[b]Sentence- The acquaintences who we like the most are those that flatter us best.[/b]My Q - How can i figure out what is the subject and the object here. According to me The acquaintences is the subject here .

[b]Sentence - Of all the earthquakes in european history , the earthquake , which destroyed Lisbon in 1755, is perhaps the most famous. [/b]

My Q - Isn`t the opening modifier " [color=#BF0000]Of all the earthquakes in european history"[/color] telling us about this specific Earthquake. Hence, i think that ,+ which modifier ie: the non essential modifier is justified.

Please correct me . Stacy / Ron / any staff memebers / any student who is sure of their answers.
Thank You in advance

Hi,

That first sentence is a tricky one. You're right that "acquaintances" is the subject of the sentence. However, it is also the object of the verb "like," so we need to use "whom."

A simpler example:

The man whom I robbed is filing charges against me.

In this case, the man is the subject. We could simply say "The man is filing charges against me." However, in the modifying portion ("whom I robbed"), we are describing him in terms not of what he has done, but of what has been done to him. Therefore, "whom" is correct.

The same is true in #7. "The acquaintances" are those who flatter us best, but we are specifying the particular acquaintances we mean in terms of how WE feel about THEM. That's why we use "whom."

In #9, the initial modifier does not help us to determine which earthquake we are talking about. Generally, we can omit a non-essential modifier and still have a clear (if less detailed) sentence. Try leaving out the second modifier:

Of all the earthquakes in European history, the earthquake is perhaps the most famous.

The meaning is no longer clear. Therefore, that additional modifier is needed (i.e. essential).

_________________
Dmitry Farber
Manhattan GMAT Instructor

Thankyou very much for your help.

:)

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Tim Sanders
Manhattan GMAT Instructor