post deleted because i had made an error.

Between Ved(past participle) and Ving( present participle),
only one will be correct.
They are NOT interchangeable.
It is a valid distinction and thus an important decesion point.
rest your decision on making a small sentence involving noun (modifiee) and participle.

Official question below
The state has proposed new rules that would set minimum staffing levels for nurses, rules intended to ensure that at least one nurse is assigned for every four patients put through triage in a hospital emergency room.

A. rules intended to ensure that at least one nurse is assigned for every four patients put through triage in a hospital emergency room
B. rules with the intent of ensuring one nurse at least to be assigned for every four patients to be put through triage in a hospital emergency room
C. rules intending to ensure at least one nurse is assigned for every four patients in a hospital emergency room put through triage
D. with the intent of ensuring that at least one nurse should be assigned for every four patients in a hospital emergency room that are put through triage
E. and this is intended to ensure one nurse at least to be assigned for every four patients put through triage in a hospital emergency room
OA A
Between A and C
A--> rules intended to ensure
C--> rules inteding to ensure


A--> rules were intended
or
C--> rules were intending

which one makes sense?
DIFFERENCE SHOULD BE READILY DISCERNABLE.

Between Ved(past participle) and Ving( present participle),
only one will be correct.
They are NOT interchangeable.
It is a valid distinction and thus an important decesion point.
rest your decision on making a small sentence involving noun (modifiee) and participle.

Official question below
According to entomologists, single locusts are quiet creatures, but when locusts are placed with others of their species, they become excited, change color, vibrate, and even hum.

A. when locusts are placed with others of their species,
B. when placing them with others of their species, then
C. locusts, when placed with others of their species,
D. placing them with others of their species,
E. placed with others of their species, then
OA A

A--> (but)locusts are placed with others of their species
Who placed them?
We don't know as it is in passive voice construction

B--> (but)when placing them with others of their species, then
Verbing is an active form.
it means someone is performing the action within verbing.
Context dictates that that someone will be placing in an active manner (in literal sense).
AND
that someone should be right after the comma.
BUT
we don't have that someone immediately after comma.

D--> (but) placing them with others of their species,
same as B
in addition, now "they" are placing them--> illogical

Hope you get the point

Between Ved(past participle) and Ving( present participle),
only one will be correct.
They are NOT interchangeable.
It is a valid distinction and thus an important decesion point.
rest your decision on making a small sentence involving noun (modifiee) and participle

In GMAT SC, YOU HAVE TO ANALYZE THE ANSWER CHOICES IN RELATIVE WAY AND NOT IN ABSOLUTE WAY.
i.e,
IN ANY GIVEN SITUATION/ IN ANY GIVEN SC, verbing will have only one interpretation and this interpretation will be applied across the answer choices. You cannot shift the interpretations within any given SC.
AND YOU HAVE TO ANALYZE ALL THAT IN RELATIVE MANNER

To get rid of confusion, i will now walk you through this SC's answer choices, which deals with the issue under discussion.
In doing so, we will do two things
1)We will analyze the answer choices relatively
2)We will stick with only one interpretation for any given situation


Because she knew many of the leaders of colonial America and the American Revolution personally, Mercy Otis Warren was continually at or near the center of political events from 1765 to 1789, a vantage point combining with her talent for writing to make her one of the most valuable historians of the era

(A) a vantage point combining with her talent for writing to make

(B) a vantage point, when combined with her talent for writing, that made

(C) a vantage point that combined with her talent for writing, and it made

(D) and this vantage point, which combined with her talent for writing to make

(E) and this vantage point, combined with her talent for writing, made

(leave BCD for now)

A)Because she knew many of the leaders of colonial America and the American Revolution personally, Mercy Otis Warren was continually at or near the center of political events from 1765 to 1789, a vantage point combining with her talent for writing to make her one of the most valuable historians of the era

E)Because she knew many of the leaders of colonial America and the American Revolution personally, Mercy Otis Warren was continually at or near the center of political events from 1765 to 1789,and this vantage point, combined with her talent for writing, made her one of the most valuable historians of the era

A) says--> Vantage point was combining (active construction)
E) says--> Vantage point was combined (passive construction)

Now, after doing so, ask yourself, which one makes sense?
Verbing is an active form.
It means someone is performing the action within verbing,
in its current form, A communicates that Vantage point itself performed the action within verbing
i.e Vantage point combined...

whereas, E communicates that Vantage point was combined...
Which one makes sense?

Therefore, can we conclude that it was a valid decision point?

