* Comparison Question - Good Question

[goelnikhils]

Many investors base their choice between bonds and stocks on comparing bond yields to the dividends available on common stocks.

A. between bonds and stocks on comparing bond yields to

B. among bonds and stocks on comparisons of bond yields to

C. between bonds and stocks on comparisons of bond yields with

D. among bonds and stocks on comparing bond yields and

E. between bonds and stocks on comparing bond yields with

Source of the Question is I got it from one of the GMAT blogs on net.

I marked the answer as E but some say it is C .

Can somebody help . I read from Manhattan SC guide that with is used for comparison so A,B& D are ruled out . But i am not convinced with C .

Please advise and help.

[vishalsahdev03]

Many investors base their choice between bonds and stocks on comparing bond yields to the dividends available on common stocks.

A. between bonds and stocks on comparing bond yields to

B. among bonds and stocks on comparisons of bond yields to

C. between bonds and stocks on comparisons of bond yields with

D. among bonds and stocks on comparing bond yields and

E. between bonds and stocks on comparing bond yields with

Source of the Question is I got it from one of the GMAT blogs on net.

I marked the answer as E but some say it is C .

Can somebody help . I read from Manhattan SC guide that with is used for comparison so A,B& D are ruled out . But i am not convinced with C .

Please advise and help.

Choice E says investors base.. choice... on.... <noun is required>
now we have two options 1. comparing.... which is wrong
2. comparisons ...this is correct

choice cannot be based on

comparing

but on

comparisons

because we need a noun to the the choice on, comparing is verb.
hence C is the ans.

[goelnikhils]

I am sorry for my ignorance but why do we need a noun . I am not sure but I am missing some grammer rule out here.

Please let me know what prompted you to say it should be a noun.

[goelmohit2002]

I think B and D can be kicked out due to Between and among.

Between for comparison of two items.
Among for comparsion of > 2 items.

For choices A and E....as per Manhattan SC guide comparison to = comparison with.

This has been told by Ron and Stacey on this forum too....

So choices A and E are same....please correct me if I am wrong....

Still not sure how to choose between (A/E) or C..... :-(

[selva.e]

i would go with E

comparing with - correct idiom. Comparing the same subject. here (yields)

so C and E stands.

i am supporting E because we need a verb in the form of comparing.

But in C, on comparison of is taking the passive form and also little bit wordy.

[vishalsahdev03]

I am sorry for my ignorance but why do we need a noun . I am not sure but I am missing some grammer rule out here.

Please let me know what prompted you to say it should be a noun.

Sure, please fell free for any further questions.

The usage of "base X on" needs a <noun>

base X on " the result"
" the output "
" analysis "
" research "
" judgement "... etc

It becomes incorrect if we say
" base X on " : "analyzing" or " researching "

I cant think of any rule here but its the usage of "base X on"
If the ManhattanGmat Staff can add something to this, that would confirm the possibility of a rule applied here, if any.

[rohit21384]

I am sorry for my ignorance but why do we need a noun . I am not sure but I am missing some grammer rule out here.

Please let me know what prompted you to say it should be a noun.

Sure, please fell free for any further questions.

The usage of "base X on" needs a <noun>

base X on " the result"
" the output "
" analysis "
" research "
" judgement "... etc

It becomes incorrect if we say
" base X on " : "analyzing" or " researching "

I cant think of any rule here but its the usage of "base X on"
If the ManhattanGmat Staff can add something to this, that would confirm the possibility of a rule applied here, if any.

Preposition should be followed by a noun/ noun phrase:
Other similar examples:
Because of
Instead of
Based on
due to
by virtue of
Inspite of

See they all end with preposition.

[RonPurewal]

hi - please post the SOURCE of this question, or we'll delete it shortly.

we require PRIMARY sources - i.e., the source from which the problem ORIGINALLY comes. you can't just re-post problems from other forums (especially forums whose names remain unspecified - this is basically the same as no source at all).

thanks.