If the proposed expenditures for gathering information abroad are reduced even further, international news reports have been and will continue to diminish in number and quality.
(A) have been and will continue to diminish
(B) have and will continue to diminish
(C) will continue to diminish, as they already did,
(D) will continue to diminish, as they have already,
(E) will continue to diminish
What does this question test?
This question tests your ability to identify and remove redundant expressions in a sentence. It uses conditional verb construction “if present tense, then simple future tense”.
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What does the sentence mean?
This sentence states a conditional statement using “if-then” construction. If certain expenditures are reduced even further, then reports will diminish in number and quality. This has happened in the past as well, that is why it is safe to say that the reports will continue to diminish in number and quality.
What are the errors in the original sentence?
This choice has 2 errors:
1: Conditional Verb Tense Error – First of all the verb “have been to diminish” is incorrect. Secondly in this if..then construction, use of “have been diminished” is incorrect. Only simple present and simple future tense are allowed in this construction in the “then” clause.
2: Redundancy Error – The use of “have been diminished” is redundant since the word “continue” expresses this meaning effectively.
Answer Choice Analysis
Choice B – This choice has similar error as in choice A. The only difference is that the verb here is have diminished instead of have been diminished.
Choice C – Redundancy error as in choice A. The expression “as they already did” is redundant, since “continue” expresses the intended continued diminishing of the quality of reports.
Choice D – Same error as in Choice C.
Choice E – No errors.
Thus, Choice E is the correct answer.
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What are the key take-away messages?
- Sentence should be concise. Redundant use of words/expressions must be avoided.
- When the if clause has simple present tense, then clause can only have simple present tense of simple future tense.
Where can you find more information?
Register at e-GMAT to access Sentence Correction free trial. Access “Conditional Verb” concept in Level 2 to know more details about allowable tenses in conditional statements.