How else these answer choices differentiate?
At the end of underline portion we have made vs to make

Remember, we have already concluded that Vantage point cannot combine
Why we concluded that?
What made us conclude that?
The reason we concluded that is these two answer choices differentiate on that point
If two answer choices differentiate on some point or if there is a 3/2 split, then it can be a decision point.
Is it always a decision point?
No!
It can be a decision point.

Between Ved(past participle) and Ving( present participle),
only one will be correct.
They are NOT interchangeable.
It is a valid distinction and thus an important decesion point.
rest your decision on making a small sentence involving noun (modifiee) and participle.

Similarly, if verb changes from singular to plural, It is also a valid distinction and thus an important decesion point

Similarly, if pronoun changes from it to they, It is also a valid distinction and thus an important decesion point.

Now, the answer choices in given SC also differentiate at the end of underline portion.
A)...to make
B)...made
C)...made
D)...to make
E)...made

What does that mean?
As there is a 3/2 split, it can be a decision point.
So lets dig a little further to see whether it is a genuine split/ a genuine decision point.

What A and D communicate?
A and D communicate Vantage point made

What does B,C and E communicate?
they communicate Vantage point made

Now ask your self, is this a valid decision point?
of course not.

If it is in all the answer choices, how can it be a valid decision point?

Now what does that mean?
It means that vantage point cannot combine. However, vantage point can make.

Why?
because in answer choices, WE had the option to chose between
Vantage point was combining (A)
and
Vantage point was combined (E)

however in answer choices, WE had no option to chose between
Vantage point can make her one of the most valuable historian of some era (A)(B)(C)(D)(E)
and
Vantage point cannot make her one of the most valuable historian of some era

NOW WHAT is the takeaway from THE OFFICIAL ANSWER TO THIS GMAC's OFFICIAL QUESTION?
If something is not a valid decision point, you don't have to rest your decision on it.
obvious, right?

BUT, how can you justify that vantage point made her one of the most valuable historian of that era?
If someone insist you that you name the single factor, just one factor, responsible for that eventuality
who, you consider, is responsible?
Vantage point.
obvious, right?

Did vantage point actually make her so, like in lieral sense ( with both of its hands) ?
No. Vantage point was responsible for that eventuality.

But then why can't same theory be applied to combining ?
Becasue in answer choices, we spoted two different wordings or two different setups.
one was--> Vantage point combined( active set up)
2nd was--> Vantage point was combined (passive set up)

For, to make vs made distinction, i didn't have two different wordings or two different setups.
you can very well ask that No, we do have two different wordings or two different setups
So we digged a little further and found that
what ever to make communicates
made communicates exactly that.
So it is NOT a VALID distinction.

on the contrary, active setup vs passive setup was a valid distinction in this situation( combining vs combined).
why?
because active setup and passive setup with same subject communicates entirely different story
Richard was mugged (passive setup)
Richard was mugging (active setup)

Richard mugged on his way home was very upset (passive setup)
(Richard was mugged)

Richard mugging people on their way remorsed when cought (active setup)
(Richard was mugging)


(please bear in mind that i do not mean that active is preffered to passive or passive is preffered to active.However, with same subject, i.e subject not changed, active setup communicates a different story from passive set up)

Therefore,
If something is not a valid decision point, we have no choice but to deal with it without having any takeaway from it.
Why?
Because In GMAT SC, YOU HAVE TO ANALYZE THE ANSWER CHOICES IN RELATIVE WAY AND NOT IN ABSOLUTE WAY.

IN ANY GIVEN SITUATION/ IN ANY GIVEN SC, verbing will have only one interpretation and this interpretation will be applied across the answer choices. You cannot shift the interpretations within any given SC.AND YOU HAVE TO ANALYZE ALL THAT IN RELATIVE MANNER.

now have a look at another SC from OG 17

Whether they will scale back their orders to pre-2003 levels or stop doing business with us altogether depends on whether the changes that their management has proposed will be fully implemented.

A. Whether they will scale back their orders to pre-2003 levels or stop doing business with us altogether depends on whether the changes that their management has proposed will be fully implemented.

B. Whether they scale back their orders to pre-2003 levels or whether they discontinue their business with us altogether depends on the changes their management has proposed, if fully implemented or not.

C. Their either scaling back their orders in the future to pre-2003 levels, or their outright termination of business with us, depends on their management's proposed changes being fully implemented or not.

D. Whether they will scale back their orders to pre-2003 levels or stop doing business with us altogether depends if the changes that their management has proposed become fully implemented.

