Sentence Correction

atnt444 wrote:Hi thought I could guess the answer , I would like to understand the resumtive modifier thing . Can you please give some example to explain it ...would really appreciate it . Thanks.

This SC employs not a resumptive modifier but an APPOSITIVE: a phenomenon is IN APPOSITION TO global warming. Two nouns (or noun phrases) are IN APPOSITION when they appear side by side, with one serving to explain or define the other. In the OA, a phenomenon caused by human beings' burning of fuels is an APPOSITIVE helping to explain global warming.

For a discussion of RESUMPTIVE modifiers, check my post here:

https://www.beatthegmat.com/wasps-t38234.html

I don't undestand in C (the OA), how "humans being's burning of fossil fuels" can be correct.
The burning takes place BY the humans beings, but it is not OF the humans beings. The possesive ('s) means OF, not BY, doesn't it?

Please your help. Thank you!

(C)...OG12 question

GMATGuruNY wrote: In A, in burning fossil fuels seems to modify human beings, implying that these human beings are coming to a most unfortunate end.

lol good explanation Mitch!

GMATGuruNY wrote: In A, in burning fossil fuels seems to modify human beings, implying that these human beings are coming to a most unfortunate end. Eliminate A.

Isn't it clear from context that "human beings" is not the one who is modified by "in burning fossil fuels"?

imskpwr wrote:

GMATGuruNY wrote: In A, in burning fossil fuels seems to modify human beings, implying that these human beings are coming to a most unfortunate end. Eliminate A.

Isn't it clear from context that "human beings" is not the one who is modified by "in burning fossil fuels"?

X is caused IN VERBing is unidiomatic; the correct idiom is X is caused BY VERBing.
For this reason, IN burning fossil fuels seems to be serving NOT as an adverb modifying caused (the nearest preceding adjective) but as an ADJECTIVE modifying human beings (the nearest preceding noun).

GMATGuruNY wrote:

imskpwr wrote:

GMATGuruNY wrote: In A, in burning fossil fuels seems to modify human beings, implying that these human beings are coming to a most unfortunate end. Eliminate A.

Isn't it clear from context that "human beings" is not the one who is modified by "in burning fossil fuels"?

X is caused IN VERBing is unidiomatic; the correct idiom is X is caused BY VERBing.
For this reason, IN burning fossil fuels seems to be serving NOT as an adverb modifying caused (the nearest preceding adjective) but as an ADJECTIVE modifying human beings (the nearest preceding noun).

So, X is caused by Human beings by burning fossil fuels........is correct version

imskpwr wrote: So, X is caused by Human beings by burning fossil fuels........is correct version

It is awkward and confusing to follow one by-modifier with another.
When you spot an error, don't worry about how to fix it.
Rather, look for an answer choice that avoids the error.
The key to SCs is not to look for what's right but to ELIMINATE what's wrong.

GMATGuruNY wrote:

imskpwr wrote: So, X is caused by Human beings by burning fossil fuels........is correct version

It is awkward and confusing to follow one by-modifier with another.
When you spot an error, don't worry about how to fix it.
Rather, look for an answer choice that avoids the error.
The key to SCs is not to look for what's right but to ELIMINATE what's wrong.

Since some specific verbs work with some specific prepositions(particles). People call such usage IDIOMATICALLY CORRECT.

So, I had a doubt whether it is preposition(like "by" in this case) that is idiomatically correct with a verb(like "caused" in this case) in a particular scenario.

example:
X is able TO fight TO survive in this world.

for verb "able", preposition "to" is the only correct usage(idiom: "able TO").
so both prepositional "to" are idiomatically fine in such case.

imskpwr wrote:

GMATGuruNY wrote:

imskpwr wrote: So, X is caused by Human beings by burning fossil fuels........is correct version

It is awkward and confusing to follow one by-modifier with another.
When you spot an error, don't worry about how to fix it.
Rather, look for an answer choice that avoids the error.
The key to SCs is not to look for what's right but to ELIMINATE what's wrong.

Since some specific verbs work with some specific prepositions(particles). People call such usage IDIOMATICALLY CORRECT.

So, I had a doubt whether it is preposition(like "by" in this case) that is idiomatically correct with a verb(like "caused" in this case) in a particular scenario.

example:
X is able TO fight TO survive in this world.

for verb "able", preposition "to" is the only correct usage(idiom: "able TO").
so both prepositional "to" are idiomatically fine in such case.

The correct idiom is X is caused by Y.

In the SC above, the phenomenon is caused BY THE BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS; the burning is conducted BY HUMAN BEINGS.
But to follow one by-modifier (by the burning) with another (by human beings) is awkward and confusing.
The OA avoids this awkwardness by converting one of the modifiers into a possessive (human beings'):
A phenomenon that is caused by human beings' burning of fossil fuels.
Here, it is clear that the phenomenon is caused by the burning of fossil fuels and that human beings are responsible for the burning.

