thirteen colonies

[davetzulin]

* question removed

[nonameee]

I don't quite understand how the correct answer can be (A).

(A) says:

The thirteen original British colonies ... each had ...

Shouldn't it be:

Of the thirteen original British colonies ... each had ...

???

[RonPurewal]

I don't quite understand how the correct answer can be (A).

please read the whole thread; this issue has been addressed in considerable detail. thanks.

[gzgongzhe]

I have another problem regarding choice A
in choice A, 'a written charter that set forth...",
shouldn't be be 'a written charter that sets forth...' ?

can anyone help with it? thx a lot

[tim]

when did the setting forth take place? :)

[davetzulin]

Ron, pls, help. I do not understand above explanation. Pls, explain carefully and with an example. Thank you a lot.

here's an example:
ron has a very full schedule this week, with every one of his available time slots occupied.
--> this sentence works, because "with" actually applies to ron and/or his schedule -- i.e., ron is the person with those occupied time slots, and/or his schedule is actually the thing with those time slots.

[edited] -- the explanation i originally wrote here was in error.

quick question about Ron's example. when I see the "with" modifier, I usually look into two places for the thing being modified.

(1). nearest noun, or nearest verb, since it could be an adj/advb prep phrase.

would the modifier in the example work as modifying the verb "has"?

"Ron has, with everyone of his time slots occupied, a tight schedule"

Also, Ron mentioned that the preposition could modify "Ron himself"

"Ron, with everyone of his time slots occupied, has a tight schedule". This makes perfect sense, but i thought if the preposition is going to modify a noun it must at least touch the noun or only be intervened by another modify (not a clause).

did Ron mean that the prep modifier is actually kind of like a subject / verb modifier where it is modifying "Ron has" as a clause together in one? Then I assume Ron means it is an adverb prep modifier.

[tim]

Dave, stick with the touch rule and think of this example of an adverbial modifier. I've seen enough of your posts to know you have a very good grasp on SC, and my biggest advice at this point would be not to overanalyze things. Unless you've seen your question actually show up on a GMAT problem, you may be worrying about the wrong things..

[supratim7]

The thirteen original British colonies in North America each had a written charter that set forth its form of government and the rights of the colonists.

The colonies each - plural
Each of the colonies - singular

Therefore, doesnt it refer to "North America" and not to "the colonies each"

Thanks in advance

You're precisely right. The rule you cite--also cited on page 41 of our SC guide--is one violated here in the OA.

I won't say that I've never seen that rule breached by an expert user, but I am surprised to see it breached on the GMAT. I'll forward this to our curriculum committee.

Thanks for the sharp eye.

Any final word on this issue?? Is the rule (P#41-SC Guide) still valid??

Many thanks | Supratim

[jlucero]

Any final word on this issue?? Is the rule (P#41-SC Guide) still valid??

Many thanks | Supratim

The rule is still included in our updated strategy guide, so I would continue to use the rule IF it were a split in an actual answer choice. While it's not great that the GMAT seems to violate this rule outside of the underlined portion, I haven't come across this rule in an actual split.

[supratim7]

Thank you so much Joe. Noted you advise :)

Many thanks | Supratim

[tim]

:)

[thanghnvn]

normally we say

a beautifull girl, she learns gmat

she and the girl are the same and of course, the same singular.

I do not see

the beautiful girls, each learns gmat

this sentence is similar to choice A. This is the new thing we learn from gmatprep. ??? is that right?

[tim]

what is the "new thing" you think we've learned?

[thanghnvn]

I am confused
why in A

thirty colonies..., each had

why plural noun can be appsitive of "each" a singular.

pls help

[jlucero]

I am confused
why in A

thirty colonies..., each had

why plural noun can be appsitive of "each" a singular.

pls help

It's an inverted sentence structure that probably sounds a bit awkward (the GMAT's favorite). Look at the difference in meaning on the split b/w each and all:

The 5 families all had a home (1 home)
The 5 families each had a home (5 homes)

This is important with the pronoun that shows up later (in the non-underlined portion) in the sentence:

The thirteen colonies each had a written charter that set forth its form of government.

Each one had its form of government.