E. They will either scale back their orders to pre-2003 levels, or they will stop doing business with us altogether dependent on whether the changes their management has proposed will be fully implemented, or not.
OA A

What is the antecedent of they in A?
no antecedent,
What is the antecedent of they in B?
no antecedent,
What is the antecedent of they in C?
no antecedent,
What is the antecedent of they in D?
no antecedent,
What is the antecedent of they in E?
no antecedent,

Therefore,
If something is not a valid decision point, we have no choice but to deal with it without having any takeaway from it.
Why?
Because In GMAT SC, YOU HAVE TO ANALYZE THE ANSWER CHOICES IN RELATIVE WAY AND NOT IN ABSOLUTE WAY.


Another official SC

According to the Economic Development Corporation of Los Angeles County, if one were to count the Los Angeles metropolitan area as a separate nation, it would have the world's eleventh largest gross national product, that is bigger than that of Australia, Mexico, or the Netherlands.

A. if one were to count the Los Angeles metropolitan area as a separate nation, it would have the world's eleventh largest gross national product, that is

B. if the Los Angeles metropolitan area is counted as a separate nation, it has the world's eleventh largest gross national product, that being

C. if the Los Angeles metropolitan area were a separate nation, it would have the world's eleventh largest gross national product,

D. were the Los Angeles metropolitan area a separate nation, it will have the world's eleventh largest gross national product, which is

E. when the Los Angeles metropolitan area is counted as a separate nation, it has the world's eleventh largest gross national product, thus

A) area is a nation
B) area is a nation
C) area is a nation
D) area is a nation
E) area is a nation

One can argue that area is not nation. Nation is a large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular state, area, or territory.
area is a nation can be problematic but it is not a decision point, so the issue is irrelevent

Therefore,
If something is not a valid decision point, we have no choice but to deal with it without having any takeaway from it.
Why?
Because In GMAT SC, YOU HAVE TO ANALYZE THE ANSWER CHOICES IN RELATIVE WAY AND NOT IN ABSOLUTE WAY.

Lets understand this point with the help of official material and see where GMAT stands on this particular issue.
Verbing, when serves as modifier, can be used in three ways
i) ,verbing--> subject verb...,verbing type construction
ii) verbing phrase as an initial modifier( present participle phrase as initial mod)
iii)verbing phrase or verbing modifying modifying noun

I will try to elucidate fine details associated with each of the above mentioned usages in detail

In the mid-1970's, since birds were overcome by pollution, and routinely falling from the sky above Los Angeles freeways, this prompted officials in California to devise a plan that reduced automobile emissions.
A. since birds were overcome by pollution, and routinely falling from the sky above Los Angeles freeways, this prompted officials in California to devise a plan that reduced
B. since birds that had been overcome by pollution were routinely falling from the sky above Los Angeles freeways, it prompted officials in California to devise a plan that would reduce
C. birds had been overcome by pollution and routinely fell from the sky above Los Angeles freeways, prompting officials in California to devise a plan that reduced
D. birds overcome by pollution routinely fell from the sky above Los Angeles freeways, prompting officials in California to devise a plan to reduce
E. birds overcome by pollution and routinely falling from the sky above Los Angeles freeways were prompting officials in California to devise a plan to reduce
OA D

To best understand the point, draw your attention towards D and E
E says birds were prompting
in D ,prompting modifies/describes verb fell
However, verbs do not exist in void.
For every verb, there is a subject.

Who is responsible for that eventuality?
who is responsible for the action within verbing?

If you have to ascribe the responsibility to someone, who it would be?
birds albeit indirectly.
Birds fell and felling prompted.
Had there been no felling, there would have been no prompting

did birds perform the action within verbing (action verbing communiates)?
No. But if i have to get to the source, how it all started,
i will reach to birds, because of whom it all started.

Whatever mentioned above is indirect relationship.
,verbing ,however, can also communicates direct relationship.

Joe started exercise, running 30 minutes everyday
Who is doing the action within verbing?
Who is actually performing the action within verbing?
Joe.

My kid pulled the plug, shutting down the TV
Did my kid perform the action within verbing?
No.It is an indirect relationship (as has been explained)

Who is responsible for that eventuality?
who is responsible for the action within verbing?

If you have to ascribe the responsibility to someone, who it would be?
My kid.

