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Pronon antecedent

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ssajjan03
 Post subject: Pronon antecedent
 Post Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 7:42 am 
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Supernovas destroy their immediate environments in vast explosions, BUT by synthesizing heavy chemical elements, THEY provide the universe with the possibility of biochemistry-based life as we know it.

In the explanation, it says that "THEY" clearly refers to supernovas. Why is there not an ambiguity of antecedent between - supernovas and explosions.
Is it just due to the modifier " by synthesizing heavy chemical elements"
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jnelson0612
 Post subject: Re: Pronon antecedent
 Post Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 10:58 pm 
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ssajjan03 wrote:
Supernovas destroy their immediate environments in vast explosions, BUT by synthesizing heavy chemical elements, THEY provide the universe with the possibility of biochemistry-based life as we know it.

In the explanation, it says that "THEY" clearly refers to supernovas. Why is there not an ambiguity of antecedent between - supernovas and explosions.
Is it just due to the modifier " by synthesizing heavy chemical elements"


An antecedent cannot be a noun in a preposition, and if you look "explosions" is part of the phrase "in vast explosions". Good question!

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Jamie Nelson
ManhattanGMAT Instructor
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mayurpawar1
 Post subject: Re: Pronon antecedent
 Post Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 2:31 pm 
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Hi, I am new here, and just starting up with the GMAT.
And after looking at this example and the explanation, I understand why "explosions" is not an antecedent but i couldn't figure out why "environments" can't be antecedent for "THEY".

Please explain.
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thevishz
 Post subject: Re: Pronon antecedent
 Post Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 8:08 am 
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_____ provide the universe with the possibility of biochemistry-based life as we know it.

Supernovas provide the universe with the possibility of biochemistry-based life as we know it.

Supernovas' environments cannot provide the universe with the possibility of biochemistry-based life as we know it.


So, In case its a good idea to replace the pronoun with multiple antecedents and see which one makes sense. Here " Supernovas" make sense and moreover it it the focus of the sentence . Hence it wins clearly.
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jnelson0612
 Post subject: Re: Pronon antecedent
 Post Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 11:43 pm 
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That is a very good point, and a nice way to work out pronoun antecedents. :-)

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Jamie Nelson
ManhattanGMAT Instructor
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