admissions committee  has been advised to prevent passing of the feedback to the students.

A. has been advised to prevent passing of the feedback to the students.
B. have been advised to prevent passing of the feedback to the students.
C. has been advised to prevent them from passing feedback to the students.
D. have been advised in an attempt to prevent them from passing feedback to the students.
E. has been advised that they prevent the passing of feedback to the students.

“the admissions committee,” a collective singular noun, requires a singular verb. The sentence correctly uses the singular “has been recommended” to refer to the admissions committee.
 
 A. CORRECT.  This choice correctly uses the singular “has been recommended” to refer to “admissions committee.” Moreover, the original sentence is clear and concise.
 
B. This choice incorrectly uses the plural “have been recommended” to refer to the singular “admissions committee.”
 
C. This choice correctly uses the singular verb “has been recommended,” but incorrectly adds the plural pronoun “them” to refer to the singular “admissions committee.”
 
D. This choice incorrectly uses the plural “have been recommended” to refer to the singular “admissions committee.” Additionally, the plural pronoun “them” incorrectly refers to the singular “admissions committee and the phrase “in an attempt” is awkward and unnecessary.
 
E. This choice incorrectly uses the plural pronoun “they” to refer to the singular “admissions committee.”

Answer: A

madhavmarda · Answer

Hello,

Doesn't the word "recommend" require the usage of the subjunctive form:-

Recommend+that+Subject+Subjunctive form of the verb?

I agree the last sentence is wrong for other reasons as stated in the solution. 
However the isnt the usage of the subjunctive form necessary with the word recommend ?

earnit · Answer

Exactly my query. I came on this thread to post this only, fortunately  Madhav  has already posted it.

Experts, kindly help us in figuring out the above issue.

Request/Recommend is always succeeded by 'that' followed by subjunctive verb (plural form)

sanmeetiit · Answer

Could the experts please help with the above query?

VikashAlex · Answer

When we use as an active we use 'that' with recommend but when it is in passive we use in 'to' form ACTIVE: X recommend that................ PASSIVE: X is recommended to do some thing........... Refer here: due-to-the-highly-selective-nature-of-admissions-the-147520.html +1 Kudos if it helped you

saadharis · Answer

Here in this question, word Advised is used, which stops the usage of subjunctive verb, instead here to-verb is to used, and to-prevent is used accurately.

Such list of verbs that doesn't require use of subjunctive verb is;
Advice, Allow, Forbid, Persuade, Want etc.... the list is not exhaustive....

with these verbs, to-verb form is used.

sayantanc2k · Answer

Good explanation - just a small correction required.

The word "advise" does not  stop  the use of subjunctive as such - the concept is that with the verbs you mentioned both subjunctive and infinitive can be used.

gautham0615 · Answer

Aren't all the 5 options in this question wrong because 'Due to' is providing a reason for a clause and not a noun? Shouldn't 'Because of' be used in the non-underlined portion?

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Mrjoe · Answer

Sir  gautham0615

Good question. +1

Try to identify what due to is actually modifying in this sentence. Is it - as you suggest - the clause "has been advised" or is it the noun "passing of the feedback to the students".

As I understand the sentence, it wants to give a specific reason why the  passing of the feedback to students  was prevented. The reason for that is the  highly selective nature of admissions . Clearly, a noun is being modified in the sentence and therefore "due to" is used correctly.

--

General

If due to can be replaced by "caused by", it's correct. If not, then use because of. This should be enough to identify the correct usage of due to vs. because of.

Caused by the highly  selective nature of admissions, the admissions committee has been advised to prevent  passing of the feedback to the students  >> correct.

Furthermore, you can always ask the famous "why" (if you can answer the why question use "because of") and "what" (if you can answer the what question use "due to") questions.

What was the reason for the admission committee to be advised ... ? The highly selective nature of admissions.

Why was the admission committee advised? the highly selective nature of admissions? does not make sense.

Does this all make sense to you?

sarvesh93sah · Answer

Bunuel   VeritasKarishma  
can you please explain the quoted post? I don't understand why "due to" is correct?

BottomJee · Answer

I think this is a  high-quality  question and I agree with explanation.

rayxu99 · Answer

I will go with A. But as for the stem, is "due to" the right phrase used here? In my understanding, it modifies only nouns. Someone can help?

V02-26

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