Question

They have turned the old steel work into a library and you can see all the author’s works there. A. work into a library and you can see all the author’s works there. B. works into a library and you can see all the author’s works. C. works into a library and you can see all the author’s work. D. work into a library and you can see all the author’s work. E. foundry into a library and you can see all the author work.

Short answer

D

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Sentence Context

Read the sentence carefully to comprehend the context. The sentence describes the transformation of a place into a library where you can see the author's works.

Identify Singular and Plural Forms

Notice the usage of the words 'work' and 'works'. 'Work' can be singular, referring to an individual piece or unit of labor, while 'works' is plural, referring to multiple pieces or collections of efforts.

Analyze the Transformation Object

The sentence's transformation object can either be 'works' or 'work'. However, 'works' implies multiple steel operations, which isn't logical in the context. Therefore, 'work' should be used.

Investigate the Possessive Use

Notice the possessive 'author’s'. The works owned by an author should be used in plural, so the correct form should be 'work' when referring to the author's collection.

Determine the Suitable Response

Examine each option carefully. The correct answer will use 'work' for the singular transformation and 'work' for the plural possessive form referring to the author's literary collection.

Confirm Your Answer

Option D: 'They have turned the old steel work into a library and you can see all the author’s work there.' is the sensible choice considering the explanation provided above.

Key concepts

grammar rules

To tackle GMAT sentence correction, you first need a strong grasp of basic grammar rules. These rules are the foundation of correct sentence construction.

The GMAT often tests your ability to recognize errors in grammar. Focus particularly on rules governing subject-verb agreement, pronoun usage, and verb tenses.

Understanding these foundational rules allows you to spot errors quickly. Let's move to our next concept regarding possessive forms.

possessive forms

Possessive forms show ownership or relationship. In English, we typically form possessives by adding an apostrophe and an 's' to the noun.

For instance, 'author's' means that the work belongs to the author. If you see an apostrophe, it generally indicates possession.

Be aware of placement, as in 'author's works' which shows that the works belong to the author. Missing or misplaced apostrophes can change the meaning of a sentence entirely.

plural and singular usage

Knowing when to use singular or plural forms is crucial. Singular nouns refer to one item, person, or idea, while plural nouns refer to more than one.

In our example, 'work' can refer to a single piece of effort or creation. On the other hand, 'works' refers to multiple pieces of creation.

Pay attention to subject-verb agreement in the sentence to ensure correct usage. A singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb.

sentence context analysis

Context is king in sentence correction. Understanding the context helps you determine which form of a word to use.

For instance, in our example, the context tells us about the transformation of an old steel work into a library. It makes sense to use 'work' in its singular form referring to the notion of industrial effort.

Use context clues throughout the sentence to correctly identify which words should be singular or plural and to confirm possessive forms.

GMAT preparation

GMAT preparation involves more than just knowing grammar rules. Practice is essential.

Work on sample problems and timed quizzes to enhance your speed and accuracy. Use error logs to track mistakes and areas for improvement.

Strategies such as elimination of wrong options and focusing on sentence structure can be extremely beneficial. Practicing with actual GMAT questions will help you get used to the test format and types of questions asked.