VERBAL QUERY

Question

PROFITS PAY FOR A COMPANY'S RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS THE COMPANY'S PRIMARY SOURCE OF INNOVATION THAT HELPS THE COMPANY MAINTAIN ITS POSITION IN THE MARKET.

IN THIS SENTENCE- THAT HELPS THE COMPANY MAINTAIN ITS POSITION IN THE MARKET, WHAT DOES THAT REFER TO? INNOVATION OR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

PLEASE RESOLVE MY DOUBT.

idjevin · Answer

Hi sushmita,

",which" always refers to the noun or noun phrase that comes before it...this is a grammatical rule.
Therefore, "that" refers to "Innovation".
Moreover, it's innovation that helps a company maintain it's position in the market. Profit is just a variable metric.

Hope the reasoning helped,
Cheers

Sent from my ASUS_Z00ED using  GMAT Club Forum mobile app

idjevin · Answer

"That" would've referred to profits if there was a comma before it.

Sent from my ASUS_Z00ED using  GMAT Club Forum mobile app

sushmita31 · Answer

"That" would've referred to profits if there was a comma before it.

CAN U EXPLAIN WHY?? PLEASE

idjevin · Answer

Let me help you with an example:

The books, which are red in color, need to be packed.

Here < , which are red in color, > is extra information. The main idea is that the books need to be packed.

Similarly in your question if there was a comma and a conjunction(editing previous reply...conjunction is required after comma) before "that", it'll render the part described after "which" as extra information.

gmatclub forum

idjevin · Answer

Correction: "That" would've referred to "Research & Devpt"

GMAT club forum

VERBAL QUERY

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards