Now that so much data travels via light—i.e., is carried in glass fibers rather than by electrical current—one goal of semiconductor research is to develop a silicon chip that can transmit and receive light signals directly, a development that mav one dav lead to smaller, faster semiconductors.
A. to develop a silicon chip that can transmit and receive light signals directly, a development that may one day lead
B. to develop a silicon chip with the capability of transmitting and receiving light signals directly, which may one day lead
C. the development of a silicon chip that has the capability of transmitting and receiving light signals directly, a development maybe one day leading
D. developing a silicon chip that can transmit and receive light signals directly, which may one day lead
E. developing a silicon chip with the ability to transmit and receive light signals directly, with this development maybe one day leading

OA is A.
Can somebody clarify what type of gramatical construction is "...light signals directly, a development ..."

Source : GMAT Prep

Hi,

I don,t think the problem actually lies with Directly...
1. Tense problem using "has" means Prresent Perfect some thing that has started, use of "can" means future. Future is what the sent. talking about.
2. The second half of the sent.. "a development maybe one day leading" is awakward and "leading" is wrong usage here it is nt used a Gernurd here and it is suppporting the use of "can" which is wrong

that's a "comma + abstract noun" setup. it probably has some sort of grammatical name, but i have absolutely no idea what that name is.

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COMMA + ABSTRACT NOUN is allowed to stand for the ENTIRE IDEA OF THE PRECEDING CLAUSE.

examples:

the coach tried to put 5 receivers on the line, a strategy that failed.
--> here, "a strategy" (an ABSTRACT noun) stands for the WHOLE IDEA of putting 5 receivers on the line.

X observed large concentrations of metals in the sediments, findings consistent with...
in this case, "findings" (an abstract noun) stands for the WHOLE IDEA of observing large concentrations of blah blah blah.

etc.

on the other hand,
COMMA + CONCRETE NOUN usually stands for the DIRECTLY PRECEDING NOUN.

compare:
i went to the bar with john smith, a consultant in los angeles.
here, "a consultant" (a CONCRETE noun) refers ONLY to "john smith" (the preceding noun).

i went to the bar with john smith, an excursion that was much more fun than working all night.
here, "an excursion" (an ABSTRACT noun) stands for the WHOLE IDEA of going to the bar with john smith.

--

your construction is like the first couple in these examples.

Thanks Ron.

in B, capability of doing is also wrong idiom.

_________________
stephen

My opinion; with/has/have the capability of doing something = with the ability to do something are idioms..however, "can do something" is comparatively concise compared to the above-mentioned two idioms

don't forget that concision, by itself, is never going to be the only criterion for the elimination of a wrong answer. especially when you deal with idioms, you really don't want to be using concision: after all, idioms are either correct or incorrect, regardless of how concise they are.

the only major difference that i can posit between "can" and "has/have the ability..." is that the latter is generally used only for humans or other living animals, while "can" can be used either for humans/animals or for inanimate objects.

for instance, both of the following are correct:
this dog can speak english.
this dog has the ability to speak english.

however:
this clock can keep time so accurately that it will be off by less than a second at the end of an entire year. --> correct

this clock has the ability to keep time so accurately that it will be off by less than a second at the end of an entire year. --> incorrect (a clock is not a living animal, so this is inappropriate)