For members of the seventeenth-century Ashanti nation in Africa, animal-hide shields with wooden
frames were essential items of military equipment, a method to protect warriors against enemy arrows
and spears.
(Al a method to protect
(8l as a method protecting
(Cl protecting
(Dl as a protection of
(El to protect
OA is C .
OG explanation: Replacing the underlined phrase with the participle protecting creates a modifying phrase that clearly explains the purpose of the items of military equipment.
OG Explanation for C : In this sentence, protecting properly introduces a modifying phrase revealing the
purpose of the items.
My question: ing modifer are used for two purposes: simultaneaous action and consequence. In addition, if an ing modifier is followed by a clause, it is ,generally, applicable to the subject of clause but never applicable on object. However, this question does apply ing modifier on the nearby noun not the subject noun.
Please help.
OG12 - ing modifier after comma- exceptional case;Expert pls
This topic has expert replies
-
- Legendary Member
- Posts: 768
- Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 3:46 am
- Thanked: 21 times
- Followed by:7 members
- GMATGuruNY
- 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
When we see an -ing modifier, we should ask the following question:GMATMadeEasy wrote:For members of the seventeenth-century Ashanti nation in Africa, animal-hide shields with wooden
frames were essential items of military equipment, a method to protect warriors against enemy arrows
and spears.
(Al a method to protect
(8l as a method protecting
(Cl protecting
(Dl as a protection of
(El to protect
OA is C .
OG explanation: Replacing the underlined phrase with the participle protecting creates a modifying phrase that clearly explains the purpose of the items of military equipment.
OG Explanation for C : In this sentence, protecting properly introduces a modifying phrase revealing the
purpose of the items.
My question: ing modifer are used for two purposes: simultaneaous action and consequence. In addition, if an ing modifier is followed by a clause, it is ,generally, applicable to the subject of clause but never applicable on object. However, this question does apply ing modifier on the nearby noun not the subject noun.
Please help.
Who or what is performing the action of the -ing word?
In the SC above, the shields are protecting. The modifying phrase at the end of the sentence (protecting...) is modifying the subject of the previous clause (shields). Indeed, we could move the modifying phrase in front of the clause that is being modified:
Protecting warriors against enemy arrows and spears, animal-hide shields with wooden frames were essential items of military equipment.
The correct answer is C.
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
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
Nice explanation, BUT STILL I have doubt between C and E.
For eliminating (E), can we say infinitive can NOT come after COMMA. We know that infinitives are verbals so have nature of verbs. With regard to this rule(if I am right), we can easily narrow down to choice (C). Is the logic right??
For eliminating (E), can we say infinitive can NOT come after COMMA. We know that infinitives are verbals so have nature of verbs. With regard to this rule(if I am right), we can easily narrow down to choice (C). Is the logic right??
- gmat_perfect
- Legendary Member
- Posts: 1083
- Joined: Wed Feb 24, 2010 9:38 pm
- Thanked: 127 times
- Followed by:14 members
Yes, BUT.800target wrote:Nice explanation, BUT STILL I have doubt between C and E.
For eliminating (E), can we say infinitive can NOT come after COMMA. We know that infinitives are verbals so have nature of verbs. With regard to this rule(if I am right), we can easily narrow down to choice (C). Is the logic right??
COMMA + To Verb is always wrong if the following is correct:
==> The words before COMMA are not modifier.
An example from GMATPREP:
Despite recent increases in sales and cash flow that have propelled automobile companies' common stocks to new highs, several industry analysts expect automakers, in order to conserve cash, to be more conservative than they have been in setting dividends.
Here, Analysts expect automakers to be more conservative. "in order to conserve cash" is just modifier.
==> COMMA + AND + To + Verb is not the last item in the parallelism.
Example:
They want to play, to win, and to have the first prize.
We can eliminate the "COMMA + To verb" if the verb is not working as verb.
Thanks.
Thnaks gmat_perfect BUT based on your saying:
Thanks in advance.
in choice E, ''to protect'' we see that ''protect'' is a verb, so we can not eliminate this choice, hence the correct answer should be E based on your above rule!! BUT OA is C. Can you correct me OR elaborate your rule which you had explained bit more.We can eliminate the "COMMA + To verb" if the verb is not working as verb.
Thanks in advance.
- GMATGuruNY
- 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
An infinitive modifier can function as an adjective or as an adverb:800target wrote:Thnaks gmat_perfect BUT based on your saying:in choice E, ''to protect'' we see that ''protect'' is a verb, so we can not eliminate this choice, hence the correct answer should be E based on your above rule!! BUT OA is C. Can you correct me OR elaborate your rule which you had explained bit more.We can eliminate the "COMMA + To verb" if the verb is not working as verb.
Thanks in advance.
The surest way to ace the GMAT is to study hard. (The infinitive modifier to ace the GMAT is an adjective modifying the noun way.)
You are certain to ace the GMAT if you study hard. (The infinitive modifier to ace the GMAT is an adverb modifying the adjective certain.)
In answer choice E above, it is unclear what word is being modified by to protect. It must be clear what a modifier is modifying. Thus, E can be eliminated.
When an -ing word functions as an adjective at the beginning of a phrase, the -ing word modifies the subject of the previous clause. Thus, in the correct answer C, it is clear that protecting is modifying (shields).
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
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
If I look at the core sentence with D, does it makes sense if we ignore the S-V agreement?
shields were essential items (of military equipment) as a protection of warriors
How can we eliminate D if the S-V issue is not there?
Regards.
shields were essential items (of military equipment) as a protection of warriors
How can we eliminate D if the S-V issue is not there?
Regards.