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17 Oct 2020, 23:50
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B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
35%
(medium)
Question Stats:
67% (01:18) correct
33%
(01:30)
wrong
based on 406
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Surveys indicate that feelings of happiness and satisfaction are relative; a poor man may wish he was $1 million richer, yet a millionaire may still feel unsatisfied and wishes he had $2 million more.
A) may wish he was $1 million richer, yet a millionaire may still feel unsatisfied and wishes he had
B) may wish he were $1 million richer, yet a millionaire may still feel unsatisfied and wish he had
C) may wish he was $1 million richer, yet a millionaire will still feel unsatisfied and wish he had
D) wishes he was $1 million richer, yet a millionaire still feels unsatisfied and wishes he had
E) may wish he were $1 million richer, yet a millionaire may still feel unsatisfied and wish he has
17 Oct 2020, 23:53
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OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
THE PROMPT
→ When we want a situation in the present or future to be different, we wish for something hypothetical or contrary to fact.
The subjunctive mood is required.
→ wish follows a structure similar to If I were . . .
The pronoun takes were, not was.
→ I wish I were in Marseilles.
→ She wishes [that] she were a tennis champion.
→ he wishes that I were editing his papers.
• WISH follows two somewhat difficult rules, both rooted in the subjunctive mood:
(1) like reported speech, the verb wish "backshifts" the subsequent verb—for example, from present to past tense.
Fact: He wishes to have $1 million dollars (in the present).
To express this thought, we backshift from the simple present [he has $1 million] to the simple past and say:
He wishes [that] he had $1 million dollars.
(2) All pronouns take were. (Usually we would say I was, she was, or he was. No. Use were for everyone.)
More examples:
→ I wish I were in New England to see the autumn leaves.
→ She wishes that she were finished with TOEFL.
→ He wishes that she were near him.
You will not hear wish used properly very often.
Wrong, 100% of the time: I wish that I was a time traveler.
Correct: I wish that I were a time traveler..
In this sentence, we deal with two verbs after the verb wish: to be (the first man) and to have (the second man)
Both constructions must use the subjunctive: (1) wish . . . were in the first case and (2) wish . . . had in the second case.
The second man's verb is to have in the sense of "to possess."
→ A millionaire will wish [that] he had $2 million more.
Wrong: A millionaire will wish that he has $2 million more.
The verb tense shifts "back" one time period, in this case, from present to past—from has to had.
It does not matter whether a modal such as may is involved. He "may wish" is still in present tense.
Wishes made in the present (or future) (1) backshift one time period to the past and (2) couple any pronoun with were rather than was.
THE OPTIONS
• wish and the subjunctive require was to be were
• wishes should be wish
→ . . . a millionaire (1) may still feel unsatisfied and (2) [MAY] wishes (???) that he had $2 million more. No. There is no such thing as "he may wishes." The correct language is "he may wish."
ELIMINATE A
• the first verb phrase, anchored by wish, is correctly followed by were (not by "was")
→ the verb after wish must "backshift" from present (is $1 million richer) to past ("was" $1 million richer) BUT because the verb is to be, that backshift is always were
• the second verb phrase, also anchored by wish, also "backshifts" one time period
→ Rather than . . . wish he has $2 million more, we backshift the verb to simple past, had
• the syntax is cohesive
→ the parallel verbs may wish and may feel and . . .[may] still wish tie the two examples together, a suturing that in turn makes the construction of the sentence "work."
The first clause states the general case. The second clause elaborates on that case by offering two parallel yet distinct examples.
KEEP
• was should be were
→ the verb wish requires that all pronouns, including he, use were rather than was.
• will wish is not quite right
→ may wish and will wish are not parallel and express different degrees of certainty. May is possible. Will is definite.
It's not logical to assert that a poor man may wish for XYZ whereas a rich man will wish for ABC; each kind of man is supposed to display the same tendency that is described in the first clause.
ELIMINATE C
• was should be were
• wishes is not as apt as may wish.
→ The first clause articulates a general "truth" about human happiness whose philosophical tone is better matched by one man who "may wish" XYZ and by another man who may wish ABC
(Don't worry if this bullet point confuses you. Its content is subtle and difficult. If you know the first bullet point, you're okay.)
→ wish requires that verbs be backshifted
The correct answer is B.
