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

Redeem
TTP OnDemand GMAT Video Course
Featured Course

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.

  • 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
  • 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
  • 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
  • 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
  • 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
  • TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
  • 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
  • OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
  • Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
  • MBA Admissions Consulting now available
  • 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
  • 200,000+ students served
  • 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★ 5.0 (559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start then $127/mo
Start Free 5-Day Trial Read 559 Reviews →

SC from Manhattan, Please Help!

Expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 61
Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 12:42 amFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 4 times
by kashefian » Sat Nov 20, 2010 12:14 pm
I found the following example in Manhattan GMAT flash cards. I cannot figure out the structure of the sentence especially the reason why "Thinking" is not incorrect. I though it should be "to think". Here is the sentence:

I sent a card thanking my eighth-grade English teacher for teaching me about grammar and inspiring me to write.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Sentence Correction |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 645
Joined: Mon Jul 26, 2010 12:42 pmFollowed by: 227 members
Location: US
Thanked: 527 times

by e-GMAT » Sat Nov 20, 2010 1:01 pm
This sentence does not appear to be correct as is. Note that verb-ing modifiers when not preceded by a comma, modify the preceding noun. In this case since "thanking my 8th grade teacher..." is not preceded by a comma, it modifies "card". And for the modification to be correct, the verb-ing modifier should state a property or characteristic of the preceding noun. For example:

I sent a card containing letters inscribed in gold. In this sentence "containing letters..." describes the card appropriately.

However, in the sentence in question, "thanking my 8th grade teacher" is not a characteristic of the card. It is basically an emotion expressed by the person who has sent the card.

The correct construction should have a comma prior to the verb-ing modifier.

Another correct construction can be made by replacing "thanking" with "to thank"
I sent a card to thank my 8th grade teacher...

If you would like to review the verb-ing modifiers, you can access the concept titled "Modifiers-Verb-ing" in the Free Preview of e-gmat SC course.

Thanks,

Payal
Last edited by e-GMAT on Sat Nov 20, 2010 10:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 61
Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 12:42 amFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 4 times

by kashefian » Sat Nov 20, 2010 9:47 pm
The only ambiguity that still remains is how a card thank my teacher? I thought attributing the action of "thanking" to the card would not be true.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 645
Joined: Mon Jul 26, 2010 12:42 pmFollowed by: 227 members
Location: US
Thanked: 527 times

by e-GMAT » Sat Nov 20, 2010 10:51 pm
Yes that is correct. :)
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1