Live GMAT classes with Target Test Prep start Nov 21 and Nov 22. First class free.

See classes
Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 winner: Target Test Prep, #1 Test Prep

Target Test Prep was voted #1 Best Test Prep in the 2026 Newsweek Readers’ Choice™ Awards.

★★★★★5.0563 reviews
GMATLiveTeachStarts Nov 1
Josh Braslow, Target Test Prep GMAT expert
LIVE ONLINE CLASSES

Get Ready for GMAT Test Day Faster with Live Online Classes

with Josh Braslow, 20+ years in test prep

Nov 1 · Josh Braslow
Sun · 1:00 to 4:00 PM ET
Nov 22 · Josh Braslow
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes + 6 months of TTP OnDemand
  • Attend the first class for free
  • Every class is recorded, so you never fall behind
View classes & enroll
Limited seats availableTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeachOnDemand5 seats leftStart anytime
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Target Test Prep EA OnDemand

Self-paced EA prep. Study on your schedule.

Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

165+ EA score guarantee
$05-day trial no automatic billing
Schedule
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes plus six months of access to the complete TTP EA OnDemand course.
  • 165+ EA Score Guarantee
  • 4,100+ Quant, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning practice questions
  • 400+ hours of in-depth video lessons
  • 3,000+ step-by-step video solutions
View EA class & enroll Start free 5-day trial
Limited cohort · enrollment openTrial includes full course accessTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemandStart anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

715+ score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions
Start free 5-day trial
Read 563 reviewsTarget Test Prep

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

Modifier problems

Expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Subscribe topic
Previous Topic Next Topic
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 152
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2012 12:56 pm
Location: New york
Thanked: 9 times
by agarwalva » Sat Apr 07, 2012 7:44 am
1)Of the people who brought about theReformation, the religious revolution that grewout of objections to the doctrines of themedieval church, Martin Luther is the bestknown of them.
(A)Martin Luther is the best known of them
(B)the best known is Martin Luther
(C)the better known of them was MartinLuther
(D)Martin Luther is better known
(E)the best known one was Martin Luther

OA B

2)Of all the countries contiguous to China, theSoviet Union’s borders were most stronglydefended.
(A)the Soviet Union’s borders were moststrongly defended
(B)the borders of the Soviet Union weredefended more strongly than any of theothers
(C)the Soviet Union’s borders stood out forthe strength of their defensive capability
(D)the Soviet Union had the most stronglydefended borders
(E)the Soviet Union’s were the most stronglydefended borders
OA D

Please can some one explin how the OA is B in the first q/s

Also Please can someone throw some light on Prepositional phrases vs participle phrases[/spoiler]
Top
Join the discussion
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1248
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:57 pmFollowed by: 192 members
Location: Everywhere
Thanked: 503 times
GMAT Score:780

by Bill@VeritasPrep » Sat Apr 07, 2012 7:58 am
1)Of the people who brought about theReformation, the religious revolution that grewout of objections to the doctrines of themedieval church, Martin Luther is the bestknown of them.


(A) "of them" is redundant since we started the sentence with "of the people"

(B) correct; avoids redundancy and uses present tense "is.

(C)"of them" is redundant

(D)"better" is used to compare two items; since we have "of the people," we can safely say that we have more than two. As a result, we need the superlative form "best"

(E) "one" is unneeded, and the use of "was" is incorrect. He is still the best known, so we should use present tense.
Join Veritas Prep’s 2010 Instructor of the Year, Matt Douglas for GMATT Mondays

Visit the Veritas Prep Blog

Try the FREE Veritas Prep Practice Test
Top
Join the discussion
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1248
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:57 pmFollowed by: 192 members
Location: Everywhere
Thanked: 503 times
GMAT Score:780

by Bill@VeritasPrep » Sat Apr 07, 2012 8:02 am
2)Of all the countries contiguous to China, the Soviet Union’s borders were most strongly defended.

(A) Since we're comparing the strength of border defenses between countries, we need "the most strongly defended." Otherwise, it sounds like we're simply describing the Soviet Union's defenses individually.

(B) Since the opening phrase starts with "of all the countries," the country itself should be the subject, not the borders.

(C) Same as B

(D) the Soviet Union had the most strongly defended borders correct subject (Soviet Union) and uses "the most strongly defended."