COMMENTS
sharmashivng , chillbrorelax (that's quite a username
), amit2100 , and SairamRamo , welcome to SC Butler.
I see a few occasional visitors and a few veterans.
I am glad to "see" all of you.
sharmashivng , trying your best is exactly right.
I talk a lot about how students should strive for excellence rather than try to be "right," or to look smarter than others. (Or to hoard kudos, a behavior that baffles me.).
You were on the right track; you just needed to know that "wish" requires a subjunctive construction.
That fact is not mentioned very often. So now you and many others know, native speakers included.
(As I mentioned, very few native speakers use I wish I were.)
manvig , true, Beyonce is not a boy. Great song. An excellent explanatory device.
These answers range from very good to excellent.
Lucky are they who follow. Speaking of: read this thread. Many different approaches enrich this conversation topic and will add to any aspirant's repertoire.
Nicely done, all.
Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC1)
THE PROMPT
Quote:
• Concept tested: how to use the verb WISH
→ When we want a situation in the present or future to be different, we wish for something hypothetical or contrary to fact.
The subjunctive mood is required.
→ wish follows a structure similar to If I were . . .
The pronoun takes were, not was.
→ I wish I were in Marseilles.
→ She wishes [that] she were a tennis champion.
→ he wishes that I were editing his papers.
• WISH follows two somewhat difficult rules, both rooted in the subjunctive mood:
(1) like reported speech, the verb wish "backshifts" the subsequent verb—for example, from present to past tense.
Fact: He wishes to have $1 million dollars (in the present).
To express this thought, we backshift from the simple present [he has $1 million] to the simple past and say:
He wishes [that] he had $1 million dollars.
(2) All pronouns take were. (Usually we would say I was, she was, or he was. No. Use were for everyone.)
More examples:
→ I wish I were in New England to see the autumn leaves.
→ She wishes that she were finished with TOEFL.
→ He wishes that she were near him.
You will not hear wish used properly very often.
Wrong, 100% of the time: I wish that I was a time traveler.
Correct: I wish that I were a time traveler..
In this sentence, we deal with two verbs after the verb wish: to be (the first man) and to have (the second man)
Both constructions must use the subjunctive: (1) wish . . . were in the first case and (2) wish . . . had in the second case.
The second man's verb is to have in the sense of "to possess."
→ A millionaire will wish [that] he had $2 million more.
Wrong: A millionaire will wish that he has $2 million more.
The verb tense shifts "back" one time period, in this case, from present to past—from has to had.
It does not matter whether a modal such as may is involved. He "may wish" is still in present tense.
Wishes made in the present (or future) (1) backshift one time period to the past and (2) couple any pronoun with were rather than was.
THE OPTIONS
Quote:
• wish and the subjunctive require was to be were
• wishes should be wish
→ . . . a millionaire (1) may still feel unsatisfied and (2) [MAY] wishes (???) that he had $2 million more. No. There is no such thing as "he may wishes." The correct language is "he may wish."
ELIMINATE A
Quote:
• the first verb phrase, anchored by wish, is correctly followed by were (not by "was")
→ the verb after wish must "backshift" from present (is $1 million richer) to past ("was" $1 million richer) BUT because the verb is to be, that backshift is always were
• the second verb phrase, also anchored by wish, also "backshifts" one time period
→ Rather than . . . wish he has $2 million more, we backshift the verb to simple past, had
• the syntax is cohesive
→ the parallel verbs may wish and may feel and . . .[may] still wish tie the two examples together, a suturing that in turn makes the construction of the sentence "work."
The first clause states the general case. The second clause elaborates on that case by offering two parallel yet distinct examples.
KEEP
Quote:
• was should be were
→ the verb wish requires that all pronouns, including he, use were rather than was.
• will wish is not quite right
→ may wish and will wish are not parallel and express different degrees of certainty. May is possible. Will is definite.
It's not logical to assert that a poor man may wish for XYZ whereas a rich man will wish for ABC; each kind of man is supposed to display the same tendency that is described in the first clause.
ELIMINATE C
Quote:
• was should be were
• wishes is not as apt as may wish.
→ The first clause articulates a general "truth" about human happiness whose philosophical tone is better matched by one man who "may wish" XYZ and by another man who may wish ABC
(Don't worry if this bullet point confuses you. Its content is subtle and difficult. If you know the first bullet point, you're okay.)
