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Manhattan 4- Absolute Phrase / Modifier/ adverbial/Position

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Manhattan 4- Absolute Phrase / Modifier/ adverbial/Position

by GMATMadeEasy » Sat Aug 28, 2010 8:44 am
This is a sentence from Manhattan 4th edition as an example of Absolute phrase .

Right: Scientists have found high levels of iridium in certain geological formations around the world,results that suggest the cataclysmic impact of a meteor millions of years ago.

The bold part is absolute phrase as per Mahttan SC guide .
Question 1: Isn't it rather a relative clause ? (results that <verb> <direct object>)

Other examples of Absolute Phrase as per Manhattan SC guide :

Right: Scientists have found high levels of iridium in certain geological formations around the world, suggesting the cataclysmic impact of a meteor millions of years ago.

This is present participle phrase working as a adverbial modifier and looks fine .

Question 2: Scientists have found high levels of iridium in certain geological formations around the world, a finding suggesting the cataclysmic impact of a meteor millions of years ago.

Is it correct ?
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by GMATMadeEasy » Sat Aug 28, 2010 9:25 am
Refer to OG12 Q 63 Page: 716 : It uses the same construct in correct answer choice and calls it appositive phrase .

Of course, I do not care what we call it but how do we use it correctly .

Could you please clarify .
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by Whitney Garner » Mon Oct 04, 2010 8:48 pm
GMATMadeEasy wrote:This is a sentence from Manhattan 4th edition as an example of Absolute phrase .

Right: Scientists have found high levels of iridium in certain geological formations around the world,results that suggest the cataclysmic impact of a meteor millions of years ago.

The bold part is absolute phrase as per Mahttan SC guide .
Question 1: Isn't it rather a relative clause ? (results that <verb> <direct object>)
You are correct that "that suggest the cataclysmic impact" is a relative clause, but it modifies "results" and not the sentence as a whole. Note that an Absolute phrase is composed of a Noun ("results") plus a noun modifier (the relative clause), so the bold section fits that definition. The point of the Absolute phrase is that it does not have to modify what it touches. The phrase "results..." does not modify "world" but refers to the entire action of finding high levels of iridium.
GMATMadeEasy wrote: Question 2: Scientists have found high levels of iridium in certain geological formations around the world, a finding suggesting the cataclysmic impact of a meteor millions of years ago.

Is it correct ?
GMATMadeEasy wrote: Refer to OG12 Q 63 Page: 716 : It uses the same construct in correct answer choice and calls it appositive phrase .
Your re-write, "a finding suggesting the cataclysmic...," is actually an appositive phrase. A quick and dirty explanation of the difference:
  • Absolute phrases do not directly modify any specific word in the rest of the sentence; instead they modify the entire sentence, adding information.
    Appositive phrases are a re-naming or amplification of a word that immediately precedes it. (which finding?...the one that suggests the cataclysmic...)
A cleaner re-write might be, "a finding that suggests" (using the relative pronoun).
GMATMadeEasy wrote: Of course, I do not care what we call it but how do we use it correctly .

Could you please clarify.
The thing to notice is that you can use many of the basic modifier rules that you have learned already. We can first determine what the phrase "logically" modifies. If it is "logically" describing a noun, as with appositive phrases, then the phrase should follow the rules of noun modifiers. If it is "logically" describing an action or a larger clause in the sentence, as with absolute phrases, then the phrase should follow the rules of adverbial modifiers.

Hope this sheds some light!
:D
Whit
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by GMATMadeEasy » Tue Oct 05, 2010 3:46 am
Thank you . It makes sense. I had to ponder over for long to clarify things as I have studied from another book "Doing grammar" as well and was trying to relate things. In that book, definition of absolute phrase is "remove BE verb from the clause" to make an absolute phrase , and that definition doe snot go well with the example above , hence I was a bit lost. You can suggest whether that definition is really applicable always ?

