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Modifier Doubt

by karishma315 » Thu Feb 02, 2017 8:56 pm
In the past several years, astronomers have detected more than 80 massive planets, most of them as large or larger than Jupiter, which circle other stars.

most of them as large or larger than Jupiter, which circle
most of them as large or larger than Jupiter and circling
most of them at least as large as Jupiter, circling - CORRECT
mostly at least as large as Jupiter, which circle
mostly as large or larger than Jupiter, circling

Please help me i understanding the issue with this sentence.
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by GMATGuruNY » Fri Feb 03, 2017 5:10 am
When posting an SC, please underline the relevant portion and use the spoiler function to hide the OA.
In the past several years, astronomers have detected more than 80 massive planets, most of them as large or larger than Jupiter, which circle other stars.

A) most of them as large or larger than Jupiter, which circle
B) most of them as large or larger than Jupiter and circling
C) most of them at least as large as Jupiter, circling
D) mostly at least as large as Jupiter, which circle
E) mostly as large or larger than Jupiter, circling
In A, B and E, as large must be followed by another as.
Correct idiom: X is as large as Y.
Eliminate A, B and E.

D: mostly at least as large as Jupiter
Here, MOSTLY as large as Jupiter implies ALMOST as large as Jupiter, while AT LEAST as large as Jupiter implies AS LARGE AS Jupiter or LARGER THAN Jupiter.
Since the two meanings contradict each other, eliminate D.

The correct answer is C.
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by Mo2men » Fri Feb 03, 2017 5:04 pm
GMATGuruNY wrote:When posting an SC, please underline the relevant portion and use the spoiler function to hide the OA.
In the past several years, astronomers have detected more than 80 massive planets, most of them as large or larger than Jupiter, which circle other stars.

A) most of them as large or larger than Jupiter, which circle
B) most of them as large or larger than Jupiter and circling
C) most of them at least as large as Jupiter, circling
D) mostly at least as large as Jupiter, which circle
E) mostly as large or larger than Jupiter, circling
In A, B and E, as large must be followed by another as.
Correct idiom: X is as large as Y.
Eliminate A, B and E.

D: mostly at least as large as Jupiter
Here, MOSTLY as large as Jupiter implies ALMOST as large as Jupiter, while AT LEAST as large as Jupiter implies AS LARGE AS Jupiter or LARGER THAN Jupiter.
Since the two meanings contradict each other, eliminate D.

The correct answer is C.
Dear Mitch

What about 'circling'in OA: C? It is VERBing modifier but does it modify 'most of them'or 'Jupiter'? should not VERBing modifier refer to agent of preceding independent clause? Here 'most of them.....' is not independent clause.

Can you please elaborate the case above??

thanks
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by Ali Tariq » Sat Feb 04, 2017 2:29 am
you can modify noun with which
you can modify noun with Ving
you can modify noun with that ( this one is not relevent to SC under discussion though )

which cannot jump non essential modifier( read modifier that has a comma in begining and a comma in end)
Ving can jump non essential modifier
that can jump non essential modifier

OA
In the past several years, astronomers have detected more than 80 massive planets, most of them at least as large as Jupiter, circling other stars
portion in red is non essential modifier.
Therefore the construction in OA
is Subject Verb Noun, [non-essential modifier], Verbing
Verbing modifies Noun

in the same way as in
Subject Verb Noun Verbing
Verbing modifies Noun
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by GMATGuruNY » Sat Feb 04, 2017 3:40 am
Mo2men wrote:Dear Mitch

What about 'circling'in OA: C? It is VERBing modifier but does it modify 'most of them'or 'Jupiter'? should not VERBing modifier refer to agent of preceding independent clause? Here 'most of them.....' is not independent clause.

Can you please elaborate the case above??

thanks
OA: Astronomers have detected more than 80 massive planets, most of them at least as large as Jupiter, circling other stars.

Here, COMMA + circling is preceded not by a clause but by the blue PHRASE enclosed in commas.
Generally, a phrase enclosed in commas serves as a NON-ESSENTIAL modifier.
A non-essential modifier can be removed without changing the basic meaning of the sentence.
If we omit the non-essential modifier, we get:
Astronomers have detected more than 80 massive planets circling other stars.
With the non-essential modifier removed, we can clearly see that circling serves to modify PLANETS.
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