Verb-ing Modifiers.. I thought I knew them..

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Ron, it would be great if you could respond..

Hi Everyone,

I thought I was fairly comfortable with the usage of , verb-ing modifier until I came across the OG explanation for question 55 Choice D.

verb-ing modifiers when separated by comma modify preceding clause. So in choice D, the modifier - applying part of the rent - should modify the preceding clause "which enables a family...". Since "which" refers to programs, this modifier should non-sensically modify "programs enables a family...". But per OG explanation, this modifier connects to the Main Clause subject - builders.

Now if I follow same reasoning, then I get confused with the explanation for this GMAT Prep question. Again for choice D, as Ron explains, the verb-ing modifier incorrectly modifies the preceding which clause - confederacy was a cluster...
https://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/the ... t5485.html

Pasting the question here:

"The Kwakiutl recognized one social unit larger than the tribe-the confederacy, which was a cluster of loosely knit, informally related neighboring tribes who interacted with themselves more often than between other tribes.

A. tribes who interacted with themselves more often than between
B. tribes who interacted among each other more often than among
C. tribes who interacted with one another more often than with
D. tribes, interacting among each other more often than between
E. tribes, interacting among one another more often than with

Pasting Ron's explanation pertinent to my question:

"you are correct, though, about the subject of what is (incorrectly) being modified by the COMMA -ING modifier: "confederacy". technically, the subject and verb of the modified clause are "which was...", but "which" refers back to "confederacy"."

I can eliminate both these choices but I want to know if I understand verb-ing modifiers well enough.

Please help.
Source: — Sentence Correction |

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by deep.amangmat » Wed Jun 01, 2011 5:05 pm
Any responses on this question???

Would really appreciate some help..

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by lunarpower » Sun Jun 05, 2011 4:52 am
yeah -- despite what the OG explanation says, i don't think that "applying" is problematic in those choices. it applies just fine to the preceding clause.
(note that, while the OG questions are consistently of top quality, some of the OG explanations are second-rate or even incorrect. this happens to be one of those.)

the principal errors in those choices:
(d) has subject-verb disagreement (programs, which enables...)
(e) says "enables ... to be able to..." (i.e., redundancy)
Ron has been teaching various standardized tests for 20 years.

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by deep.amangmat » Tue Jun 14, 2011 9:53 am
Thanks Ron for your response. I feel so much better. So my understand is fine. verb-ing modifiers refer to the preceding clause and not necessarily to the main clause.

Thanks,

Aman

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