For some reason the new consultant treats his clients like

Question

For some reason the new consultant treats his clients  like idiots, talking to them like they  were mentally deficient and incapable of understanding more than the simplest ideas.

(A) like idiots, talking to them like they
(B) as if they were idiots, talking to them like they
(C) like idiots, talking to them as if they
(D) as idiots, talking to them like they
(E) like idiots who

MarkSullivan · Accepted Answer

Plenty of great observations already on this one, but I thought I'd chime in to emphasize one particular point about comparisons. The words "like" and "as" function in very similar ways, but there is one major distinction:

"Like" must be used to compare nouns and "as" must be used to compare clauses.

Probably the first split one should notice here is the "like" vs. "as" at the beginning of the underline portion. Here we are actually trying to compare the clients directly to "idiots" (well, at least that's the comparison that the consultant seems to be making!) It's noun-to-noun, so "like" is correct and choices (B) and (D) are now out. Now that we have "like" on the mind, we should notice the second usage of it, after the comma. "Talking to them" is a clause so choice (A) is out as well.

Choice (E) is actually not an incomplete sentence. It's grammatically correct to say "For some reason he treated clients like idiots who ..." The problem here is definitely meaning. In the original, we're trying to convey that he  talks  to his clients  as if  they were mentally deficient, but in (E) the subordinate clause beginning with "who" is just modifying "idiots", saying that they actually are mentally deficient.

A subtle point, but a great example of why we should stick to grammar as long as possible!

Cheers,
Mark

echizen · Answer

I agree, C is the correct answer.
"who" or "like" cannot work because of the past tense in the second part.

seofah · Answer

E is fundamentally changing the intended meaning by modifying "idiots". C is best - i.e. we need modifying clause to modify the whole pre-comma section.

DenisSh · Answer

I think the key phrase here is 'as if they' (C). Options A, B, D are wrong because they use '...them like...'. E changes the original meaning.

Your opinion?

l0rrie · Answer

treating clients like idiots, who were.. who were refers to idiots more than the clients here.. doesn't really make sense in this way..

treating clients like idiots as if they were.. 'as if they', meaning that they refer to the clients being treated AS idiots

crick20002002 · Answer

+1 for C.

like : for similarity in nouns/noun clauses.
as for similarity in verbs/actions.

Crick

saikarthikreddy · Answer

311. For some reason the new consultant treats his clients like idiots, talking to them like they were mentally deficient and incapable of understanding more than the simplest ideas.

(A) like idiots, talking to them like they--> the second like in the sentence is wrong.As is preferred because we are comparing actions  
(B) as if they were idiots, talking to them like they--> the as in the sentence must be like because nouns are being compared and second must be like  
(C) like idiots, talking to them as if they--> correct 
(D) as idiots, talking to them like they-->  instead of like as must be used 
(E) like idiots who--> incomplete

thevenus · Answer

For some reason the new consultant treats his clients like idiots, talking to them like they were mentally deficient and incapable of understanding more than the simplest ideas.

Meaning:- The consultants THINK / CONSIDER their clients idiots.Hypothetically but not that the clients are mentally deficient."AS IF "has to be introduced in order to retain the author's intent .

(A) like idiots, talking to them like they
(B) as if they were idiots, talking to them like they
(C) like idiots, talking to them as if they  correct 
(D) as idiots, talking to them like they
(E) like idiots who- 
 hypothetical construction is needed. "who "could have used when the clients were really mentally deficient or idiots

lotus · Answer

C, noun comparison should be done with 'like' and them and they clearly refer clients

roopika2990 · Answer

Can you give me an example?? ... I don't understand why A is wrong ...

shanmugamgsn · Answer

A is wrong

For some reason the new consultant treats his clients like idiots, talking to them  like   they were mentally deficient and incapable of understanding more than the simplest ideas.

To make comparison followed by clause "as" should be used.. "like" should not be followed by clause.

So C will be choice here

vietmoi999 · Answer

what is the difference between

treat sb as st

and

treat sb like st

or, there is no phrase "treat sb as st"

pls help. thank you

mahdis · Answer

c is correct
"as if" should be use before a clause
"like" should be use before a noun or a oronoun

arirux92 · Answer

For people confused between C & E :

The consultant is treating clients like idiots and  talking to them  as if they were mentally deficient; not idiots who are are mentally deficient. The phrase " Talking to " is essential to conserve the meaning of the original sentence.

AkshdeepS · Answer

(A) like idiots, talking to them  like they

(B) as if they were idiots, talking to them  like they

(C) like idiots, talking to them as if they

(D)  as idiots , talking to them  like they

(E) like idiots who

A. "like" should be followed by a noun and not by a clause

B. Same as A.

C. Correct option.

D. Same as A. Additionally, "As" should be followed by a clause.

E. Changes the intended meaning, though it is grammatically correct.

chowdhurysakib71 · Answer

Posted from my mobile device

But according to logic of another post in Gmat Club , if I use 'like' instead of 'as' here the meaning will be, he will behave with customers like the idiots behave with customers. Not the customers are being treated as idiot!!

This is very confusing

VerbalBot · Answer

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For some reason the new consultant treats his clients like

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For some reason the new consultant treats his clients like

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