Practice: Indefinite Pronouns - This is from the Knewton

Question

Practice: Indefinite Pronouns - This is from the Knewton prep course

Some scholars who study Woolf's novel To The Lighthouse argue that each of the vacationers—Mrs. Ramsay, Mr. Ramsay, Lily, and Charles— is depicted not as a true character but rather as a caricature, even  less developed than the simplest Ramsay child.

a) is depicted not as a true character but rather as a caricature, even

b) who are not depicted as true characters but rather caricatures and are even

c) are depicted, and they are not true characters but rather caricatures, but even

d) is depicted as not true characters but rather as caricatures, even

e) who is depicted not as a true character but rather as a caricature who is even

In relation to this question I have question,  
Why is  scholars  not subject and  argue  the main verb ? (It is apparently  Each  and  is )

My argument is based on the fact that:
 That  is a Relative pronoun indicator (Relative Pronoun indicator makes the “that clause” a relative clauses, and relative clauses don´t carry the main subject, right?

Can someone please explain to me what I am not understanding here ?

Thanks

Berbatov · Answer

A in 00:47

A: Correct
B: Sentence doesn't end
C: each and are doesn't fit
D: word order is messed up
E: Sentence doesn't end

In this sentence, you have two layers with subjects:

1: Scholars argue (that)
2: ...each of the X is

Hence you need two verbs (drop B and D) and a singular form in the second layer (drop C). Between A and D, D sounds wrong and akward due to the order

akbism · Answer

I have another doubt-
What is wrong in the following:
Some scholars who study Woolf's novel To The Lighthouse argue that each of the vacationers—Mrs. Ramsay, Mr. Ramsay, Lily,
and Charles—who are not depicted as true characters but rather caricatures and are even less developed than the simplest Ramsay child.

Even though A is right, B also seems OK to me.

Please clarify.

Berbatov · Answer

"are" is wrong (referring to each) and the sentence the second part of the sentence doesn't have a verb

fluke · Answer

If Knewton said "each" - "is" is the main subject-verb of the entire sentence, then Knewton is wrong.
"each" is the main subject of the relative clause "that  each  of the vacationers  is  depicted not as a true character but rather as a caricature"

The main subject-verb pair of the independent clause remains as you said- "Scholars argue".

Better confirm it with Knewton folks.

A is the answer, though. I hope you are not doubting that!!

akbism · Answer

What about this-
Some scholars who study Woolf's novel To The Lighthouse argue that each of the vacationers —Mrs. Ramsay, Mr. Ramsay, Lily,
and Charles— who are not depicted as true characters but rather caricatures and (who) are even less developed than the simplest Ramsay child.

fluke · Answer

What about this-
Some scholars who study Woolf's novel To The Lighthouse argue that each of the vacationers —Mrs. Ramsay, Mr. Ramsay, Lily,
and Charles— who are not depicted as true characters but rather caricatures and (who) are even less developed than the simplest Ramsay child.

Then, the statement has not only skewed miles away from what it intended to convey, but also became a fragment, meaning thereby there is no proper verb for the relative clause that starts with "that".

"who" modifies the statement such that it creates a filter to the given options.

vacationers who are not depicted as true characters
"are not depicted" is wrong. Because, the depiction happens, but the depiction happens as "not true characters"

So, saying 
are depicted not as etc.- is apt.

Now, let's say we have:
"who are depicted not as true characters"
Here we are changing the intended meaning by creating a filter. This modifying clause is now selecting only few vacationers from the list. e.g. only Mr. Ramsay was depicted not as true character. The intent is different; the sentence wants to convey that all of the vacationers were depicted not as true characters. It's the same thing as with which and that.

Of all the balls that are red, get me the biggest one. (There are different colored balls and we are to select only the red balls and out of the red balls, we need to get the biggest one)
Of all the balls, which are red, get me the biggest one. (There are only red balls and the biggest one is wanted)

Marcab · Answer

can u plz explain what problem lies with e...
i am confused between a and e

fluke · Answer

A)
Some scholars who study Woolf's novel To The Lighthouse argue that each of the vacationers—Mrs. Ramsay, Mr. Ramsay, Lily, and Charles—is depicted not as a true character but rather as a caricature, even less developed than the simplest Ramsay child.