Thank you for the text below as it provides right philosophy to operate a modifier :).
The thing to notice is that you can use many of the basic modifier rules that you have learned already. We can first determine what the phrase "logically" modifies. If it is "logically" describing a noun, as with appositive phrases, then the phrase should follow the rules of noun modifiers. If it is "logically" describing an action or a larger clause in the sentence, as with absolute phrases, then the phrase should follow the rules of adverbial modifiers.
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by mundasingh123 » Tue Oct 05, 2010 10:35 am
Whitney Garner wrote:
GMATMadeEasy wrote:This is a sentence from Manhattan 4th edition as an example of Absolute phrase .

Right: Scientists have found high levels of iridium in certain geological formations around the world,results that suggest the cataclysmic impact of a meteor millions of years ago.

The bold part is absolute phrase as per Mahttan SC guide .
Question 1: Isn't it rather a relative clause ? (results that <verb> <direct object>)
You are correct that "that suggest the cataclysmic impact" is a relative clause, but it modifies "results" and not the sentence as a whole. Note that an Absolute phrase is composed of a Noun ("results") plus a noun modifier (the relative clause), so the bold section fits that definition. The point of the Absolute phrase is that it does not have to modify what it touches. The phrase "results..." does not modify "world" but refers to the entire action of finding high levels of iridium.
GMATMadeEasy wrote: Question 2: Scientists have found high levels of iridium in certain geological formations around the world, a finding suggesting the cataclysmic impact of a meteor millions of years ago.

Is it correct ?
GMATMadeEasy wrote: Refer to OG12 Q 63 Page: 716 : It uses the same construct in correct answer choice and calls it appositive phrase .
Your re-write, "a finding suggesting the cataclysmic...," is actually an appositive phrase. A quick and dirty explanation of the difference:
  • Absolute phrases do not directly modify any specific word in the rest of the sentence; instead they modify the entire sentence, adding information.
    Appositive phrases are a re-naming or amplification of a word that immediately precedes it. (which finding?...the one that suggests the cataclysmic...)
A cleaner re-write might be, "a finding that suggests" (using the relative pronoun).
GMATMadeEasy wrote: Of course, I do not care what we call it but how do we use it correctly .

Could you please clarify.
The thing to notice is that you can use many of the basic modifier rules that you have learned already. We can first determine what the phrase "logically" modifies. If it is "logically" describing a noun, as with appositive phrases, then the phrase should follow the rules of noun modifiers. If it is "logically" describing an action or a larger clause in the sentence, as with absolute phrases, then the phrase should follow the rules of adverbial modifiers.

Hope this sheds some light!
:D
Whit
In the sc below the modifier " a hn exemplay mimic" is an appositive or absolute phrase.I mean a noun modifier (appositive) or verb mod (Absolute phrase .
Source: Knewton

An exemplary mimic, the harmless soldier fly has a body that resembles those of the stinging black wasp and thus is able to frighten away predators.

A: the harmless soldier fly has a body that resembles those of the stinging black wasp
B: the harmless soldier fly has a body resembling that of a stinging black wasp
C: the body of the harmless soldier fly resembles a stinging black wasp's
D: the harmless soldier fly's body resembles the stinging black wasps'
E: the body of the harmless soldier fly resembles those of the stinging black wasps

I confused in modifier in context of meaning.
An exemplary mimic => I believe that it is a model and it should refer to "the harmless soldier fly" or "the body". I confused in selecting here.
I have the problem because,the fly is called an exemplary mimic because it has a body that resembles that of the wasp.I have the problem because the body resembles .Resembles is an action.please explain.
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by Whitney Garner » Tue Oct 05, 2010 10:46 am
mundasingh123 wrote: I confused in modifier in context of meaning.
An exemplary mimic => I believe that it is a model and it should refer to "the harmless soldier fly" or "the body". I confused in selecting here.
I have the problem because,the fly is called an exemplary mimic because it has a body that resembles that of the wasp.I have the problem because the body resembles .Resembles is an action.please explain.
Resembles (v.) means to have qualities or features (particularly in appearance) that are similar to something or someone else. If X resembles Y, then X looks like Y. It doesn't mean that X has to be able to perform an action.

A girl can resemble her mother (both girl and her mother can perform their own actions)
A melon resembles a volleyball (both melon and volleyball are inanimate).

