BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Confused about adverbial vs adjectival modifiers

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 216
Joined: Wed Jul 23, 2008 2:35 am
Location: Pune, India
Thanked: 5 times
GMAT Score:700

Confused about adverbial vs adjectival modifiers

by ayushiiitm » Sun Jul 18, 2010 11:30 am
I was going through my notes today. I found an ambiguity inferring from my notes. I hope the community can help

1) At one place it is written that participles act as adjectival modifier (apart from being
part of verb)

2) Adverbial modifiers, always modify the subject and hence can be moved around in the sentence (of course avoiding any ambiguity)

3) Now present participle is a adjectival modifier, hence it should always be close to the noun that it modifies.

Paradox: It is said when present participle is used, it is considered to always modify the subject. But this rule was applied on adverbial modifiers. Why is it considered on adjectival modifier?


Can someone explain, what I am lacking in my understanding
Success is a journey.....enjoy every moment of it
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Sun Jul 18, 2010 3:26 pm
ayushiiitm wrote:I was going through my notes today. I found an ambiguity inferring from my notes. I hope the community can help

1) At one place it is written that participles act as adjectival modifier (apart from being
part of verb)

2) Adverbial modifiers, always modify the subject and hence can be moved around in the sentence (of course avoiding any ambiguity)

3) Now present participle is a adjectival modifier, hence it should always be close to the noun that it modifies.

Paradox: It is said when present participle is used, it is considered to always modify the subject. But this rule was applied on adverbial modifiers. Why is it considered on adjectival modifier?

Can someone explain, what I am lacking in my understanding
Where did you read that an adverb could modify the subject? Subjects are nouns, and only an adjective can modify a noun. Adverbs modify everything else.

Here's the approach that I recommend. When you see a verb that is acting as a modifier, ask yourself the following question in order to identify what's being modified:

Who/what is performing the action of the verb?

The verb/modifier will be modifying whoever or whatever is performing the action of the verb.

John ate all the cookies, upsetting Mary.

Who or what is upsetting Mary? John is upsetting Mary (by eating all the cookies). So upsetting is modifying John.

Mary entered the restaurant, excited to see all her friends.

Who or what is excited? Mary is excited. So excited is modifying Mary.

The other rule to remember:

A modifier should be as close as possible to what it's modifying.

If two answer choices both seem ok, but one places the modifier closer to what's being modified, eliminate the other answer choice and choose the answer choice that places the modifier closer.

Hope this helps!
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Top
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1