Last visit was: 26 Apr 2026, 21:26 It is currently 26 Apr 2026, 21:26
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
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
User avatar
aarkay
User avatar
Joined: 12 Jan 2018
Last visit: 17 Oct 2020
Posts: 39
Own Kudos:
142
Given Kudos: 133
Posts: 39
Kudos: 142
Usage of That 04 Feb 2018, 08:59
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
"Lying produces emotional responses in individuals that, in turn, create physiological responses."

Does the relative pronoun "that" refer to individuals or emotional responses?

Logically, it should be "emotional responses", but as per the rule relative pronouns refer back to proceeding noun, which in this case is "individuals".

Correct me where I'm going wrong.


Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using GMAT Club Forum mobile app

Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Verbal Questions Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block below for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
User avatar
EducationAisle
User avatar
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
Last visit: 25 Apr 2026
Posts: 3,906
Own Kudos:
3,586
Given Kudos: 159
Location: India
Schools: ISB
GPA: 3.31
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: ISB
Posts: 3,906
Kudos: 3,586
Usage of That 04 Feb 2018, 09:48
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
aarkay
"Lying produces emotional responses in individuals that, in turn, create physiological responses."

Does the relative pronoun "that" refer to individuals or emotional responses?
Show more
Hi aarkay, that cannot refer to individuals for the following two reasons:

i) As you mentioned, logically that should be referring to emotional responses

ii) that (when used as a relative pronoun, as is the case here) can only refer to non-persons

p.s. Our book EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana discusses usage of that, its application and examples in significant detail. If someone is interested, PM me your email-id; I can mail the corresponding section.
avatar
shiv17
avatar
Joined: 27 Jan 2016
Last visit: 08 Mar 2020
Posts: 19
Own Kudos:
17
Given Kudos: 134
Location: India
Concentration: International Business, Operations
Schools: ISB '19 Jindal '19 GMBA '19 IIM-B"19
WE:Design (Energy)
Schools: ISB '19 Jindal '19 GMBA '19 IIM-B"19
Posts: 19
Kudos: 17
Usage of That 04 Feb 2018, 09:48
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
responses in individuals is a prepositional phrase..In exception cases that refers to noun in propositional phrase. If I'm wrong please correct me

Sent from my Moto G (4) using GMAT Club Forum mobile app
User avatar
sdlife
User avatar
Joined: 21 Jul 2015
Last visit: 05 Nov 2025
Posts: 185
Own Kudos:
68
 [1]
Given Kudos: 489
GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V38
Products:
My Reviews
GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V38
Posts: 185
Kudos: 68
 [1]
Usage of That 04 Feb 2018, 10:07
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
aarkay
"Lying produces emotional responses in individuals that, in turn, create physiological responses."

Does the relative pronoun "that" refer to individuals or emotional responses?

Logically, it should be "emotional responses", but as per the rule relative pronouns refer back to proceeding noun, which in this case is "individuals".

Correct me where I'm going wrong.


Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using GMAT Club Forum mobile app
Show more

Hi,

Prep Phrases always start with prepositions. Here the preposition is "in". So, only 'in individuals' is a prep phrase. Here "that" jumps the prep phrase to refer to the noun "responses".

that always refers to the noun it's placed next to. But in this case there is a noun phrase - "responses (noun) + in individuals (noun modifier)". "that" can jump the noun modifier phrase to refer to noun (responses). The usage is okay as long as :

- There is no ambiguity as 'that' cannot refer to individuals (we need 'who' to refer to individuals'. So this usage is considered okay.
- Whatever comes between 'that' and its referent noun is a noun modifier. In this case 'in individuals' is a noun modifier.

I've seen a couple official questions in which there is a verb between noun and 'that'. It was in the correct answer choice. Keep these exceptions in mind, and use them only if you are able to confidently mark other 4 options wrong. Between Rule and Exception, always go with the rule - that must be placed next to the noun it modifies.

