SC -Subject Verb Agreement

[daksh2684]

Hi following is the question from GMATPrep

Not one of the potential investors is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement is signed that includes a provision for penalties if the deal were not to be concluded

a)is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement is signed that includes a provision for penalties if the deal were

b)is expected to make an offer for buying First Interstate bank until they sign a merger agreement including a provision for the penalties is the deal was

c)is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement be signed by them with a provision for the penalties if the deal were

d) are expected to make an offer for buying First Interstate Bank until it signs a merger agreement with a provision for penalties if the deal was

e) are expected to be making an offer to buy First Interstate bank until they sign a merger agreement including a provision for the penalties if the deal were


the options D and E are ruled out because of the word "are"
now amonng the remaining 3 i eliminated A and C coz the last part says "if the deal" which I think is singluar
since A nd C uses were ,they get eliminated as well
But the correct ans is A
Any comments

Thanks in advance
Regards

[dku.sdo]

Hi following is the question from GMATPrep

Not one of the potential investors is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement is signed that includes a provision for penalties if the deal were not to be concluded

a)is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement is signed that includes a provision for penalties if the deal were

b)is expected to make an offer for buying First Interstate bank until they sign a merger agreement including a provision for the penalties is the deal was

c)is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement be signed by them with a provision for the penalties if the deal were

d) are expected to make an offer for buying First Interstate Bank until it signs a merger agreement with a provision for penalties if the deal was

e) are expected to be making an offer to buy First Interstate bank until they sign a merger agreement including a provision for the penalties if the deal were


the options D and E are ruled out because of the word "are"
now amonng the remaining 3 i eliminated A and C coz the last part says "if the deal" which I think is singluar
since A nd C uses were ,they get eliminated as well
But the correct ans is A
Any comments

Thanks in advance
Regards

As u r agreed D & E r eliminated,now we have to chose between if deal was & if deal were. If we watch cautiously we should focus on verb mood,which should be subjunctive,thus B is eliminated.In C until a....be signed ....if deal were..,this is not correct form of If...Then...construction(See MGMAT SC Verb...5 if ....then construction).I think this helps.
Regards....
Dinesh

[daksh2684]

Phew
Completely forgot the subjunctive mood and if clause.
Thanks a ton

Regards

[tim]

:)

[michail.palagaschwili]

Hi, here is how I derived on the correct answer.
"Not one" is singular --> eliminate D and E
We have no plural subject in B and C, hence eliminate both because of "them" and "their"
A is correct by POE without complex reasoning about tenses and etc.