While the Eastern Whip-poor-will a nocturnal bird that feeds

kindly explain why option 3 is incorrect

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.

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.

"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.

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

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.

Hi daagh, can you please explain why a semicolon in option C is wrong.

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.

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.

MentorTutoring

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

Thanks in advance!

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

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 !!!

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."

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 ?

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.

EducationAisle, could you please explain to me the difference between an Independant and a Dependant clause?

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.