gmat prep qstn

[mrinal.singh06]

Minivans carry as many as seven passengers, and, compared with sport utility vehicles, most cost less, get better gas mileage,and make it easy for passengers to get in and out, and have a smoother, more car-like ride.
A. and make it easy for passengers to get in and out
B. and allow passengers to get in and out easily
C. and allow passengers to get in and out more easily
D. make it easier for passengers when getting in and out
E. allow passengers to get in and out more easily

ans-E


i wanted to know what is wrong with D.i know that "when" is used generally for time sequence but here what is the difference between choice D and E

[tim]

"when getting out" is not the appropriate way to modify "passengers" here; you should instead say "when they are getting out"..

[jyothi h]

"when getting out" is not the appropriate way to modify "passengers" here; you should instead say "when they are getting out"..

Does Option D also have ambiguity issue ? i.e "when getting in and out" could refer to passengers or minivans ? Although it's reference to "minivans" sounds a little absurd.
was just wondering, if ambiguity is also another issue here ?

[jlucero]

"when getting out" is not the appropriate way to modify "passengers" here; you should instead say "when they are getting out"..

Does Option D also have ambiguity issue ? i.e "when getting in and out" could refer to passengers or minivans ? Although it's reference to "minivans" sounds a little absurd.
was just wondering, if ambiguity is also another issue here ?

Absolutely. That's exactly why it's not the appropriate phrase to modify passengers.

[Feelaliveisa]

Hi,Ron
i'm confused about the staff's reply to the use of 'when getting in and out' here.

For instance:
Although energy prices have tripled in the United States over the last two years,research indicates that few people have significantly reduced the amount of driving they do or made fuel efficiency a priority when shopping for cars.
The correct sentence is from Prep,probably it should belong to another topic.However,i'm very confused about the staff's interpretation at this moment.

Thanks in advance
Feelaliveisa

[RonPurewal]

"when VERBing" must apply to the subject of the sentence.

e.g.,
I like to watch my son while swimming
--> this is illogical; it means that i'm watching my son while i'm swimming.

I like to close my eyes while swimming
--> this makes sense ("I" is the subject; I'm swimming.)

"when getting in and out" doesn't work in the originally posted sentence, because the subject is minivans.
minivans don't "get in and out", so that's nonsense.

"when shopping...", on the other hand, is perfectly fine, because "people" (the subject) are the ones doing the shopping.

[Feelaliveisa]

"when VERBing" must apply to the subject of the sentence.

e.g.,
I like to watch my son while swimming
--> this is illogical; it means that i'm watching my son while i'm swimming.

I like to close my eyes while swimming
--> this makes sense ("I" is the subject; I'm swimming.)

"when getting in and out" doesn't work in the originally posted sentence, because the subject is minivans.
minivans don't "get in and out", so that's nonsense.

"when shopping...", on the other hand, is perfectly fine, because "people" (the subject) are the ones doing the shopping.

Thanks a lot,Ron.(*^_^*)
Feelaliveisa

[jnelson0612]

"when VERBing" must apply to the subject of the sentence.

e.g.,
I like to watch my son while swimming
--> this is illogical; it means that i'm watching my son while i'm swimming.

I like to close my eyes while swimming
--> this makes sense ("I" is the subject; I'm swimming.)

"when getting in and out" doesn't work in the originally posted sentence, because the subject is minivans.
minivans don't "get in and out", so that's nonsense.

"when shopping...", on the other hand, is perfectly fine, because "people" (the subject) are the ones doing the shopping.

Thanks a lot,Ron.(*^_^*)
Feelaliveisa

:-) Glad that you were helped!

[gmatkiller_24]

HI， Ron

I got a problem about the sentence structure here.

in the correct sentence, Minivans carry as many as seven passengers, and compared with sport utility vehicles, most cost less, get better gas mileage, and make it easy for passengers to get in and out, and have a smoother, more car-like ride.

the first highlighted comma is used to separate two clauses
the second one was use to separate modifier " compared with " and " most....." ( Minivans is omitted)

the full version should be " Minivans carry as many as seven passengers, and compared with sport utility vehicles, (Minivans) most ....

is it the usage of "most " here similar to "each" in the following example
Ex. They each need a dog ----- Minivans most ....

Please clarify. Thanks~

[RonPurewal]

(nb: the modifier is actually surrounded by two commas, but that's irrelevant to the matter you're asking about.)

it's quite common for quantitative expressions to imply a noun that has already been mentioned.

e.g.,
Hundreds of people applied for the job, but only a few progressed to the interview stage, and just two were hired.
(one could write "a few of them" and/or "two of them"—but the meaning is quite clear, so it's more elegant just to write "a few" and "two".)

[RonPurewal]

incidentally, the most common usage of this type is "one" (which is often mistakenly classified as a special idiom).

Tammy knows everything about solar eclipses, even though she has never seen one.

[aflaamM589]

"when VERBing" must apply to the subject of the sentence.

e.g.,
I like to watch my son while swimming
--> this is illogical; it means that i'm watching my son while i'm swimming.

I like to close my eyes while swimming
--> this makes sense ("I" is the subject; I'm swimming.)

"when getting in and out" doesn't work in the originally posted sentence, because the subject is minivans.
minivans don't "get in and out", so that's nonsense.

"when shopping...", on the other hand, is perfectly fine, because "people" (the subject) are the ones doing the shopping.

Ron, should it be the subject of the sentence or subject of the last action, which may not necessarily be the subject of the sentence?


In case of ,Ving it is the subject of the last action. Is same deal here?

P.S: By last action i mean the action closest to when Ving( on left hand side)

[RonPurewal]

seems we're getting pretty far away from what's actually tested on this exam again. can you find an official problem in which this is an issue?

[aflaamM589]

will get back if i see something similar
Thanks
Have a nice day

[RonPurewal]

ok.