Quote:
• has should be had
→ wish requires that verbs be backshifted
The correct answer is B.
COMMENTS
sharmashivng , chillbrorelax (that's quite a username
), amit2100 , and SairamRamo , welcome to SC Butler.I see a few occasional visitors and a few veterans.
I am glad to "see" all of you.
sharmashivng , trying your best is exactly right.
I talk a lot about how students should strive for excellence rather than try to be "right," or to look smarter than others. (Or to hoard kudos, a behavior that baffles me.).
You were on the right track; you just needed to know that "wish" requires a subjunctive construction.
That fact is not mentioned very often. So now you and many others know, native speakers included.
(As I mentioned, very few native speakers use I wish I were.)
manvig , true, Beyonce is not a boy. Great song. An excellent explanatory device.
These answers range from very good to excellent.
Lucky are they who follow. Speaking of: read this thread. Many different approaches enrich this conversation topic and will add to any aspirant's repertoire.
Nicely done, all.
18 Oct 2020, 00:10
Kudos
Bookmarks
IMO B
My method : Start scanning the options to check the split. I eliminated (D) during round 1 and split the options into A/C or B/E. Now, coming to the options one by one.
Surveys indicate that feelings of happiness and satisfaction are relative; a poor man may wish he was $1 million richer, yet a millionaire may still feel unsatisfied and wishes he had $2 million more.
A) may wish he was $1 million richer, yet a millionaire may still feel unsatisfied and wishes he had
May still feel unsatisfied and wishes. Future tense and present tense do not go hand in hand.
Example: I may regret eating the cake later but I eat it anyway. This is wrong.
I may regret eating the cake later but I will eat it anyway. This is correct.
I also eliminated this because of the usage of 'was'
B) may wish he were $1 million richer, yet a millionaire may still feel unsatisfied and wish he had
Keep for now. The millionaire may feel unsatisfied and wish he had - had because this has already occurred in the past. This implies that the millionaire does not have the required money right now and she/he is only wishing to have more money.
C) may wish he was $1 million richer, yet a millionaire will still feel unsatisfied and wish he had
Eliminated because of the usage of 'was.'
D) wishes he was $1 million richer, yet a millionaire still feels unsatisfied and wishes he had
Eliminated because of the usage of 'was.'
E) may wish he were $1 million richer, yet a millionaire may still feel unsatisfied and wish he has
The first half seems okay. IMO, the correct usage should be - "I wish I had a magic wand."
It shouldn't be "I wish I have a magic wand."
generis I was confused between B and E but tried my best. Please point out the flaw in my thought process.
My method : Start scanning the options to check the split. I eliminated (D) during round 1 and split the options into A/C or B/E. Now, coming to the options one by one.
Surveys indicate that feelings of happiness and satisfaction are relative; a poor man may wish he was $1 million richer, yet a millionaire may still feel unsatisfied and wishes he had $2 million more.
A) may wish he was $1 million richer, yet a millionaire may still feel unsatisfied and wishes he had
May still feel unsatisfied and wishes. Future tense and present tense do not go hand in hand.
Example: I may regret eating the cake later but I eat it anyway. This is wrong.
I may regret eating the cake later but I will eat it anyway. This is correct.
I also eliminated this because of the usage of 'was'
B) may wish he were $1 million richer, yet a millionaire may still feel unsatisfied and wish he had
Keep for now. The millionaire may feel unsatisfied and wish he had - had because this has already occurred in the past. This implies that the millionaire does not have the required money right now and she/he is only wishing to have more money.
C) may wish he was $1 million richer, yet a millionaire will still feel unsatisfied and wish he had
Eliminated because of the usage of 'was.'
D) wishes he was $1 million richer, yet a millionaire still feels unsatisfied and wishes he had
Eliminated because of the usage of 'was.'
E) may wish he were $1 million richer, yet a millionaire may still feel unsatisfied and wish he has
The first half seems okay. IMO, the correct usage should be - "I wish I had a magic wand."
It shouldn't be "I wish I have a magic wand."
generis I was confused between B and E but tried my best. Please point out the flaw in my thought process.
(Hypothetical condition currently! )
