Sentence Improvement: Can't figure out the logic...

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>Intimacy, love, and marriage are three different, if interrelated, subjects.</p>

<p>(A) different, if interrelated, subjects
(B) interrelated subjects, being, however, different
(C) different subjects, whereas they are interrelated
(D) different subjects when interrelated
(E) subjects that are different although being interrelated</p>

<p>I don't seem to understand the idea behind this question; to me is sounds like the subjects can be different if interrelated or can be different despite being related.</p>

<p>So, what would you choose and why?</p>

2

<p>I think I will choose B in the end but I am torn between B n E.
I feel they are trying to say tht the 3 subjects can be different despite being interrelated</p>

3

<p>i've asked the same question kk. i believe it was A. correct me if i'm wrong.</p>

4

<p>it's (a).</p>

<p>as a brief explanation, there's nothing wrong with the sentence as provided. in english, you can describe things as [X, if Y], and it means that they have the X characteristic even thoughy they also have the Y one.</p>

<p>You could say, for example, "That game was great, if a little long," and that means "Even though that game was a little long, it was still great."</p>

<p>From an SAT perspective, (b) and (e) are both wrong for the same reason: the SAT avoids -ing words in general (and the word "being" in particular) whenever possible.</p>

5

<p>SkyGirl, I ultimately chose E but I though B was great as well.</p>

<p>Tsenguun, it is A.</p>

<p>Michael, as always your explanations are enlightening. Apparently, I had never heard or properly understood the "X, if Y" thing. </p>

<p>Thanks all repliers.</p>

6

<p>No problem. Thanks for the kind words. Also, be advised that this particular construction is fairly rare, if perfectly acceptable :)</p>

7

<p>haha, nice, thanks xitammarg</p>

8

<p>yea, thx mike. that's new grammar for me!!!</p>

9

<p>Thanks xitammarg I didn't know that either.</p>