aspirant2011 wrote:When I first read the sentence I selected option A but I am not able to Mark out option B , experts please comment.......

mundasingh123 wrote:

aspirant2011 wrote:When I first read the sentence I selected option A but I am not able to Mark out option B , experts please comment.......

Did PM an Expert ?

dadu wrote:Dr. Rajesh Gopakumar, a theoretical physicist of International repute, has researched whether complete and consistent theory of quantum gravity has a stringy set of additional excitations, and has concluded that the prospects for pure 3d gravity to be consistent and complete appear dim.
(A) has a stringy set of additional excitations, and has concluded
(B) has a stringy set of additional excitations, concluding
(C) has a stringy set of additional excitations, and have concluded
(D) have a stringy set of additional excitations, and concluding
(E) have a stringy set of additional excitations, concluding

Please discuss.

GMATGuruNY wrote:

dadu wrote:Dr. Rajesh Gopakumar, a theoretical physicist of International repute, has researched whether complete and consistent theory of quantum gravity has a stringy set of additional excitations, and has concluded that the prospects for pure 3d gravity to be consistent and complete appear dim.
(A) has a stringy set of additional excitations, and has concluded
(B) has a stringy set of additional excitations, concluding
(C) has a stringy set of additional excitations, and have concluded
(D) have a stringy set of additional excitations, and concluding
(E) have a stringy set of additional excitations, concluding

Please discuss.

Generally, a present participle (VERBing) preceded by a comma:

-- refers to the subject of the previous clause
-- expresses an action happening at the same time as the verb of the preceding clause

In B, it is not crystal clear whether concluding refers to Dr. Gopakumar or to theory, both of which are subjects, and both of which precede concluding.

Even if we construe that concluding refers to Dr. Gopakumar, concluding is not really an action happening at the same time as has researched. One has to research BEFORE one can conclude.

Frankenstein wrote:Hi Mitch,
Is the comma before 'and' in A fine? Please confirm.
@dadu - Did you check for the comma after excitations. Could you confirm it, along with your source.

e-GMAT wrote:Responding to PM and adding to what Mitch has already explained above:


1: Do not eliminate a choice just based on punctuation error. Keep punctuation error such as this one in your back pocket and first do the eliminations based on other more deterministic errors. Why - because we have seen a couple of official questions in which two verbs have been connected using comma + and.

For example, check question 11 of OG12.
The sentence structure is as follows:
There are several ways to build solid walls using just mud or clay
2. BUT the most extensively used method has been to form the mud or clay
3. AND to lay them in the wall in mud mortar
In the correct choice, there is a comma prior to AND.

Now I will not go to the extent of saying that GMAT does not test punctuation rules. After all run-on sentences and fragments are formed because of lack of appropriate punctuation.

But I can say this:
If you do not see comma + FANBOYS followed by an independent clause, just make a note of it and DO NOT ELIMINATE this answer choice till you have exhausted all other error categories. So in a nutshell, definitely be cognizant of ALL the covered punctuation rules. But if in an answer choice you see the following construction
, fanboys abc - where abc is not an independent clause.
DO NOT eliminate this choice before you have looked at all other more obvious error categories.

Another sentence in which similar construction has been observed:

After several years of rapid growth, the health care company became one of the largest health care providers in the metropolitan area, while it then proved unable to handle the increase in business, falling months behind in its payment to doctors and hospitals.
A. while it then proved unable to handle the increase in business, falling months
behind in its payment to
B. while it then proved unable to handle the increase in business and fell months
behind in its payment to
C. but then it proved unable to handle the increase in business, falling months behind
in its paying
D. but then proving unable to handle the increase in business, falling months behind
in paying
E. but then proved unable to handle the increase in business, falling months behind
in paying

Notice how in choice [spoiler]E (the correct one)[/spoiler], what follows "but" is not an independent clause.

2: Between choices A and B, I would select choice A. It lays equal emphasis on the two actions - researched and concluded. Choice B on the other hand lays more emphasis on the action of "researched" and provides "concluding.." as an outcome of the action of research. I do not however completely agree with the OE for why choice B is incorrect. Yes, comma + verb-ing modifiers modify the preceding clause, but when there are more than 1 preceding clauses, it depends on the context whether the modifier modifies immediately preceding clause or the entire main clause. In this sentence, it does not make sense for "concluding" to modify "complete and consistent theory of quantum gravity has stringy set...". But it is very logical for it to modify the complete main clause - Dr. Rajesh has researched whether..."