ESA's Venus orbiter recently captured the first infrared radiation map, suggesting that Venus may have had a watery past.
This sentence is not valid.
On the GMAT, the agent of a COMMA + VERBing modifier must be the nearest preceding subject or implied subject.
In the sentence above, COMMA +
suggesting refers to
ESA's Venu orbiter, implying that -- when the orbiter CAPTURED the infrared map -- it was also
SUGGESTING that Venus may have had a water past.
This meaning is nonsensical.
Examples of COMMA + VERBing modifiers in the OG12:
SC30:
ANIMAL-HIDE SHIELDS with wooden frames were essential items of military equipment, PROTECTING warriors against enemy arrows and spears.
Here, the ANIMAL-HIDE SHIELDS are PROTECTING warriors.
SC47:
FIVE FLEDGLING SEA EAGLES left their nests in western Scotland this summer, BRINGING to 34 the number of wild birds successfully raised since transplants from Norway began in 1975.
Here, the FIVE FLEDGLING SEA EAGLES are BRINGING to 34 the number of wild birds successfully raised.
SC65:
A BREAKWATER OF ROCKS that would rise six feet above the waterline and act as a buffer, ABSORBING the energy of crashing waves and PROTECTING the beaches.
Here, a BREAKWATER OF ROCKS is ABSORBING and PROTECTING.
SC94:
The recent surge in the number of airplane flights has clogged the nation's air-traffic control system, LEADING to a 55-percent increase in delays at airports and PROMPTING fears among some officials that safety is being compromised.
Here, the RECENT SURGE is LEADING to an increase in delays and PROMPTING fears.
From GMAT Prep:
Among lower paid workers union members are less likely than non-union members to be enrolled in lower end insurance plans imposing stricter limits on medical services and requiring DOCTORS to see more patients, SPENDING less time with each.
Here,
spending refers to
doctors, which serves not only as the direct object of
requiring but also as the SUBJECT of
to see.
Conveyed meaning: the DOCTORS are SPENDING less time with each patient.
In every case, the agent of the COMMA + VERBing action is the nearest preceding subject or implied subject.
[email protected] wrote:Hi Wallstreettarzan,
"-ing" verbs are sometimes referred to as "timeless" verbs, which means that they refer to an action that happened in the past, but is still happening in the present and will likely continue to happen in the future.
A VERBing modifier isn't quite timeless; it assumes the tense of the main verb.
Sitting on a bench, John ate a sandwich.
Here, both the main action (
ate) and the VERBing action (
sitting) take place firmly in the past.
John WAS SITTING as he ATE.
There is no implication that John is still sitting on a bench today.
SC30 in the OG12:
ANIMAL-HIDE SHIELDS with wooden frames were essential items of military equipment, PROTECTING warriors against enemy arrows and spears.
Here, both the main action (
were essential) and the VERBing action (
protecting) take place firmly in the past.
There is no implication that animal-hide shields are still -- even today -- protecting warriors against enemy arrows and spears.
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