GMATGuruNY wrote:

imskpwr wrote:

GMATGuruNY wrote:

imskpwr wrote: So, X is caused by Human beings by burning fossil fuels........is correct version

It is awkward and confusing to follow one by-modifier with another.
When you spot an error, don't worry about how to fix it.
Rather, look for an answer choice that avoids the error.
The key to SCs is not to look for what's right but to ELIMINATE what's wrong.

Since some specific verbs work with some specific prepositions(particles). People call such usage IDIOMATICALLY CORRECT.

So, I had a doubt whether it is preposition(like "by" in this case) that is idiomatically correct with a verb(like "caused" in this case) in a particular scenario.

example:
X is able TO fight TO survive in this world.

for verb "able", preposition "to" is the only correct usage(idiom: "able TO").
so both prepositional "to" are idiomatically fine in such case.

The correct idiom is X is caused by Y.

In the SC above, the phenomenon is caused BY THE BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS; the burning is conducted BY HUMAN BEINGS.
But to follow one by-modifier (by the burning) with another (by human beings) is awkward and confusing.
The OA avoids this awkwardness by converting one of the modifiers into a possessive (human beings'):
A phenomenon that is caused by human beings' burning of fossil fuels.
Here, it is clear that the phenomenon is caused by the burning of fossil fuels and that human beings are responsible for the burning.

Human beings cause X by burning fossil fuels...if ACTIVE VERSION is fine then, i think PASSIVE will also be fine.

i have a query what is wrong in B, D, E ..in B & E they mean that " caused by fossil fuels that is burned by human beings " and in D they mean that " caused by human being who burn fossil fuels " they are specifying the human beings and fossil fuels ..then what is wrong ..

deepti1206 wrote:i have a query what is wrong in B, D, E ..in B & E they mean that " caused by fossil fuels that is burned by human beings " and in D they mean that " caused by human being who burn fossil fuels " they are specifying the human beings and fossil fuels ..then what is wrong ..

Hi Deepti,

Here is the sentence:

The world wildlife fund has declared that global warming, a phenomenon most scientsts agree to be caused by human begings in burning fossil fuels, will create havoc among migratory birds by altering the enviroment in ways harmful to their habitats.

a) A phenomenon most scientists agree to be caused by human beings in burning fossil fuels,...agree to be is wrong. Moreover, caused by human beings in burning fossil fuels is just awkward.
b) a phenomenon most scientists agree that is caused by fossil fuels burned by human beings,....what does "that" refers to in this sentence. Also the sentence sounds like global warming is caused by fossil fuels itself and not the process of their burning.
c) a phenomenon that most scientists agree is caused by human beings's burning of fossil fuels....this sentence is correct as it is and conveys the meaning.
d) which most scientists agree on as phenomenon caused by human beings who burn fossil fuels,....D is wordy and awkward.
e) which most scientsts agree to be a phenomenon caused by fossil fuels burned by human beings...again change in meaning as mentioned in B

D and E are just plain wrong. "Which" only refers to the noun before the

GMATGuruNY wrote:

selfmade wrote:The world wildlife fund has declared that global warming, a phenomenon most scientsts agree to be caused by human begings in burning fossil fuels, will create havoc among migratory birds by altering the enviroment in ways harmful to their habitats.

a) A phenomenon most scientists agree to be caused by human beings in burning fossil fuels,
b) a phenomenon most scientists agree that is caused by fossil fuels burned by human beings,
c) a phenomenon that most scientists agree is caused by human beings' burning of fossil fuels
d) which most scientists agree on as a phenomenon caused by human beings who burn fossil fuels,
e) which most scientsts agree to be a phenomenon caused by fossil fuels burned by human beings

I picked B. Can someone help with the explaination ?

In A, in burning fossil fuels seems to modify human beings, implying that these human beings are coming to a most unfortunate end. Eliminate A.

The intended meaning of the sentence is that global warming is caused by the BURNING of fossil fuels -- not by the fossil fuels themselves (in B and E). Eliminate B and E.

In D, agree on as is not idiomatic. Eliminate D.

The correct answer is C.

Hi GMATGuruNY!
I eliminated (C) by looking at the possesive noun human beings' .
In Manhattan book, it is written that the possisve nouns are only used if can be replaced with "of prepositional phrase".For example: Tom's car is okay as we mean "car of Tom". However, in the correct answer choice such a replacement is impossible.
By "human beings' burning", I mean burning by human beings not burning of human beings.
Regards,

[email protected] wrote: Hi GMATGuruNY!
I eliminated (C) by looking at the possesive noun human beings' .
In Manhattan book, it is written that the possisve nouns are only used if can be replaced with "of prepositional phrase".

POSSESSIVE + VERBing is an exception to this rule.
Human beings' burning means the burning attributed to human beings.
The burning of human beings implies that human beings themselves are being burned.
The two phrases convey different meanings and are not interchangeable.
Nevertheless, POSSESSIVE + VERBing is a valid construction.