Sentence Correction

1.

" the library at alexandria, the largest in the world ".

Source: OG verbal review

i guess "the largest in the world" is modifying alexandria.
please help!!

No my friend -

Largest in the world is modifying the library (the subject).

However, if the sentence were to use a non-essential modifier then alexandria would have been modified.

Example:

The library at alexandria, which is the largest in the world, was destroyed by the Romans.

Here which is the largest in the world is modifying Alexandria due to the introduction of the non-essential modifier 'which'.

Other non-essential modifiers could be which, when, where, who, whom, whose. Well, pretty much all the W's.

Please add/delete from the list of non-essential modifiers if I am incorrect and do let me know as well.

thanks a ton rohan:

So The rule says:
if using non essential modifiers ( All Ws) will modifiy preceding noun.

Other wise the subject of the preceding clause or phrase


pls correct me if i am wrong

ronniecoleman wrote:thanks a ton rohan:

So The rule says:
if using non essential modifiers ( All Ws) will modifiy preceding noun.

Do check the W's. So far whatever W's I've encountered have been non-essential.

And non-essential modifiers are used right after the comma. For example

This is my uncle John, who lives in Toronto. (Manhattan GMAT example)
Sita loves snowboarding, which is a dangerous sport.

ronniecoleman wrote: Other wise the subject of the preceding clause or phrase


pls correct me if i am wrong

Yup! you got it!

Which, Who, Where - all these can be used without the comma as well, but then they would be essential modifiers and NOT non-essential modifiers.

Example:
This is my uncle John who lives in Toronto.


'which' without a comma is probably wrong

just to add my 2 cents,

WHOSE is another modifier that does not need the comma, right?

'whose' can be used to modify people as well as things - mgmat sc book

@Rohan,
Does the logic holds true for essential modifiers such as "that".
i.e. "that" modifies subject of the preceding clause ?

Carloblacksun wrote:just to add my 2 cents,

WHOSE is another modifier that does not need the comma, right?

depends on the usage.

If as an essential modifer, No need

If as a non-essential modifier, surely yes..