Each of the vacationers is depicted not as a true character but rather as a caricature.
This sentence conveys that every vacationer is depicted NOT as a true character but as a caricature.

E)
Some scholars who study Woolf's novel To The Lighthouse argue that each of the vacationers—Mrs. Ramsay, Mr. Ramsay, Lily, and Charles—who is depicted not as a true character but rather as a caricature who is even less developed than the simplest Ramsay child.

Here,
who is depicted not as a true character but rather as a caricature
"who" creates a filter, altering the meaning that out of the four vacationers, whoever was depicted as a true character but rather as a caricature: something needs to be conveyed about that. It's okay; nothing grammatically wrong with that. Just changes a meaning a little, but we really don't know what author's intending to convey so let's just take that as okay.

Now, the next who

who is even less developed than the simplest Ramsay child.
here "who" is modifying a caricature. "who" must always modify a person. A caricature is not a person. So, that's wrong.

Furthermore, the relative clause that started with that
that each of the vacationers 
who is depicted not as a true character but rather as a caricature
who is even less developed than the simplest Ramsay child.

This clause must have a verb, otherwise it will be called fragment, and fragment it is.
"who is depicted not as a true character but rather as a caricature": Modifying sub-ordinate clause
"who is even less developed than the simplest Ramsay child.": Modifying sub-ordinate clause.

where is the main verb that refers to the subject " each  of the vacationers". That's wrong.

hafgola · Answer

Thanks guys (especially fluke) 
I will try to contact knewton about this specific question, meanwhile I put my faith in you guys

Since I am not taking the Live sessions with Knewton (to much time difference) I am not sure if I will be able to ask them specifically about this.. but if I get a hold of them I will post their reply here

thanks again

jeeteshsingh · Answer

A is the clear winner.

The subject in this statement is the "each of the vacationers....Mr.." (best is to cut of the first part of the sentence before each of the vacationers. Will give you a better idea as the sentence still makes sense and the subject is clearly identified.)

We have or among the names hence is will be "is depicted" and not "are depicted". Therefore - B & C are ruled out.

Among A, D & E - D has "as not true" which isnt correct. It should be "not as true". Therefore D is out.

Between A & E - A is clearer and better. E uses too much of "who" which isnt needed.

hence it will be A!

akbism · Answer

Then, the statement has not only skewed miles away from what it intended to convey, but also became a fragment, meaning thereby there is no proper verb for the relative clause that starts with "that".

"who" modifies the statement such that it creates a filter to the given options.

vacationers who are not depicted as true characters
"are not depicted" is wrong. Because, the depiction happens, but the depiction happens as "not true characters"

So, saying 
are depicted not as etc.- is apt.

Now, let's say we have:
"who are depicted not as true characters"
Here we are changing the intended meaning by creating a filter. This modifying clause is now selecting only few vacationers from the list. e.g. only Mr. Ramsay was depicted not as true character. The intent is different; the sentence wants to convey that all of the vacationers were depicted not as true characters. It's the same thing as with which and that.

Of all the balls that are red, get me the biggest one. (There are different colored balls and we are to select only the red balls and out of the red balls, we need to get the biggest one)
Of all the balls, which are red, get me the biggest one. (There are only red balls and the biggest one is wanted)

Fluke, 1 more kudos to you.

yogesh1984 · Answer

I do not know too much of intricacies (as explained by Fluke :wink:

) but by POE guided me to choose A....

akbism · Answer

In general, PoE can be fatal if we don't have some idea about the answer (my personal opinion).

metallicafan · Answer

+1A

"each" is singular.
"not...but..." requires paralllelism. Usually the first word in each side of the idiom should be of the same type.: not AS....but AS...
Also, the grammatical structure in both sides must be the same.

Practice: Indefinite Pronouns - This is from the Knewton

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