gmatrant wrote:I am not looking for the answer here, but I have a question regarding the answer choice especially regarding the modifier in the right answer choice.

SC Gurus kindly advise

A firm that specializes in the analysis of handwriting claims from a one-page writing sample that it can assess more than 300 personality traits, including enthusiasm, imagination, and ambition.

(A) from a one-page writing sample that it can assess
(B) from a one-page writing sample it has the ability of assessing
(C) the ability, from a one-page writing sample, of assessing
(D) to be able, from a one-page writing sample, to assess
(E) being able to assess, from a one-page writing sample

Answer is D, of all the choices, D looks appropriate but I have one question regarding this choice.

What does the modifier "from a one-page writing sample" modify in choice D? I am now a bit confused what should a modifier modify , the noun? This isn't a 'verb modifier' as it does not start with 'ing' . So what does it modify?

Ok, nice question here. The phrase "from a one-page writing sample" does not seem to be acting as a modifier at all.

Comma can be used for a variety of reasons including:
1. between 2 independent clauses,
(eg. I love you, but you don't love me.)
2. After an introductory word, phrase or clause
(eg. Unfortunately, the roster is already full.)
3. Between items in a series
(eg. Tom, Jack and Jill went up the hill)
4. Between Adjectives that modify the same word.
(the dark, dingy room could use a coat of bright paint)
5. To set off parenthetical elements,
(Eg. "The Founders Bridge, which spans the Connecticut River, is falling down.")

By "parenthetical element," we mean a part of a sentence that can be removed without changing the essential meaning of that sentence. The parenthetical element is sometimes called "added information." This is the most difficult rule in punctuation because it is sometimes unclear what is "added" or "parenthetical" and what is essential to the meaning of a sentence.

The above point (number 5) is applicable in our case. "from a one-page writing sample" is a parenthetical element which has been set off by using commas.