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Participle Modifier

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Participle Modifier

by RACHVIK » Thu Nov 25, 2010 7:39 am
Kit Carson roamed the Rockies and the Southwest, working as a trapper and establishing a reputation as one of the most able mountain men of his time.

Is it correct for modifier 'working as a trapper.....' to modify Kit Carson. Do participle modifiers modify subject of clause when placed at the end of clause and separated by comma.

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Rachvik
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by e-GMAT » Thu Nov 25, 2010 7:57 am
Essentially, verb-ing modifier separated by comma modifies the preceding clause. Since it is separated by comma, it cannot modify the preceding noun - Southwest.

Here's what this sentence means:

Kit Carson roamed some place.
How? By working as a trapper and by establishing a reputation - so the verb-ing modifier modifies the preceding clause - i.e. the subject and the action.

The typical rule set is as follows:
Verb-ing without comma modifies the preceding noun
Verb-ing with comma modifies the preceding clause - the subject and verb together.


e-GMAT users can review the above rule-set in the concept file - "Modifiers - Verb-ing" included in the free trial at e-gmat
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Payal
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by amir_hatef » Thu Dec 02, 2010 12:58 am
Thanks Payal, Could you please bring a OG question on to distinguish present participle & past participle and their usage? In advance thanks.
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by e-GMAT » Thu Dec 02, 2010 5:08 am
Verb-ing with a comma is used in correct answer in Q47 of OG12
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