An attempt to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, begun almost two decades ago

[gagan_ait]

An attempt to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, begun almost two decades ago, has been unsuccessful despite efforts by many important groups, including the National Organization for Women.

(A) to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, begun almost two decades ago

(B) begun almost two decades ago, for ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment

© begun for ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment almost two decades ago

(D) at ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment, begun almost two decades ago

(E) that has begun almost two decades ago to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment

 

Although, I got the question right, I want to know what is the correct form of usage.

1) Attempt to ratify.....

or 2) attempt at ratifying....

can someone please elaborate if option (2) is the right usage at all in any case?

 

BTW the answer is (A).

This is my explanation for chosing (A), please let me know if its correct.

A) attempt to ratify… - CORRECT

B) misplacement of the comma after two decades ago changes the meaning of the sentence.

C) begun for is incorrect usage.

D) at ratifying - confused.

E) that has begun – it gives a picture that the attempt is still continuing.

[fighter]

attempt to is correct.

Even I made the same mistale like your's.

[crazyonMBA]

"Attempt to" is an idiom ..so no other go ..you have to follow..

[gagan_ait]

Alrite guys..What do you feel about the elimination reasons I have used. Do you think thts correct?

[Malegria]

An attempt to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, begun almost two decades ago, has been unsuccessful despite efforts by many important groups, including the National Organization for Women.

 

Question .. Can I write a cooma before the verb?? begun?? please explain..

[hjafferi]

Attempt to is the correct form of idiom so answer would be A

[fØrti]

imoA

 

attemp to ratify...

[GameAks]

An attempt to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, begun almost two decades ago

Here doesnt it feel like the Equal RightsAmendment has begun almost two decades ago?

[mitzi]

GameAks,

 

an attempt is not underlined, so I can see clearly that an attempt is the subject of this sentence.

 

What is your justification that Equal~ started two decades ago?

(Although you have eagle eyes to catch this)

[GameAks]

Mitz,

 

an attempt is not underlined, so I can see clearly that an attempt is the subject of this sentence.

-- If we go by this, then yes attempt can be considered as the subject, but I feel it is not a grammatical way of finding out the subject.

 

What is your justification that Equal~ started two decades ago?

(Although you have eagle eyes to catch this)

-- Exactly, its not Equal Rights amendment that has started two decades ago, but option A gives that feel, so accordiing to me A shouldnt be the correct answer.

[whiteeagle123]

can someone pls explain why it is not E

The problem with A is that "begun" is the 3rd form of tverb that is used with has/have.But in A has.have is missing whereas it is present in option E.

 

Can someone take it pls

[john333]

When do we use present perfect?

When something has happened in past and is continued till now.

They have arrived.

They have arrived and are still here.

 

Tell me which one is the better construction:

They have arrived two days ago and have been winning.(if their arrival is still continued then how could they win?)

They arrived two days ago and have been winning.

[cubicle]

my only question is : when did we see , begun almost two decades ago, as right usage. it is giving the impression that it is modifying E R Ammendment. Is that correct?

[mitzi]

(A)to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, begun almost two decades ago,

begun… ago modifies ‘an attempt’; an attempt… has(s-v agreement)

(B)begun almost two decades ago, for ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment

for ratifying(unidiomatic) out

©begun for ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment almost two decades ago

for ratifying (unidiomatic) out

(D)at ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment, begun almost two decades ago,（A）

at ratifying (unidiomatic) out

(E)that has begun almost two decades ago to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment

has begun… ago (the sequence of two verbs is incorrect)

[mitzi]

I also think that A can be served as a correct answer when 'including' is not separated by a comma.

 

since 'including' is separated by a comma, it is a present participle to modify the preceding clause rather than to modify 'organizations'

it should be

 

"organization including....."

 

What do you think guys? Thanks for your help!

[HashimB]

An attempt to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, begun almost two decades ago, has been unsuccessful despite efforts by many important groups, including the National Organization for Women.

(A) to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, begun almost two decades ago

(B) begun almost two decades ago, for ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment

© begun for ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment almost two decades ago

(D) at ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment, begun almost two decades ago

(E) that has begun almost two decades ago to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment

 

Although, I got the question right, I want to know what is the correct form of usage.

1) Attempt to ratify.....

or 2) attempt at ratifying....

can someone please elaborate if option (2) is the right usage at all in any case?

 

BTW the answer is (A).

This is my explanation for chosing (A), please let me know if its correct.

A) attempt to ratify… - CORRECT

B) misplacement of the comma after two decades ago changes the meaning of the sentence.

C) begun for is incorrect usage.

D) at ratifying - confused.

E) that has begun – it gives a picture that the attempt is still continuing.

 

 

I thought I would point out somethings for you guys to think about. Remember that while many explanations rely on strange rules that might be hard to remember, the GMAT is a standardized test. Which means the rules that it can and will cover are both finite and predictable.

 

The Ing Thing

SPOT: Look for –ing form of verbs.

RULE: Use the –ing form of verbs for an action in progress –OR– to begin a modifier.

 

Since there is no action that is currently being done. None of the answer choices that change to an -ing form of a verb should be appealing to us.

 

Prepositions

SPOT: Look for words that indicate placement.

RULE: Prepositions must be used literally (e.g., over means spatially above, around means spatially encircling et cetera).

 

"At" means a location. The choice that changes to to at is incorrect.

 

Advanced Verbs

SPOT: Look for actions in two time frames or have + verb combinations.

RULE: When two actions occur are in the same frame (past present or future) and not happening at the same time, we must use the have been + verb form with one of those verb to distinguish.

 

We do have actions in two time frames, therefore the has + verb form is appropriate. BUT, note that we are already given that form outside of the underlined part and so we do not need it again (remember that it distinguishes one verb/timeframe from another). The choices that use the have + verb forms in the underlined parts are incorrect.

 

I hope this helps.