This question is from an official practice exam. I'm trying to understand why A is a better choice than D?
The most widely known images of Yosemite National Park are those made by photographer Ansel Adams, who photographed it continually from his teenage years on.
A/ who photographed it continually from his teenage years on
B/ who photographed it starting from his teenage years and then continually
C/ who photographed it starting in his teenage years and continually from then on
D/ having photographed it continually since his teenage years
E/ having photographed it starting in his teenage years and then continually
SC: The most widely...
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Hi melanie.espeland,
The initial difference between answers A and D involves different grammar rules depending on what immediately follows the comma.
In Answer A, the pronoun "who" refers to the noun that immediately precedes it (in this case, "Ansel Adams"); in Answer D, the verb "having" actually refers to the subject of the prior part of the sentence (in this case, "the most widely known images"). In context, Answer D doesn't make sense (the images did not photograph the park, Adams did).
Final Answer: A
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Rich
The initial difference between answers A and D involves different grammar rules depending on what immediately follows the comma.
In Answer A, the pronoun "who" refers to the noun that immediately precedes it (in this case, "Ansel Adams"); in Answer D, the verb "having" actually refers to the subject of the prior part of the sentence (in this case, "the most widely known images"). In context, Answer D doesn't make sense (the images did not photograph the park, Adams did).
Final Answer: A
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Rich
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Hi melanie.espeland,
If the word/phrase that immediately follows the comma is a noun or pronoun, then the entire phrase that precedes it is supposed to describe the noun/pronoun. If the word that immediately follows the comma is a verb, then it is implied that the subject of the prior phrase is "doing" that verb. It's one of the many quirks of English grammar.
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
If the word/phrase that immediately follows the comma is a noun or pronoun, then the entire phrase that precedes it is supposed to describe the noun/pronoun. If the word that immediately follows the comma is a verb, then it is implied that the subject of the prior phrase is "doing" that verb. It's one of the many quirks of English grammar.
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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B: starting...and then continuallyThe most widely known images of Yosemite National Park are those made by photographer Ansel Adams, who photographed it continually from his teenage years on.
a) who photographed it continually from his teenage years on
b) who photographed it starting from his teenage years and then continually
c) who photographed it starting in his teenage years and continually from then on
d) having photographed it continually since his teenage years
e) having photographed it starting in his teenage years and then continually
C: starting...and continually
A conjunction such as and must connect PARALLEL FORMS.
In B and C, starting (adjective) and continually (adverb) are not parallel forms.
Eliminate B and C.
A COMMA + VERBing modifier serves to express an action attributed to the SUBJECT OF THE PRECEDING CLAUSE.
In D and E, having photographed seems to refer to images -- the subject of the preceding clause -- implying that the IMAGES photographed Yosemite National Park.
Not the intended meaning.
Eliminate D and E.
The correct answer is A.
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- Neilsheth2
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Hello Mitch,
Here the Official answer ends with a preposition so I think it should be okay to end an sentence with a preposition ?
I rejected A especially for that reason that it had a preposition ON at its end.
Pls confirm
Here the Official answer ends with a preposition so I think it should be okay to end an sentence with a preposition ?
I rejected A especially for that reason that it had a preposition ON at its end.
Pls confirm
GMATGuruNY wrote:B: starting...and then continuallyThe most widely known images of Yosemite National Park are those made by photographer Ansel Adams, who photographed it continually from his teenage years on.
a) who photographed it continually from his teenage years on
b) who photographed it starting from his teenage years and then continually
c) who photographed it starting in his teenage years and continually from then on
d) having photographed it continually since his teenage years
e) having photographed it starting in his teenage years and then continually
C: starting...and continually
A conjunction such as and must connect PARALLEL FORMS.
In B and C, starting (adjective) and continually (adverb) are not parallel forms.
Eliminate B and C.
A COMMA + VERBing modifier serves to express an action attributed to the SUBJECT OF THE PRECEDING CLAUSE.
In D and E, having photographed seems to refer to images -- the subject of the preceding clause -- implying that the IMAGES photographed Yosemite National Park.
Not the intended meaning.
Eliminate D and E.
The correct answer is A.
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Generally, a preposition must be followed by a noun serving as the OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION.Neilsheth2 wrote:Hello Mitch,
Here the Official answer ends with a preposition so I think it should be okay to end an sentence with a preposition ?
I rejected A especially for that reason that it had a preposition ON at its end.
Pls confirm
In most cases, on serves as a preposition:
The actor stood on THE STAGE.
Here, the stage serves as the object of the preposition on.
But on may also serve as an ADVERB.
The show must go on.
John held on.
The crowd looked on.
When on serves as an adverb, it does not have to be followed by a noun serving as its object.
OA: The most widely known images of Yosemite National Park are those made by photographer Ansel Adams, who photographed it continually from his teenage years on.
Here, on serves not as a preposition but as an ADVERB.
Conveyed meaning:
Ansel Adams photographed the park continually from his teenage years until the end of his career.
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- TheLearned
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Hello Mitch,GMATGuruNY wrote:B: starting...and then continuallyThe most widely known images of Yosemite National Park are those made by photographer Ansel Adams, who photographed it continually from his teenage years on.
a) who photographed it continually from his teenage years on
b) who photographed it starting from his teenage years and then continually
c) who photographed it starting in his teenage years and continually from then on
d) having photographed it continually since his teenage years
e) having photographed it starting in his teenage years and then continually
C: starting...and continually
A conjunction such as and must connect PARALLEL FORMS.
In B and C, starting (adjective) and continually (adverb) are not parallel forms.
Eliminate B and C.
A COMMA + VERBing modifier serves to express an action attributed to the SUBJECT OF THE PRECEDING CLAUSE.
In D and E, having photographed seems to refer to images -- the subject of the preceding clause -- implying that the IMAGES photographed Yosemite National Park.
Not the intended meaning.
Eliminate D and E.
The correct answer is A.
Could you please explain how starting is an adjective here. It seems to modify the whole clause "who photographed it" rather than just "who". Shouldn't it be an adverb too.
Regards
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The following makes sense:TheLearned wrote:Hello Mitch,B: starting...and then continually
C: starting...and continually
A conjunction such as and must connect PARALLEL FORMS.
In B and C, starting (adjective) and continually (adverb) are not parallel forms.
Eliminate B and C.
Could you please explain how starting is an adjective here. It seems to modify the whole clause "who photographed it" rather than just "who". Shouldn't it be an adverb too.
Regards
Ansel Adams photographed continually.
The following does NOT make sense:
Ansel Adams photographed starting.
Whereas continually can serve as an adverb modifying photographed, starting cannot.
Since the two modifiers do not serve the same function, they cannot be connected by and.
Ansel Adams photographed starting in his teenage years.
Here, starting is an adjective serving to modify Ansel Adams, since ANSEL ADAMS was STARTING in his teenage years.
While the entire phrase in red does play an adverbial role in that it expresses when the preceding clause happened, starting is technically not an adverb but an adjective.
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I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
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Could you please give an example to illustrate what you are talking about?[email protected] wrote:Hi melanie.espeland,
If the word/phrase that immediately follows the comma is a noun or pronoun, then the entire phrase that precedes it is supposed to describe the noun/pronoun. If the word that immediately follows the comma is a verb, then it is implied that the subject of the prior phrase is "doing" that verb. It's one of the many quirks of English grammar.
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich