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805+ (Hard)|   Clauses|   Comparisons|      
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KarishmaB
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While the Eastern Whip-poor-will a nocturnal bird that feeds 15 May 2016, 22:35
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PrakharGMAT
Hi Experts / chetan2u / VeritasPrepKarishma ,

I opted for D because this option tries to maintain the original meaning "Birds look similar when SITTING on branch" .But if I talk about option E, in this option "Birds look similar when they are on a branch".

So, option E slightly changes the meaning. Therefore I opted option D.

Can you please provide strong reason to eliminate D.

Please assist,
Thanks and Regards,
Prakhar
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Here is the thing about original meaning - it doesn't exist. Note that option (A) is in no way superior to other 4 options. The probability of option (A) being correct is 20% only. The distinction is not "original meaning" vs "altered meaning"; it is "logical" vs "illogical" meaning.

In option (A) and (D), "...equal in size to each other..." is somewhat illogical. For an onlooker, two things could be equal in size. They are not equal in size to each other.
On the other hand, you can say that when they stood side by side, they found that they were equal in height to each other... etc.

So you need to find the logically correct sentence. Option (E) is more appropriate because they appear equal in size to the onlookers.
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While the Eastern Whip-poor-will a nocturnal bird that feeds 29 Sep 2016, 22:58
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Hi,

Can someone please elaborate how C was eliminated ? I've read the Explainations given above,
but I still don't understand how in C the 1st part is incomplete or the 2 clauses aren't independent.
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While the Eastern Whip-poor-will a nocturnal bird that feeds 01 Oct 2016, 04:28
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anuj11
Hi,

Can someone please elaborate how C was eliminated ? I've read the Explainations given above,
but I still don't understand how in C the 1st part is incomplete or the 2 clauses aren't independent.
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First part (removing the modifiers):
While the Eastern Whip-poor-will -–a nocturnal bird that feeds mostly in the very early morning–- and the Common Nighthawk –-a nocturnal bird from the same family that, despite its name, feeds mostly during the morning and evening–- appear equal in size when sitting on a branch or in a nest;

The structure is: While X and Y appear equal in size; .... there is no independent clause before the semicolon. ( A semicolon must separate two independent clauses.)

[The only independent clause of the sentence comes AFTER the semicolon:
in the air, the Common Nighthawk appears much larger because of its greater wingspan.]
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While the Eastern Whip-poor-will a nocturnal bird that feeds 05 Mar 2017, 22:50
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kindly explain why option 3 is incorrect
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While the Eastern Whip-poor-will a nocturnal bird that feeds 06 Mar 2017, 04:52
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kindly explain why option 3 is incorrect
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While the Eastern Whip-poor-will -–a nocturnal bird that feeds mostly in the very early morning–- and the Common Nighthawk –-a nocturnal bird from the same family that, despite its name, feeds mostly during the morning and evening–- appear equal in size when sitting on a branch or in a nest; in the air, the Common Nighthawk appears much larger because of its greater wingspan.

Note the structure of the sentence:

While E and C appear equal in size when sitting on a branch; C appears much larger ...

So what we have here is a subordinate clause (starting with "While") and an independent clause. You cannot combine the two with a semi colon.
To use a semi colon, you must have two independent clauses.
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While the Eastern Whip-poor-will a nocturnal bird that feeds 06 Mar 2017, 10:45
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Hello expert,

I understand that option 'e' is correct, but as this options has the usage of 'each other' and 'one another' , could you please explain the difference between "appear equal to one another" and "appear equal to each other" in context of this question.
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While the Eastern Whip-poor-will a nocturnal bird that feeds 06 Mar 2017, 10:55
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VKat
Hello expert,

I understand that option 'e' is correct, but as this options has the usage of 'each other' and 'one another' , could you please explain the difference between "appear equal to one another" and "appear equal to each other" in context of this question.
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"Each other" and "one another" are interchangeable, though on this context they do not make sense. The phrase implies that bird A appears equal to bird B, and bird B appears equal to bird A.
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While the Eastern Whip-poor-will a nocturnal bird that feeds 25 Oct 2017, 08:45
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VeritasPrepKarishma
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Although E conveys best meaning, E is not 100% correct. A prepositional phrase is placed between two clauses and such construction is technically ambiguous. phrase is eligible to modify any clause.

Subordinate clause, prepositional phrase, main clause.

While is a subordinate conjunction connecting a subordinate clause with the main clause.

While Sub Clause, Main Clause.

While the Eastern and the Common appear equal in size when they are seen on a branch or in a nest, in the air, the Common Nighthawk appears much larger because of its greater wingspan.

For more on conjunctions, check:
https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2014/06 ... -the-gmat/
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Hi Karishma,
Option E changes the meaning as it says that the birds appear equal in size when they are seen in branches or in nests, whereas the original sentence says that the birds appear equal in size when they are sitting(not seen) in branches or in nests. Please clarify
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While the Eastern Whip-poor-will a nocturnal bird that feeds 26 Oct 2017, 05:38
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PiyushK
Although E conveys best meaning, E is not 100% correct. A prepositional phrase is placed between two clauses and such construction is technically ambiguous. phrase is eligible to modify any clause.

Subordinate clause, prepositional phrase, main clause.

While is a subordinate conjunction connecting a subordinate clause with the main clause.

While Sub Clause, Main Clause.

While the Eastern and the Common appear equal in size when they are seen on a branch or in a nest, in the air, the Common Nighthawk appears much larger because of its greater wingspan.

For more on conjunctions, check:
https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2014/06 ... -the-gmat/

Hi Karishma,
Option E changes the meaning as it says that the birds appear equal in size when they are seen in branches or in nests, whereas the original sentence says that the birds appear equal in size when they are sitting(not seen) in branches or in nests. Please clarify
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These are just two different ways of saying the same thing. There is no right or wrong meaning, no original or changed meaning. There is nothing that says that option (A) gives the original meaning. When we say error of "accuracy in meaning", we mean that it should be logical. It should not become senseless.
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While the Eastern Whip-poor-will a nocturnal bird that feeds 29 Jun 2019, 21:20
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daagh
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I understand; you are welcome
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Hi daagh, can you please explain why a semicolon in option C is wrong.
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While the Eastern Whip-poor-will a nocturnal bird that feeds 30 Jun 2019, 00:33
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Superg8 The key to your question is that the sentence starts with "while." That "while" creates a dependent clause that needs to be completed with the clause at the end: "the nighthawk appears much larger." We can only use a semicolon if we have two independent clauses.
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While the Eastern Whip-poor-will a nocturnal bird that feeds 14 Oct 2019, 18:38
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There are 3 key issues going on:
1. Appear equal... WHEN [condition] - the meaning is that the generally appear equal in size, but in one circumstance, in the air, they don't. In most of the answer choices, the sentence is composed as "appear equal in size when sitting on a branch or.." as opposed to the correct answer, E, which says they appear equal when they viewed in a specific environment, not enacting a specific movement such as sitting on a branch.
Second, I actually thought "appear equal...to each other" was redundant as "appear equal" generally implies between the two items in question.


2. The first clause is dependent, so the second clause must be independent.

C can be eliminated as we require an independent clause on either side of a semi-colon and C's structure is <dependent clause> + [semicolon] + <independent clause>

3. Due to Vs because of

A. appear equal in size to each other when sitting on a branch or in a nest, in the air, the Common Nighthawk appears much larger due to its greater wingspan.
B. appear equal in size to one another when sitting on a branch or in a nest, in the air, the Common Nighthawk appears much larger due to its greater wingspan.
C. appear equal in size when sitting on a branch or in a nest; in the air, the Common Nighthawk appears much larger because of its greater wingspan.
D. appear equal in size to each other when they are sitting on a branch or in a nest, in the air, the Common Nighthawk appears much larger because of its greater wingspan
E. appear equal in size when they are seen on a branch or in a nest, in the air, the Common Nighthawk appears much larger because of its greater wingspan.
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While the Eastern Whip-poor-will a nocturnal bird that feeds 03 Apr 2020, 08:12
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MentorTutoring

Can you pls explain me more about when we should be using "because of" and when "due to"

Thanks in advance!
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While the Eastern Whip-poor-will a nocturnal bird that feeds 03 Apr 2020, 08:52
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GDT
MentorTutoring

Can you pls explain me more about when we should be using "because of" and when "due to"

Thanks in advance!
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Hello, GDT. In general, I use a quick caused by test: if I could insert that phrase in place of due to, then due to is correct; if not, then because of is necessary instead. Some examples to illustrate the point:

1) The damage was due to the hurricane. (CORRECT - try to replace with caused by.)