Hope this helps!
User avatar
aarkay
User avatar
Joined: 12 Jan 2018
Last visit: 17 Oct 2020
Posts: 39
Own Kudos:
142
Given Kudos: 133
Posts: 39
Kudos: 142
Usage of That 04 Feb 2018, 11:45
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
sdlife
aarkay
"Lying produces emotional responses in individuals that, in turn, create physiological responses."

Does the relative pronoun "that" refer to individuals or emotional responses?

Logically, it should be "emotional responses", but as per the rule relative pronouns refer back to proceeding noun, which in this case is "individuals".

Correct me where I'm going wrong.


Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using GMAT Club Forum mobile app

Hi,

Prep Phrases always start with prepositions. Here the preposition is "in". So, only 'in individuals' is a prep phrase. Here "that" jumps the prep phrase to refer to the noun "responses".

that always refers to the noun it's placed next to. But in this case there is a noun phrase - "responses (noun) + in individuals (noun modifier)". "that" can jump the noun modifier phrase to refer to noun (responses). The usage is okay as long as :

- There is no ambiguity as 'that' cannot refer to individuals (we need 'who' to refer to individuals'. So this usage is considered okay.
- Whatever comes between 'that' and its referent noun is a noun modifier. In this case 'in individuals' is a noun modifier.

I've seen a couple official questions in which there is a verb between noun and 'that'. It was in the correct answer choice. Keep these exceptions in mind, and use them only if you are able to confidently mark other 4 options wrong. Between Rule and Exception, always go with the rule - that must be placed next to the noun it modifies.

Hope this helps!
Show more
Thanks sdlife.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using GMAT Club Forum mobile app
avatar
shiv17
avatar
Joined: 27 Jan 2016
Last visit: 08 Mar 2020
Posts: 19
Own Kudos:
17
Given Kudos: 134
Location: India
Concentration: International Business, Operations
Schools: ISB '19 Jindal '19 GMBA '19 IIM-B"19
WE:Design (Energy)
Schools: ISB '19 Jindal '19 GMBA '19 IIM-B"19
Posts: 19
Kudos: 17
Usage of That 04 Feb 2018, 12:31
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
sdlife
aarkay
"Lying produces emotional responses in individuals that, in turn, create physiological responses."

Does the relative pronoun "that" refer to individuals or emotional responses?

Logically, it should be "emotional responses", but as per the rule relative pronouns refer back to proceeding noun, which in this case is "individuals".

Correct me where I'm going wrong.


Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using GMAT Club Forum mobile app

Hi,

Prep Phrases always start with prepositions. Here the preposition is "in". So, only 'in individuals' is a prep phrase. Here "that" jumps the prep phrase to refer to the noun "responses".

that always refers to the noun it's placed next to. But in this case there is a noun phrase - "responses (noun) + in individuals (noun modifier)". "that" can jump the noun modifier phrase to refer to noun (responses). The usage is okay as long as :

- There is no ambiguity as 'that' cannot refer to individuals (we need 'who' to refer to individuals'. So this usage is considered okay.
- Whatever comes between 'that' and its referent noun is a noun modifier. In this case 'in individuals' is a noun modifier.

I've seen a couple official questions in which there is a verb between noun and 'that'. It was in the correct answer choice. Keep these exceptions in mind, and use them only if you are able to confidently mark other 4 options wrong. Between Rule and Exception, always go with the rule - that must be placed next to the noun it modifies.

Hope this helps!
Show more
Thanks for detailed explanation

Sent from my Moto G (4) using GMAT Club Forum mobile app
User avatar
sdlife
User avatar
Joined: 21 Jul 2015
Last visit: 05 Nov 2025
Posts: 185
Own Kudos:
68
Given Kudos: 489
GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V38
Products:
My Reviews
GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V38
Posts: 185
Kudos: 68
Usage of That 04 Feb 2018, 12:57
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
shivsuddala aarkay

Glad that my explanation helped! You can also thank me by giving Kudos! :-D
User avatar
VerbalBot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 01 Oct 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 19,424
Own Kudos:
1,010
Posts: 19,424
Kudos: 1,010
Usage of That 02 May 2020, 11:56
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club VerbalBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderators:
AbhishekP220108
506 posts
bhanu29
361 posts