Maya and Aztec

[hberens18]

A. but it was not as highly sophisticated as that of the Maya and was

How do we know that "it" and "that" refer to 'written language'? Couldn't these pronouns also refer to 'hieroglyphic system of writing'?

[RonPurewal]

How do we know that "it" and "that" refer to 'written language'? Couldn't these pronouns also refer to 'hieroglyphic system of writing'?

important takeaway:
the rules on ambiguous pronouns are NOT absolute.

there are only two ABSOLUTE RULES for pronouns:
(1) the pronoun must stand for a noun that is actually PRESENT in the sentence;
(2) the pronoun and the noun must MATCH IN TERMS OF SINGULAR/PLURAL.

the other pronoun "rules", such as those that govern ambiguity of pronouns, are more like "guidelines" or "suggestions".
therefore, you should leave those criteria for last - i.e., until after you've narrowed down the choices based on all other criteria that you can find.

[tankobe]

Ron, what is wrong with E. Is it meaning. I do realize that A is the best.

However is a conjunction joining 'Aztec people also developed a written language' and 'it was more pictographic in nature' with 'not as highly sophisticated as the Maya's' as modifier to second clause. So nothing grammatically wrong with this choice. Please let me know if I am wrong.

no, the use of "however" in (e) is wrong. in fact, it's wrong in 2 ways.

first, the punctuation used in that choice is universally wrong. you can NEVER put a comma only after a conjunction.
let's try this in another sentence:
i read the book and, i also watched the movie.
this should look ridiculous. if it doesn't look absolutely awful, IMMEDIATELY, you may want to consider heading to a public library and checking out an american junior-high- or early high-school-level grammar book, and looking over the parts on punctuation.

second, the words "however" and "therefore" are not used in american english as they're used in british english.
in british english, these words are used as coordinating conjunctions, in the same way as are and, or, yet, and the like. in american english, on the other hand, you CANNOT use them as coordinating conjunctions; you have to use them in the same way as words/constructions such as nevertheless, despite all of these things, etc.

for instance:
i left home twenty minutes early, however i was still late. --> i think this is correct british usage, but it is WRONG WRONG WRONG in american english.
i left home twenty minutes early; however, i was still late. --> correct american usage. note the semicolon (which could also be a period, if these were longer sentences) and the comma, BOTH of which are essential.

hi ron! i am confused by the usage of the however,could you put on more kinds of usage of this word? in you post, it seems that this however can just function as adv followed by a comma!

i thoughy however can act as conj and be follow by a subclause if companied with comma in both sides, so i eliminate D(without a subclause) and E (without comma in both sides) ;am i right?

[RonPurewal]

i thoughy however can act as conj and be follow by a subclause if companied with comma in both sides

nope.

the only way "however" can be flanked by two commas is if it's inserted into a sentence, as an interjection. in other words, if "however" is blocked off by 2 commas, then the sentence should still make perfect sense if you just REMOVE the "however" completely.

here's an example:

this food takes two hours to cook in the oven; in the microwave, it takes only six minutes.

this food takes two hours to cook in the oven; in the microwave, however, it takes only six minutes.

these sentences are both correct.

[tankobe]

i thoughy however can act as conj and be follow by a subclause if companied with comma in both sides

nope.

the only way "however" can be flanked by two commas is if it's inserted into a sentence, as an interjection. in other words, if "however" is blocked off by 2 commas, then the sentence should still make perfect sense if you just REMOVE the "however" completely.

here's an example:

this food takes two hours to cook in the oven; in the microwave, it takes only six minutes.

this food takes two hours to cook in the oven; in the microwave, however, it takes only six minutes.

these sentences are both correct.

appreciate!

[RonPurewal]

appreciate!

glad it helped

[tankobe]

appreciate!

glad it helped

in addition:
1# However much United States voters may agree that ..., it is difficult to find broad support for a movement toward a minimal state.
when however function as no matter how, it is a Conj.

[14548284]

can you tell me why D is wrong?

[RonPurewal]

can you tell me why D is wrong?

incorrect use of COMMA + -ING modifier.

see here:
post30766.html#p30766

the use of COMMA + -ING in that choice seems to indicate (illogically) that the aztec language was less sophisticated AS A DIRECT RESULT OF being more pictographic.

these are just two separate observations, with no apparent relationship, so "and" is the better choice.

