Deserts are inhabited with several distinct animal species, with each their own method of adapting to long periods of moisture shortage.
- with several distinct animal species, with each their
- with distinctly several animal species, each with its
- by several distinct animal species, each with its
- by several distinct animal species, having each its
- by several distinct animal species, that each has their
What does this question test?
This question tests your understanding of modifiers, pronoun-antecedent number agreement, and behavior of “each” as subject.
What does this sentence mean?
This sentence states that several different animal species inhabit deserts. Each of these species have their own method of adapting to long periods of moisture shortage.
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What are the errors in the original sentence?
Deserts are inhabited with several distinct animal species, with each their own method of adapting to long periods of moisture shortage.
Pronoun-Antecedent Number Error: The pronoun “their” refers to the antecedent “each”. Since “each” is always singular, the pronoun “their” should be singular “its”.
Idiom Error: Correct idiomatic construction is “inhabited by”. One can either memorize this construction or can deduce this from the following analysis.
The clause “deserts are inhabited with several animal species” is written in passive voice. We can write the same sentence in active voice as “several animal species inhabit deserts”. Now let’s convert this passive again “deserts are inhabited by several animal species”. And hence the idiomatic construction – inhabited by.
Modifier Error: comma + with modifier typically modifies the preceding clause. In this case, this modification is non-sensical. Ideally, the modifier should begin with “each”. This modifier will act as a noun modifier modifying the distinct animal species.
An alternate way to approach this error is that modifier “with” is misplaced. “With” is a preposition, connecting two items in a sentence, establishing a relationship between them. From the intended meaning of the sentence, it is clear that “with” should connect “each” with “their own”. Thus, it should be placed between “each” and “their”.
Answer Choice Analysis
Choice B: Deserts are inhabited with distinctly several animal species, each with its own method of adapting to long periods of moisture shortage.
Idiom Error pertaining to use of inhabited with: Similar to Choice A.
Modifier Error: It does not make sense for distinct to modify several. As in the original sentence, distinct should modify animal species and hence should be used as an adjective and not as an adverb.
Choice C: Deserts are inhabited by several distinct animal species, each with its own method of adapting to long periods of moisture shortage.
No Errors.
Choice D: Deserts are inhabited by several distinct animal species, having each its own method of adapting to long periods of moisture shortage.
Modifier Error: The verb-ing modifier “having each its…” appears to modify the preceding clause since it is separated by comma. This modification is illogical. Per the intended meaning, it should modify the noun – animal species since it presents a characteristic of these species.
Choice E: Deserts are inhabited by several distinct animal species, that each has their own method of adapting to long periods of moisture shortage.
Subject- Verb Number Error: The subject – that refers to plural animal species. Thus, the verb should also be plural – have. Note that in this construction since “each” appears after the subject, it has no impact on the number of the verb. This is explained in detail in e-GMAT advanced concept – SV – Words that do not change number.
Thus, Choice C is the correct answer.
What are the key take-away messages?
- Comma + with modifier typically modifies the preceding clause. Thus, when you see this modifier ensure that the modification makes sense.
- Pronoun – antecedent should agree in number.
- Each is a singular subject, but when each appears after the subject, the number of the verb depends on the number of the subject only.
- The correct idiomatic construction is “inhabited by”.
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