Employment costs rose 2.8 percent

[RonPurewal]

Is it not possible to think of the phrase "slightly less.." as a noun modifier (adjective) referring to "employment costs"?

not possible.

first of all, "costs" is the subject of a whole huge clause that intervenes between it and the modifier; a noun modifier can't bridge a gap that large.

second, consider the meaning of the sentence -- costs have increased since the previous year, so it would be nonsensical to say that the costs themselves are slightly less than they were in that year.

[violetwind]

Employment costs rose 2.8 percent in the 12 months that ended in September, slightly less than they did in the year that ended in the previous quarter.

A. less than they did
B. less than it did
C. less than they were
D. lower than
E. lower than they were

OA: A
Thank you.

Hi Ron/ Emily/ Tim,

Thanks for your explanation. Also, I went through video of this example in "Thur with Ron"... That was also quite helpful.

I came across another question, similar to this -

Soaring television costs accounted for more than half the spending in the presidential campaign of 1992, a greater proportion than it was in any previous election.
A. a greater proportion than it was
B. a greater proportion than
C. a greater proportion than they have been
D. which is greater than was so
E. which is greater than it has been

Since, in first half of sentence, we have FORM of "TO DO", we need action verb in 2nd half something like DID....
But in this case, since we dont have that choice, nearest possible match is B.

Is this correct explanation or I am missing out some other "mismatch"??

OA B.

Hi Ron, in the problem about the television costs, I think "a greater proportion" means "more than half" but not the subject" soaring television costs", therefore, should this modifier still should obey the paralellism rule to use a "did" even if "greater proportion" does not parallel with the suject ?

[RonPurewal]

Hi Ron, in the problem about the television costs, I think "a greater proportion" means "more than half" but not the subject" soaring television costs", therefore, should this modifier still should obey the paralellism rule to use a "did" even if "greater proportion" does not parallel with the suject ?

you are right. the post you've quoted is wrong.

note that i didn't write that post.

[violetwind]

Hi Ron, in the problem about the television costs, I think "a greater proportion" means "more than half" but not the subject" soaring television costs", therefore, should this modifier still obey the paralellism rule to use a "did" even if "greater proportion" does not parallel with the suject ?

you are right. the post you've quoted is wrong.

note that i didn't write that post.

yea, it's not what you posted, I just quoted the SC problem I have question about.

just wanna confirm: you mean, if I wanna have a more completed setence ,I should say "a greater proportion than it did"? I'm not that clear about why it cannot be "was".

[violetwind]

Hi Ron, in the problem about the television costs, I think "a greater proportion" means "more than half" but not the subject" soaring television costs", therefore, should this modifier still obey the paralellism rule to use a "did" even if "greater proportion" does not parallel with the suject ?

you are right. the post you've quoted is wrong.

note that i didn't write that post.

yea, it's not what you posted, I just quoted the SC problem I have question about, I found the original post for this problem and have posted my question here. post54358.html#p54358 :-) Thank you Ron~

[jnelson0612]

Thanks!

[viz]

Hi,
What is the difference between 'less' and 'lesser' in terms of usage?
eg:
X is less/lesser than Y.

Thanks.

[tim]

i've never seen the GMAT correctly use "lesser" in the way you indicate..

[harpreet1205]

Employment costs rose 2.8 percent in the 12 months that ended in September, slightly less than they did in the year that ended in the previous quarter.

A. less than they did
B. less than it did
C. less than they were
D. lower than
E. lower than they were

OA: A
Thank you.

Hi Ron/ Emily/ Tim,

Thanks for your explanation. Also, I went through video of this example in "Thur with Ron"... That was also quite helpful.

I came across another question, similar to this -

Soaring television costs accounted for more than half the spending in the presidential campaign of 1992, a greater proportion than it was in any previous election.
A. a greater proportion than it was
B. a greater proportion than
C. a greater proportion than they have been
D. which is greater than was so
E. which is greater than it has been

Since, in first half of sentence, we have FORM of "TO DO", we need action verb in 2nd half something like DID....
But in this case, since we dont have that choice, nearest possible match is B.

Is this correct explanation or I am missing out some other "mismatch"??

OA B.

Hi Ron,

Could you please elaborate more on what the underlined portion(Since...did) means. Is there a general rule with regard to what has been mentioned.
I Was curious to know how is the above reasoning used to zero on choice B.

Thanks in advance :)

[RonPurewal]

I didn't write that.