[manish1sinha]

Ron, what is wrong with E. Is it meaning. I do realize that A is the best.

However is a conjunction joining 'Aztec people also developed a written language' and 'it was more pictographic in nature' with 'not as highly sophisticated as the Maya's' as modifier to second clause. So nothing grammatically wrong with this choice. Please let me know if I am wrong.

no, the use of "however" in (e) is wrong. in fact, it's wrong in 2 ways.

first, the punctuation used in that choice is universally wrong. you can NEVER put a comma only after a conjunction.
let's try this in another sentence:
i read the book and, i also watched the movie.
this should look ridiculous. if it doesn't look absolutely awful, IMMEDIATELY, you may want to consider heading to a public library and checking out an american junior-high- or early high-school-level grammar book, and looking over the parts on punctuation.

second, the words "however" and "therefore" are not used in american english as they're used in british english.
in british english, these words are used as coordinating conjunctions, in the same way as are and, or, yet, and the like. in american english, on the other hand, you CANNOT use them as coordinating conjunctions; you have to use them in the same way as words/constructions such as nevertheless, despite all of these things, etc.

for instance:
i left home twenty minutes early, however i was still late. --> i think this is correct british usage, but it is WRONG WRONG WRONG in american english.
i left home twenty minutes early; however, i was still late. --> correct american usage. note the semicolon (which could also be a period, if these were longer sentences) and the comma, BOTH of which are essential.

Ron,

Could you please explain:

1)why the usage of "and comma" in the sentence you created
(i read the book and, i also watched the movie.)is wrong whereas the usage is right in the following GMAT PREP question:

Minivans carry as many as seven passengers and, compared with most sport utility vehicles, cost less,
get better gas mileage, allow passengers to get in and out more easily, and have a smoother ride.

A. Minivans carry as many as seven passengers and, compared with most sport utility vehicles, cost less,
B. Minivans, which carry as many as seven passengers, compared with most sport utility vehicles, they cost less,
C. Minivans carry as many as seven passengers, in comparison with most sport utility vehicles, and have a lower cost, they
D. Minivans, carrying as many as seven passengers, compared with most sport utility vehicles, cost less,
E. Minivans, which carry as many as seven passengers, compared with most sport utility vehicles the cost is lower, and they

the OA is A.

2)What is the difference between "comma and" and "and comma"?

Thanks in advance :)

[RonPurewal]

1)why the usage of "and comma" in the sentence you created
(i read the book and, i also watched the movie.)is wrong whereas the usage is right in the following GMAT PREP question:

Minivans carry as many as seven passengers and, compared with most sport utility vehicles, cost less,
get better gas mileage, allow passengers to get in and out more easily, and have a smoother ride.

in that sentence, the comma following "and" is not part of the skeleton of the sentence; it belongs to the green modifier.
if you remove the green modifier, then both of the commas are gone, and you have a structure that does not have a comma after "and" (as required).

this is the ONLY time when you'll ever see a comma directly after "and" -- when the comma marks the beginning of a modifier.

[mirantdon]

great explanation Ron, Thanks again.!

[RonPurewal]

sure

[facadeof_reality]

What is wrong with C? This is a GmatPrep question.

During the same period in which the Maya were developing a hieroglyphic system of writing, the Aztec people also developed a written language, but it was not as highly sophisticated as that of the Maya and was more pictographic in nature.

A. but it was not as highly sophisticated as that of the Maya and was

B. but it was not as highly sophisticated ad the Maya, being

C. but, not as highly sophisticated as the Maya's, was

D. not as highly sophisticated as that of the Maya, however, being

E. not as highly sophisticated as the Maya's however, it was

Hi Ron,

Though I know that A is the best choice and is the answer. I have a simple questions about the structure.



During the same period in which the Maya were developing a hieroglyphic system of writing, the Aztec people also developed a written language,

but it was not as highly sophisticated as that of the Maya and was more pictographic in nature.


Here the comma before but is used to close the modifier, so howcome the part after but can be an independent clause.

[RonPurewal]

Here the comma before but is used to close the modifier

no!

the part that you are calling a modifier ("the Aztec people also developed a written language") is actually the main clause, i.e., the core of the entire sentence.

the part before that one is a modifier (which you can tell from the fact that "during" is a preposition).