Is it Subjunctive or Future Conditional

[sana.noor]

Because of differences in the human body's internal pressure and the ocean's, it is essential that a diver returning to the surface ascends slowly or they will suffer a painful condition known as the "bends."


A) differences in the human body's internal pressure and the ocean's, it is essential that a diver returning to the surface ascends slowly or they

B) the difference between the human body's internal pressure and the ocean's, it is essential that a diver returning to the surface ascend slowly or they

C) the difference in the human body's internal pressure and that of the ocean, it is essential that a diver returning to the surface ascends slowly or he

D)differences in the human body's internal pressure and that of the ocean, it is essential that a diver returning to the surface ascend slowly or they

E) the difference between the internal pressure of the human body and that of the ocean, it is essential that a diver returning to the surface ascend slowly or he

OA is E...My question is that according to answer explanation, Manhattan says that its a command subjunctive but other experts say its future conditional..i wana know that why the word "will" is right why not would if it is command subjunctive. "will suffer a painful condition known as the "bends."

[tim]

you just need to understand when "will" and "would" are used; don't worry too much about the specific grammar terms that are used, because they won't be of nearly as much use on the GMAT. consider the following examples, all of which are correct:

"you must do x or y will happen" (like the example given)
"if you do x then y will happen" (one type of future conditional)
"if you did x then y would happen" (another type of future conditional)

[sana.noor]

THANKU SOOOO MUCH

[tim]

you're welcome!

[aditya8062]

i feel that this question uses a command subjunctive because after the comma there is this phrase "it is essential " .now as per Manhattan book such phrase as "it is essential....." depicts urgency hence need to be command subjunctive .
now my question is if this expression (namely :"it is essential") were not there after the comma and the sentence wud read something like this :

Because of the difference in the human body's internal pressure and that of the ocean, a diver returning to the surface ascends slowly or he will suffer a painful condition known as the "bends."

will the above mentioned sentence be correct ?
i know i am not supposed to modify sentences like this but i want to understand if my logic of using command subjunctive is correct
honestly i had boiled down to option C and E .i guess comparison is fine( the initial part ) in both C and E .its only command subjunctive that makes E correct
Ron plz help me understand if my logic is right or wrong
thanks and regards

[jlucero]

i feel that this question uses a command subjunctive because after the comma there is this phrase "it is essential " .now as per Manhattan book such phrase as "it is essential....." depicts urgency hence need to be command subjunctive .
now my question is if this expression (namely :"it is essential") were not there after the comma and the sentence wud read something like this :

Because of the difference in the human body's internal pressure and that of the ocean, a diver returning to the surface ascends slowly or he will suffer a painful condition known as the "bends."

will the above mentioned sentence be correct ?
i know i am not supposed to modify sentences like this but i want to understand if my logic of using command subjunctive is correct
honestly i had boiled down to option C and E .i guess comparison is fine( the initial part ) in both C and E .its only command subjunctive that makes E correct
Ron plz help me understand if my logic is right or wrong
thanks and regards

Since you are talking about a hypothetical, you must have a conditional word in there. This is the difference between:

You must have a conditional word in there. (you should)
vs
You have a conditional word in there. (you do)

So your sentence is incorrect:

a diver ascends slowly (a diver is currently doing this)
vs
a diver must ascend slowly (if it were to happen)
or
it is essential that a diver ascend slowly (if it were to happen)

[aditya8062]

i have read in many post of staceys that eternal truths or facts that are always true are told in present tense
for example :the sun rises in the east (this does not mean that sun is presently rising in the east )

so now if i consider the following sentence :
Because of the difference in the human body's internal pressure and that of the ocean, a diver returning to the surface ascends slowly or he will suffer a painful condition known as the "bends.

isint the expression "a diver returning to the surface ascends slowly"
intending to state a rule that is followed as a thumb rule ---a kind of fact that is always followed--- and hence must be stated in simple present tense and hence it might not mean that a "a diver" is doing this acceding at the moment
plz guide me
thanks and regards

[tim]

you cannot have an "eternal truth" followed by an "or"; it just doesn't make any logical sense! first, a diver ascending slowly isn't an eternal truth, but if it were then it would make no sense to provide an alternative. we would never say "the sun rises in the east or i am sad"! :)