Question

In those days you had no real alternative but too enter the same trade or profession as your father. A. too enter the same trade or profession as your father. B. to enter the same trade or profession as your father. C. to enter the trade or profession like your father. D. enter the trade or profession same as your father. E. take up the trade or profession equal to your fathers

Short answer

B. to enter the same trade or profession as your father.

Step-by-step solution

- Identify the Error

Look at the phrase in the sentence: 'too enter the same trade or profession as your father.' Notice the error in the usage of 'too' which should be 'to' in the context of indicating direction or purpose.

- Examine All Options

Consider all the answer choices carefully: A) too enter the same trade or profession as your father, B) to enter the same trade or profession as your father, C) to enter the trade or profession like your father, D) enter the trade or profession same as your father, and E) take up the trade or profession equal to your fathers.

- Eliminate Incorrect Options

A) is incorrect because 'to' is misspelled as 'too'. C) is incorrect because 'like your father' is less clear compared to 'the same as'. D) is incorrect because 'same as' is used awkwardly. E) is incorrect because 'equal to your fathers' is not grammatically correct.

- Select the Correct Option

The only option that correctly uses 'to' and maintains clear meaning is option B) to enter the same trade or profession as your father.

Key concepts

error identification

When approaching GMAT Sentence Correction questions, the first step is 'error identification'. In this particular problem, we need to notice the misuse of 'too' instead of 'to'. The word 'too' is an adverb meaning 'also' or 'excessively', while 'to' is a preposition that indicates direction or purpose. This is a common and easily overlooked error. Spotting such errors requires attentiveness to detail as these small grammar mistakes can change the meaning of the sentence completely. By identifying and focusing on this error, students can narrow down their choices significantly.

grammar correction

Once the error has been identified, the next step is 'grammar correction'. For this exercise, we corrected 'too' to 'to' to address the direction intended in the sentence. Grammar correction ensures that the sentence adheres to standard English rules such as subject-verb agreement, proper use of prepositions, and correct sentence structure. This helps the sentence to convey the intended meaning clearly and correctly. In our corrected sentence 'to enter the same trade or profession as your father', the use of 'to' here aligns with the grammatical rules of indicating purpose or direction.

elimination method

The 'elimination method' is a critical strategy in GMAT Sentence Correction. Here's how you apply it: First, review all answer choices. As you spot inaccuracies, eliminate them immediately. In this exercise, we eliminated:

• Option A, because 'too' was incorrectly used instead of 'to'.
• Option C, because 'like your father' was less precise compared to 'the same as'.
• Option D, due to awkward phrasing with 'same as'.
• Option E, as 'equal to your fathers' is not grammatically correct, lacking clarity and proper agreement.

By this process of elimination, we identified option B as the correct answer, which accurately reflects standard grammar and clarity.

exam strategies

Effective 'exam strategies' can greatly enhance performance in GMAT Sentence Correction. Here are some tips:

• Always start by identifying the most obvious errors first, such as spelling and common grammatical mistakes.
• Read the sentence carefully to understand its meaning, then look for deviations in answer choices that alter this meaning.
• Use the process of elimination to your advantage by ruling out the clearly incorrect choices.
• Pay attention to common traps like misused words, awkward phrasing, and idiomatic errors.
• Practice regularly to develop a keen eye for detail and improve speed and accuracy.

With these strategies, students can approach each Sentence Correction question methodically and increase their chances of selecting the right answer.