Billie Holiday's Singing

[RonPurewal]

b. want to learn prep. "like" better.
can i say" I use my voice like an instrument. "? or i have to change my sentence into "Like an instrument, my voice is used by me"

In the kind of formal English used by GMAC, "like" has two uses.

1/
It can describe the subject of the preceding (or following) part. In this case, the action should be something done by both the subject and the noun following "like".
Like my brother, I played hockey as a child.
I talk like my brother.
In both of these sentences,
- the comparison is between me and my brother,
- the action describes something that both of us do/did.

2/
It can just refer to a NOUN that's like another NOUN.
I enjoy fatty meats like prosciutto.
Here, we're referring to meats that are specifically like prosciutto. I like these meats.
Note"”In this construction, I'm only saying that I enjoy fatty meats that are similar to prosciutto (in taste, texture, whatever). Other fatty meats I may love or hate; it's not specified here.

Note the distinction from fatty meats such as prosciutto, which implies no such similarity. This construction just implies that prosciutto is but one example of the fatty meats that I like (which may exhibit considerable variety).

"I use my voice like an instrument" doesn't satisfy either of these.
1/ I'm not like an instrument (and an instrument doesn't use a voice).
2/ I'm not talking about voices that are actually similar to instruments.

So, no, doesn't work.

[RonPurewal]

c. can i eliminate A. simply because in the clause "BH's approach to sing was to use her voice like an instrument", "to use" is wrong.

No. That part is fine.

In fact, coincidentally, I wrote a sentence with this very construction (My approach ... is to formulate...) in my response to your first query.

The easiest way to kill A is to realize that it says "Holliday's approach" where it should say "Holliday".

"In that" is also a problem. (I think we just addressed that in one of your other posts earlier this week.)

[Tadashi]

Sorry for my late reply.
Thank you first. Want to learn in that better.

OA : Billie Holiday used her voice in the same way that other musicians use their instruments, in that she ranged freely over the beat, flattening.out the melodic contours of tunes, and, in effect, recomposed songs to suit her range, style, and artistic sensibilities.

A: Billie Holiday’s approach to singing was to use her voice like an instrument, in that

The skeleton of OA is that BH used her voice in the same way that other musicians use their instruments, in that XXXX.

here. the "that" clause right after the prep. "in" describe some features shared both by BH when she uses her voice and by other musicians when they use their instruments. (i don't know if this sentence correctly convey my questions)

the reason why the use of "in that" in A is wrong is that actually there is no need to put a prep. in this sentence.


Am I right?
Thank you very much indeed
Tadashi.

[RonPurewal]

There's no structural problem with "in that xxxx" in either of those choices. Both instances have the same functional purpose: to qualify/restrict the "voice = instrument" idea.

EDIT:
In context, though, the thing being qualified in choice A doesn't make sense. See below. (Tadashi: Thanks.)

E

[Tadashi]

AH!OMG,
Ron,
you just said that " "In that" is also a problem. (I think we just addressed that in one of your other posts earlier this week.)
"
and now you tell me that "I see no problem with "in that xxxx" in either of those choices."

Thanks anyway!
Tadashi.

[RonPurewal]

Ha, yes, that was ... less than clear.

Here is what I meant:

"- "In that" doesn't really make sense in choice A.
it's placed after "...like an instrument""”implying that any instrument could theoretically be played in such a way.

"- In choice D, on the other hand, "in that she xxxxx" follows a statement about how BH sang in the same way certain others played their instruments.

--

In the last post, I guess I was referring to the idea that there's nothing structurally wrong with either instance of "in that".

Edited.

Apologies for the original lack of clarity there.

[Tadashi]

Now I understand.
Thanks Ron!
Tadashi

[RonPurewal]

You're welcome.

[gbyhats]

Hi Ron,

Can I kill choice C in that "like" is followed by a sentence?

(you example showed to Tadashi all use the structure of "like someone", so I assume "like" can only be follow by sentence)

1/
Like my brother, I played hockey as a child.
I talk like my brother.

2/
I enjoy fatty meats like prosciutto.

Thank you for your time and patient!!!

[thanghnvn]

b. want to learn prep. "like" better.
can i say" I use my voice like an instrument. "? or i have to change my sentence into "Like an instrument, my voice is used by me"

In the kind of formal English used by GMAC, "like" has two uses.

1/
It can describe the subject of the preceding (or following) part. In this case, the action should be something done by both the subject and the noun following "like".
Like my brother, I played hockey as a child.
I talk like my brother.
In both of these sentences,
- the comparison is between me and my brother,
- the action describes something that both of us do/did.

2/
It can just refer to a NOUN that's like another NOUN.
I enjoy fatty meats like prosciutto.
Here, we're referring to meats that are specifically like prosciutto. I like these meats.
Note"”In this construction, I'm only saying that I enjoy fatty meats that are similar to prosciutto (in taste, texture, whatever). Other fatty meats I may love or hate; it's not specified here.

Note the distinction from fatty meats such as prosciutto, which implies no such similarity. This construction just implies that prosciutto is but one example of the fatty meats that I like (which may exhibit considerable variety).

"I use my voice like an instrument" doesn't satisfy either of these.
1/ I'm not like an instrument (and an instrument doesn't use a voice).
2/ I'm not talking about voices that are actually similar to instruments.

So, no, doesn't work.

thank you Ron,

it seams that there is the 3rd usage of "like"
main clause+like+noun

this pattern is similar to
main clause+as + clause.

I do not remember the og question which accept this pattern in the OA. the question seem to contain "computer can think like human". the 3 rd usage is controvertial because the OA using that pattern is in og 10, which is too old.

we do not need to be sure of the 3 rd usage. we need to know that there is maybe the 3 rd case.

[thanghnvn]

the following from gmatprep (in this forum) proves that there is 3rd usage of "like"

As rare as something becomes, be it a baseball card or a musical recording or a postage stamp, the more avidly it is sought by collectors.
(A) As rare as something becomes, be it
(B) As rare as something becomes, whether it is
(C) As something becomes rarer and rarer, like
(D) The rarer something becomes, like
(E) The rarer something becomes, whether it is

[RonPurewal]

the correct answer to that problem does not contain "like", so that problem proves nothing.

[aflaamM589]

Hi Ron,
Hope you are doing good.
Along other errors, is by using also problematic in C and E?
Best

[RonPurewal]

what do you think is wrong with it?