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Exodejavu Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

a GMAT question

Hello.

What follows is a GMAT question.

Scientists believe that unlike the males of most species of moth, the male whistling moths of Nambung, Australia, call female moths to them by the use of acoustical signals, but not olfactory ones, and they attract their mates during the day, rather than at night.

(A) by the use of acoustical signals, but not olfactory ones, and they attract
(B) by the use of acoustical signals instead of using olfactory ones, and attracting
(C) by using acoustical signals, not using olfactory ones, and by attracting
(D) using acoustical signals, rather than olfactory ones, and attract
(E) using acoustical signals, but not olfactory ones, and attracting
The key answer is D.

I wonder why "by" is not needed and why "using acoustical signals" is not set off by a comma before "using."

Best Regards.
  

Top answer

exodejavu I wonder why "by" is not needed When a gerund ( using ) expresses the means by which something is done, the by is normally dropped. " A phrase that expresses the means by which something is done is not normally set off by commas. CJ

— CalifJim

  • exodejavu I wonder why "by" is not needed When a gerund ( using ) expresses the means by which something is done, the by is normally dropped.
  • " A phrase that expresses the means by which something is done is not normally set off by commas.
  • CJ
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1 Answers
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exodejavuI wonder why "by" is not needed
When a gerund (using) expresses the means by which something is done, the by is normally dropped.
exodejavuand why "using acoustical signals" is not set off by a comma before "using."
A phrase that expresses the means by which something is done is not norma
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