2) Due to the hurricane, the house flooded. (INCORRECT - The main clause is saying that the house flooded because of the hurricane.)

Although I do not like getting overly grammatical in my approach to SC, you will notice above that due to modifies nouns--the damage in sentence 1 above--while because of modifies verbs--flooded in sentence 2. That is not too complicated or overwrought to remember.

If you want more practice, you might want to try the practice problems at the end of this e-GMAT article that I just pulled up on the matter.

Happy studies.

- Andrew
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While the Eastern Whip-poor-will a nocturnal bird that feeds 03 Apr 2020, 23:11
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I am convinced here with the explanations that E is the best of the lot, but I have question on a minor detail here.
In option E -> appear and when they are seen - are they not redundant here ? This doubt made me eliminate E here, else I was fine with it.
Just for a better understanding, wouldn't it be better had the sentence been something like appear equal in size when on a branch or in a nest, in the air, the Common Nighthawk appears much larger because of its greater wingspan. Please correct me if I am wrong here !!!
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While the Eastern Whip-poor-will a nocturnal bird that feeds 05 Apr 2020, 00:15
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Gokul20 I see your point, but the two words do get put to somewhat different purposes here. "When they are seen" describes the condition under which we are looking at the birds, while "appear" describes how the birds look to use. Similarly, we might say something like "When seen from below by a shark, a surfer can appear to be a seal."
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While the Eastern Whip-poor-will a nocturnal bird that feeds 05 Apr 2020, 21:02
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Quote:
While the Eastern Whip-poor-will – a nocturnal bird that feeds mostly in the very early morning – and the Common Nighthawk – a nocturnal bird from the same family that, despite its name, feeds mostly during the morning and evening– appear equal in size to each other when sitting on a branch or in a nest, in the air, the Common Nighthawk appears much larger due to its greater wingspan.

A. appear equal in size to each other when sitting on a branch or in a nest, in the air, the Common Nighthawk appears much larger due to its greater wingspan.

B. appear equal in size to one another when sitting on a branch or in a nest, in the air, the Common Nighthawk appears much larger due to its greater wingspan.

C. appear equal in size when sitting on a branch or in a nest; in the air, the Common Nighthawk appears much larger because of its greater wingspan.

D. appear equal in size to each other when they are sitting on a branch or in a nest, in the air, the Common Nighthawk appears much larger because of its greater wingspan

E. appear equal in size when they are seen on a branch or in a nest, in the air, the Common Nighthawk appears much larger because of its greater wingspan.
Show more

Between C and E, is 'when sitting' the only reason for eliminating C or there is also something to do with the semi-colon preceding in the air ? I just want to know whether in the air, the Common Nighthawk appears much larger due to its greater wingspan qualifies as independent clause or not ?
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While the Eastern Whip-poor-will a nocturnal bird that feeds 05 Apr 2020, 23:29
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Gokul20
Between C and E, is 'when sitting' the only reason for eliminating C or there is also something to do with the semi-colon preceding in the air ? I just want to know whether in the air, the Common Nighthawk appears much larger due to its greater wingspan qualifies as independent clause or not ?
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Hi Gokul, semicolon in option C is a big no-no.

Semicolon is generally used to connect two Independent clauses; however, while.....in a nest is a dependent clause.

Let's take a simpler example. Which one of the following would you select:

(i) While Peter is working hard, he is not very hopeful of good results.

Or

(ii) While Peter is working hard; he is not very hopeful of good results.

Hope it is evident that the semicolon in (ii) just looks completely out of place! The reason again being that semicolon is generally used to connect two Independent clauses; however, while.....hard is a dependent clause.

You can watch our video on Independent and Dependent Clauses.

p.s. Our book EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana discusses types of clauses, their application and examples in significant detail. If you or someone is interested, PM me your email-id; I can mail the corresponding section.
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While the Eastern Whip-poor-will a nocturnal bird that feeds 08 Apr 2020, 02:07
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EducationAisle, could you please explain to me the difference between an Independant and a Dependant clause?
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While the Eastern Whip-poor-will a nocturnal bird that feeds 08 Apr 2020, 02:54
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Hi Sakshi, as mentioned in my post above, you can watch our video on Independent and Dependent Clauses.

Additionally, our book EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana discusses types of clauses, their application and examples in significant detail. If you or someone is interested, PM me your email-id; I can mail the corresponding section.
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