Birds fell, prompting officials to devise a plan
Did birds perform the action within verbing?
No.It is an indirect relationship (as has been explained)

what is the takeaway?
,verbing (if verbing communicates an action) can have two interpretations
i) subject actually performing action within verbing
ii) subject responsible for action within verbing
In any given situation only one will do.
whichever makes sense, pick it up.
As long as one makes sense, you are good to go.
As you have to analyze answer choices in relative way, it will not be a big issue

Verbing, when serves as modifier, can be used in three ways
i) ,verbing--> subject verb...,verbing type construction
ii) verbing phrase as an initial modifier( present participle phrase as initial mod)
iii)verbing phrase or verbing modifying modifying noun

Now lets draw your attention towards third one, it is the one i have explained at length today (in vantage point SC)

please visit that post.
when you can modify noun with ved or ving and in answer choice you have both, you have to make a small sentence involving
modifiee(noun) + to be verb,such as was were + participle

sagarock
rules are definitely not acting but they are responsible for ensuring that atleastone ...

please refer to the posts above

The state has proposed new rules that would set minimum staffing levels for nurses, rules intended to ensure that at least one nurse is assigned for every four patients put through triage in a hospital emergency room.

A. rules intended to ensure that at least one nurse is assigned for every four patients put through triage in a hospital emergency room
B. rules with the intent of ensuring one nurse at least to be assigned for every four patients to be put through triage in a hospital emergency room
C. rules intending to ensure at least one nurse is assigned for every four patients in a hospital emergency room put through triage
D. with the intent of ensuring that at least one nurse should be assigned for every four patients in a hospital emergency room that are put through triage
E. and this is intended to ensure one nurse at least to be assigned for every four patients put through triage in a hospital emergency room

Between Ved(past participle) and Ving( present participle),
only one will be correct.
They are NOT interchangeable.
It is a valid distinction and thus an important decesion point.
rest your decision on making a small sentence involving noun (modifiee) and participle.

active setup vs passive setup was a valid distinction in this situation( intending vs intended).

sagarock wrote:And my other doubts are whether we have to check the sentence when ing modifier modifying nouni.e it is acting as adjective.for ex-rising inventories,if not accompanied by sales,can lead to...
2.declining values of houses have brought ...
3.growing plants lot of attention from the gardener.

make a small sentence when you have both past participle(ved type) and present participle(ving type) in answer choices.
And in this situation, indirect implication/ indirect responsibilty theory, explained in detail above, will not be applied. Rest assured. Because active construction and passive construction, when both have same subject, communicate entirly different stories or messages.

The state has proposed new rules that would set minimum staffing levels for nurses, rules intended to ensure that at least one nurse is assigned for every four patients put through triage in a hospital emergency room.

A. rules intended to ensure that at least one nurse is assigned for every four patients put through triage in a hospital emergency room
B. rules with the intent of ensuring one nurse at least to be assigned for every four patients to be put through triage in a hospital emergency room
C. rules intending to ensure at least one nurse is assigned for every four patients in a hospital emergency room put through triage
D. with the intent of ensuring that at least one nurse should be assigned for every four patients in a hospital emergency room that are put through triage
E. and this is intended to ensure one nurse at least to be assigned for every four patients put through triage in a hospital emergency room

rules wer intended or rules were intending

Because she knew many of the leaders of colonial America and the American Revolution personally, Mercy Otis Warren was continually at or near the center of political events from 1765 to 1789, a vantage point combining with her talent for writing to make her one of the most valuable historians of the era

(A) a vantage point combining with her talent for writing to make

(B) a vantage point, when combined with her talent for writing, that made

(C) a vantage point that combined with her talent for writing, and it made

(D) and this vantage point, which combined with her talent for writing to make

(E) and this vantage point, combined with her talent for writing, made

Vantage point was combined or vantage point was combining?

Active construction and passive construction, when both have same subject, communicate different messages.

In the major cities of industrialized countries at the end of the nineteenth century, important public places such as theates, restaurants, shops, and banks had instaled electric lighting,but electricity was in less than one percent of of homes, where lighting was still provided mainly by candles or gas.
a electricity was in less than one percent of homes, where lighting was still
b. electricity was in less than one percent of homes and lighting still
c. there were less than one percent of homes with electricity, where lighting was still being
d. there was less than one percent of homes that had electricity, having lighting that was still
e. less than one percetn of homes had electricity, where lighting had still been
oa a

a) is passive constuction
b) is active construction
subject in both these constuctions is same (lighting).
in this type of situation, both constructions communicate different messages.

Same goes for
noun verbing (present participle modifying noun)
and
noun verbed (past participle modifying noun)

noun verbing will translate into noun was verbing( active construction)
whereas
noun verbed will translate into noun was verbed (passive)

Takeaway:
Active construction and passive construction, when both have same subject, communicate different messages and thus are not interchangeable.

noun ved
noun ving

Between Ved(past participle) and Ving( present participle),
only one will be correct.
They are NOT interchangeable.
It is a valid distinction and thus an important decesion point.
rest your decision on making a small sentence involving noun (modifiee) and participle.