(E) Same as B and C

Also Please can someone throw some light on Prepositional phrases vs participle phrases[/spoiler]
I highly recommend the Hypergrammar site from the University of Ottawa: https://www.writingcentre.uottawa.ca/hyp ... rfunc.html
Join Veritas Prep’s 2010 Instructor of the Year, Matt Douglas for GMATT Mondays

Visit the Veritas Prep Blog

Try the FREE Veritas Prep Practice Test
Top
Join the discussion
Legendary Member
Posts: 2789
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:19 amFollowed by: 43 members
Location: Chennai, India
Thanked: 206 times
GMAT Score:640

by GmatKiss » Sat Apr 07, 2012 10:08 am
Of the people who brought about theReformation, the religious revolution that grewout of objections to the doctrines of themedieval church, Martin Luther is the bestknown of them.

(A)Martin Luther is the best known of them

(B)the best known is Martin Luther

(C)the better known of them was Martin Luther

(D)Martin Luther is the best known

(E)the best known one was Martin Luther

What now, with a modified option D ?
Pls help me getting this right!

Thanks in advance,
GK
Top
Join the discussion
Legendary Member
Posts: 784
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2011 3:51 amFollowed by: 12 members
Thanked: 114 times

by patanjali.purpose » Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:04 am
GmatKiss wrote:Of the people who brought about theReformation, the religious revolution that grewout of objections to the doctrines of themedieval church, Martin Luther is the bestknown of them.

(A)Martin Luther is the best known of them

(B)the best known is Martin Luther

(C)the better known of them was Martin Luther

(D)Martin Luther is the best known

(E)the best known one was Martin Luther

What now, with a modified option D ?
Pls help me getting this right!

Thanks in advance,
GK
Interesting twist; I have read one of the posts (by an expert, I think, Ron's) in which he mentioned that such phrase is adjectival, eg:

Of pure Blackfoot Indian heritage, Jonas is eligible to receive free college scholarships from the tribal government - here "Of pure Blackfoot Indian heritage" is acting as an adjective modifying Jonas. But, he also mentioned that such construction is awkward, but correct. If we keep this in mind, I would prefer D in your changed question. THe same rule can be applied for question 2 of the original poster.

Having said that we all know opening prep modifiers are generally adverb modifiers - from this perspective both B/D appears right in your changed question. But D serves additional purpose when "Of pure Blackfoot Indian heritage" is adjective modifier. IMO D
Top
Join the discussion
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1248
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:57 pmFollowed by: 192 members
Location: Everywhere
Thanked: 503 times
GMAT Score:780

by Bill@VeritasPrep » Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:24 am
I think your new version of D is a bit better than B, but grammatically they're both fine.
Join Veritas Prep’s 2010 Instructor of the Year, Matt Douglas for GMATT Mondays

Visit the Veritas Prep Blog

Try the FREE Veritas Prep Practice Test
Top
Join the discussion
Legendary Member
Posts: 2789
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:19 amFollowed by: 43 members
Location: Chennai, India
Thanked: 206 times
GMAT Score:640

by GmatKiss » Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:45 am
Bill@VeritasPrep wrote:I think your new version of D is a bit better than B, but grammatically they're both fine.
Am sure that the GMAT will not have such a question (modified one).

IMO:

But still, "Of the people" , needs Martin Luther just after the comma.
Even in the original version, "better known" is grammatically correct!!
Why is this rule ambiguous, why is there "sometimes this is correct","exception for certain rules" ?

Thanks for all your time for me :)
Top
Join the discussion
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1248
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:57 pmFollowed by: 192 members
Location: Everywhere
Thanked: 503 times
GMAT Score:780

by Bill@VeritasPrep » Sat Apr 07, 2012 12:12 pm
"Better known" is not grammatically correct in the original version of D. Since we're talking about more than two people, we have to use the superlative form "best."

One item--simple form. Arsenal is good.
Two items--comparative form. Arsenal is better than Tottenham is.
Three or more items--superlative form. Of all the soccer teams in London, Arsenal is the best.

I think having "best known" after the comma (as in B) is fine. "Of all the people"...okay, who are we talking about? "the best known" of all the people.
Join Veritas Prep’s 2010 Instructor of the Year, Matt Douglas for GMATT Mondays

Visit the Veritas Prep Blog

Try the FREE Veritas Prep Practice Test
Top
Join the discussion