A mimic is thought of as a creature of some sort, like a plant, animal or person.

Hope this clears it up a bit!
:D
Whit
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by uwhusky » Tue Oct 05, 2010 11:22 am
GMATMadeEasy wrote:Thank you . It makes sense. I had to ponder over for long to clarify things as I have studied from another book "Doing grammar" as well and was trying to relate things. In that book, definition of absolute phrase is "remove BE verb from the clause" to make an absolute phrase , and that definition doe snot go well with the example above , hence I was a bit lost. You can suggest whether that definition is really applicable always ?

Thank you for the text below as it provides right philosophy to operate a modifier :).
The thing to notice is that you can use many of the basic modifier rules that you have learned already. We can first determine what the phrase "logically" modifies. If it is "logically" describing a noun, as with appositive phrases, then the phrase should follow the rules of noun modifiers. If it is "logically" describing an action or a larger clause in the sentence, as with absolute phrases, then the phrase should follow the rules of adverbial modifiers.
You must have missed the part of the book that says "absolute phrases are generally derived from clause with BE verb."
Yep.
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by mundasingh123 » Tue Oct 05, 2010 11:47 am
hi whitney,
i am having problems with my browser while typing my doubts on the message dialog box.
so,i wasnt able to communicate clearly.
thanks for the clarification.
What i have understood from your explanation is resembles is a linking verb.
thus, in the sentence that i quoted my previous post, the modifier beginning the sentence "an exemplary mimic" is a noun modifier or verb modifier.What i am asking is whether it is an appositive or an absolute phrase.Is it modifying the act of resembling (that is the entire sentence) or a noun.
Last edited by mundasingh123 on Tue Oct 05, 2010 11:49 am, edited 1 time in total.
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by GMATMadeEasy » Tue Oct 05, 2010 11:48 am
You must have missed the part of the book that says "absolute phrases are generally derived from clause with BE verb."
@uwhusky : ahh, makes sense . So the definition provided in the book , and the definition listed above (noun + its modifier) will cover all the cases . And ,of course, based on what it is intended to modify will decide apropriate usage. Merci beacoup !
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by uwhusky » Tue Oct 05, 2010 11:51 am
Also at the end of the section, it also talks about absolute phrases that are introduced by "with."

With all three, I think you should have a good grasp on the different constructions of absolute phrases.
Yep.
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by mundasingh123 » Tue Oct 05, 2010 11:53 am
uwhusky wrote:Also at the end of the section, it also talks about absolute phrases that are introduced by "with."

With all three, I think you should have a good grasp on the different constructions of absolute phrases.
boss what page is it on,thanks
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by uwhusky » Tue Oct 05, 2010 11:55 am
We might not be talking about the same book. The book we're discussing is "Doing Grammar."
Yep.
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by Whitney Garner » Tue Oct 05, 2010 12:06 pm
mundasingh123 wrote:hi whitney,
What i have understood from your explanation is resembles is a linking verb.
thus, in the sentence that i quoted my previous post, the modifier beginning the sentence "an exemplary mimic" is a noun modifier or verb modifier.What i am asking is whether it is an appositive or an absolute phrase.Is it modifying the act of resembling (that is the entire sentence) or a noun.
To determine a noun versus adverbial modifier, you need to ask the question - "What is it intended to modify?". Mimic is a noun, so the phrase "an exemplary mimic" must be describing something or someone that is acting like a mimic, something that must be a noun as well. That makes the phrase a noun modifier. The name of the phrase isn't as important, but it is an Appositive phrase because it re-names or amplifies the noun it is describing.

:D
Whit
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by GMATMadeEasy » Tue Oct 05, 2010 12:08 pm
@mundasingh123 : An examplary mimic modifies "the harmless soldier fly ", a noun, , hence it is a noun modifier. Appositive fits the bill.
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by mundasingh123 » Tue Oct 05, 2010 12:10 pm
uwhusky wrote:We might not be talking about the same book. The book we're discussing is "Doing Grammar."
ya,i thought we were talking abt mgmat sc guide
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