MGAMT SC-page-180,IDIOMS - It seems as if the flag .....

[pranabiitkgp]

In 'in action answer key' the right answer is
c) It seems as if the flag....

qs : 'Seems' already conveys the sense of uncertainty then why 'as if' should be correct with seems ?

[tim]

welcome to idioms. :) you just have to learn what the acceptable form of each idiom is, even if it seems redundant or less than ideal..

[pranabiitkgp]

Thanks Tim for confirming that this is in the domain of idioms !

- Pranab

[jnelson0612]

Yes, a great tip on idioms . . . just learn them. There is no rhyme or reason.

[yilou001]

why the first one is right, but the second one is wrong?

1) It seems as if the result demonstrates the new theory.
2) The result seems as if it demonstrates the new theory.

(Manhattan GMAT SC-page 172, Idioms)

[jnelson0612]

why the first one is right, but the second one is wrong?

1) It seems as if the result demonstrates the new theory.
2) The result seems as if it demonstrates the new theory.

(Manhattan GMAT SC-page 172, Idioms)

This goes back to what we are talking about with idioms. We can't really explain "why" an idiom is the way it is. Idioms are just little rules of the English language; they have no rhyme or reason. Since there is no figuring them out, except by ear, the only way to deal with them is to learn them. I recognize that you flashcard any idiom you struggle with.

The good news is that the GMAT test writers have announced that they are going to reduce the testing of idioms, but we aren't sure which idioms they are going to stop testing. Thus, for now, it's wise to keep studying them.

[Jov]

i think the correct version should be

It seems as if this result demonstrate (not demonstrates) the new theory.

Because as if and as though shows unreal situation.
Please let me know if this(demonstrates) is typo in SC 5 guide.

[tim]

No. You could say that a result demonstrates something, but you could not say that a result demonstrate something. This is a subject-verb agreement issue that is correct as written in the book.

[Jov]

My understanding is we use "as if/as though" only when we are showing unreal/not true situations.

She behaves as if she were born yesterday. (she were not born yesterday. - Not true situation)

Can we also use "as if/as though" for real situations? as we probably did here:

It seems as if this result demonstrates the new theory.

Here we are not talking about unreal/ not true situation. (this result demonstrates the new theory - Not unreal situation).

Please confirm/correct me if i am right about the different usages of "as if/ as though"?

[tim]

That has nothing to do with your original question, which was a pure subject/verb agreement issue. Putting this sentence in the conditional does not change the conjugation of the verb in this case.

[Jov]

Hi Team,

SC Edition 5 Manhattan Guide - Idioms - (Pg 172): It seems as if this result demonstrates the new theory.

But in the same guide at page 111 it is written in "Hypothetical Subjunctive" that "as if" is used to show unlikely or unreal situation.

The basic form of the hypothetical subjunctive is equivalent to the simple past. Here the simple past is "demonstrated" not demonstrate.

I also checked dictionary where all the usage of "as if" contains simple past.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/as+if

So in my understanding the correct sentence should be

It seems as if this result demonstrated the new theory.

Please let me know if I am wrong or if i missed something.

Cheers,
Tarun

[RonPurewal]

"it seems that X is true" means what it says-- that X is probably true!

in other words, exactly the opposite of what's necessary for the subjunctive thing.