thanghnvn Wrote:RonPurewal Wrote:Anonymous Wrote:what is the difference between C and D?
a few things about choice c:
(1) 'who were still harboring' is wordy, esp. in comparison to the more concise version 'still harboring' presented in choice d**
(2) 'is privy' doesn't make as much sense as will be privy', because the comments to which the person will be privy haven't been posted yet (it's a future occurrence)
(3) 'would add' can be interpreted in two ways: either as a subjunctive (for a hypothetical that isn't actually true, as in 'i wish you dressed more nicely') or as the past-tense version of 'will'. the first doesn't make sense, because this hypothetical could clearly be true, and the second doesn't make sense because the hack is being described in the present tense, not the past tense. 'might', a present tense construction, makes more sense.
choice d, on the other hand, uses the more concise form 'still harboring' and the correct-tense forms 'will be' and 'might'.
Thank you Ron
gmat accept the use of "do" in the "so that " purpose clause. evidence for this is the following sentence from gmatprep.
The Chicago and Calumet Rivers originally flowed into the St. Lawrence by way of Lake Michigan, but having been redirected by constructing canals so that the water now empties into the Mississippi by way of the Illinois River.
(A) Rivers originally flowed into the St. Lawrence by way of Lake Michigan, but having been redirected by constructing
(B) Rivers had originally flowed into the St. Lawrence by way of Lake Michigan, but they have been redirected by constructing
(C) Rivers, which originally flowed into the St. Lawrence by way of Lake Michigan but have been redirected by the construction of
(D) Rivers, originally flowing into the St. Lawrence by way of Lake Michigan, but having been redirected by the construction of
(E) Rivers, originally flowing into the St. Lawrence by way of Lake Michigan, have been redirected through the construction of
so, there is no problem with " is" in choice C.
this problem is fundamentally different from the "privy" issue here.
as i stated above, "is privy" doesn't make sense, because the events to which so-and-so will be privy haven't happened yet"”they are in the future.
in the sentence you've posted here, the rivers have already been redirected, so the use of the present tense is perfectly sensible (and the use of the future tense would be nonsense).
they're not the same.
"would do" can not be hypothetical and past form of will inhere. I aggree with you. but both "would do" and "will do" can be used for present time. "would do" is less certain and more polite than "will do".
however, "would do" is still used to say of certainty while "might do" is used to say of possibility. This make choice C wrong because the meaning should be a possiblity not a certainty
I don't understand what you are saying here.
I will tell you one thing, though: If you are concerned with "polite" language, well, don't be.
The whole point of "polite" spoken language is to AVOID directness and frankness"”two qualities that are absolutely essential in written language, particularly of the type tested in SC.
one question, pls, help.
I see "would do " appear frequently in present time on gmat and on good material . I do not fully understand the use of "would do" in present time and grammar books do not say much of this point. pls explain more the use of "would do" in present time not in past time or unreal hypothetical action.
thank you.
If you "see it appear frequently", please cite some of those instances. Thanks.
(Otherwise, if you are looking for a perfectly general discussion of "would", just use Google and read the top results.)