Beat The GMAT

A.Kiran · Sun Nov 08, 2009 2:08 am

i really did not understand, what is " extended noun phrase "

1. Is the "extended noun phrase" = Apposite phrase ?
like it just gives the information of the noun in
the sentence.

I was reading the Staceys response to this

http://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/og-sc-105-t1277.html

I understood that,

1, (noun) extended modifier), Which

here Which refers to the noun

2. (noun) (modifier), ( extended modifier , not really it is extended but a modifier) , which

Here which refers to the not the first noun but the noun just before it.

Does the extended modifier means the APPOSITE PHRASE ?

can u please explain me in detail what you meant by the apposite phrase ?

Back to top

Stacey Koprince · Mon Nov 16, 2009 12:33 pm

I'm not sure what an "apposite phrase" is. The closest thing I can think of is an "appositive" - is that what you mean?

an appositive is a noun phrase that does not use a typical modifier intro - so it would not use "which" or any of those words to introduce the modifier. Here's an example:

The yellow dog, a Golden Retriever, is large.

"a Golden Retriever" is a modifier, describing the dog, and specifically it's an appositive - a simple noun phrase (no extra words) that describes another noun. "a Golden Retriever" is also what's called "non-essential" - meaning you don't have to have the words in the sentence to understand the basic meaning. The type of dog is just "extra" info.

In the example to which you linked (which we can't discuss directly anymore because it's an OG post from a long time ago), we had something like this (I'm substituting words):

A technique called Magic, which can make gold out of other objects, ...

We've got another appositive here, "called Magic," but in this case we aren't putting a comma between technique and Magic. Why not? Well, this time, "called Magic" is essential to the sentence - we're naming the technique. We're not just saying any technique can make gold out of other objects - we're saying that this technique is capable of making gold out of other objects.

The "which" part of the sentence, on the other hand, is NOT an appositive. The "which" refers technically to the "technique" (though you could say the full noun phrase is "a technique called Magic" not just "a technique"). The "called Magic" is an essential modifier that defines "technique" - so it's allowed to "get between" the main noun (technique) and the standard "which" noun modifier (which can make...).

Back to top

Beat The GMAT

extended noun phrase

Free GMAT Prep Resources

GMAT Prep Discounts

Free Upcoming GMAT Events

Latest GMAT Articles

Latest GMAT Videos

Popular Resources