0
Yaqi_wang Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Usage of 'what'
Dear teachers,
I have another question about a GMAT problem.
A leading figure in the Scottish enlightenment, Adam Smith's two major books are to democratic capitalism what Marx's Das Kapital is to socialism.
A. Adam Smith's two major books are to democratic capitalism what
B. Adam Smith's two major books are to democratic capitalism like
C. Adam Smith's two major books are to democratic capitalism just as
D. Adam Smith wrote two major books that are to democratic capitalism similar to
E. Adam Smith wrote two major books that are to democratic capitalism what
The official answer is E.
I am puzzled about the usage of 'what'. Someone comments that 'what' is a conjunction and it means 'as' here. I checked in Merriam-Webster dictionay but to find there is no such usage. Please also explain the reason why 'similar to' is wrong in D. Thank you very much for your help.
I have another question about a GMAT problem.
A leading figure in the Scottish enlightenment, Adam Smith's two major books are to democratic capitalism what Marx's Das Kapital is to socialism.
A. Adam Smith's two major books are to democratic capitalism what
B. Adam Smith's two major books are to democratic capitalism like
C. Adam Smith's two major books are to democratic capitalism just as
D. Adam Smith wrote two major books that are to democratic capitalism similar to
E. Adam Smith wrote two major books that are to democratic capitalism what
The official answer is E.
I am puzzled about the usage of 'what'. Someone comments that 'what' is a conjunction and it means 'as' here. I checked in Merriam-Webster dictionay but to find there is no such usage. Please also explain the reason why 'similar to' is wrong in D. Thank you very much for your help.
Top answer
In my terminology what is a relative pronoun which is inclusive of the antecedent in your sentence. yaqi_wang A leading figure in the Scottish enlightenment, Adam Smith's two major books are to democratic capitalism what Marx's Das Kapital is to socialism. I consider this sentence ungrammatical.
- In my terminology what is a relative pronoun which is inclusive of the antecedent in your sentence.
- yaqi_wang A leading figure in the Scottish enlightenment, Adam Smith's two major books are to democratic capitalism what Marx's Das Kapital is to socialism.
- I consider this sentence ungrammatical.
- Adam Smith , who is clearly the intended leading figure, is in the genitive.
- Two major books cannot be the figure since books are not people, but that's what the sentence implies as two major books is in the nominative case - or the common case as many call it.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
1 Answers
0
In my terminology what is a relative pronoun which is inclusive of the antecedent in your sentence.
yaqi_wangA leading figure in the Scottish enlightenment, Adam Smith's two major books are to democratic capitalism what Marx's Das Kapital is to socialism.I consider this sentence ungrammatical. Adam Smith, who is clearly the intended lead
0
Related Questions