Sentence Correction

e-GMAT wrote: Secondly, choice A is incorrect because of the use of "including..." in the phrase "generation of actors including"

Actors include Marlon and Robert - non sensical. This expression is used to communicate the meaning - X include X1, X2...- where X1 and X2 are parts of X. In this sentence, Marlon and Robert are actors. They are not parts of actors.

e-GMAT wrote:As sunnyjohn pointed out, one of the reasons why choice A is incorrect is the ambiguous use of "who".

Per the meaning of the sentence, Stella Adler actually trained several generations of actors. Now the placement of "who modifier" in choice A creates ambiguity in this meaning since it is not clear what this modifier modifies.

Does it modify "most influential artists in the American theater", implying that many influential artists in the American theater trained several generations of actors and Stella Adler was simply one of them.
OR
Does it modify "one of the most influential artists in the American theater" and hence modifies Stella Adler (notice the presence of linking verb = was, which creates sort of an equation here), implying the intended meaning that Stella trained several generations of actors.

Notice how choice C corrects this error by converting this modifier to a verb-ing modifier. This modifier now extends the idea presented in the preceding clause.

Secondly, choice A is incorrect because of the use of "including..." in the phrase "generation of actors including"

In this phrase - including could refer to generations or to actors. Context drives this. But as such neither of the two references make sense.

Generations include Marlon and Robert - non sensical.
Actors include Marlon and Robert - non sensical. This expression is used to communicate the meaning - X include X1, X2...- where X1 and X2 are parts of X. In this sentence, Marlon and Robert are actors. They are not parts of actors.

e-GMAT wrote:Here is choice D (simplified version):
As an actress, one of the most influential artists in the American theater was Stella Adler.

And here is another sentence similar to the one above:
As the king of the jungle, one of the most ferocious animals is the lion.

In both the sentences, the introductory modifier (as a...) modifies "one of the..." instead of the real subject - Stella Adler (or lion).

The correct sentences obviously are:
As an actress, Stella Adler was one of the most influential artists in the American theater.
As the king of the jungle, lion is one of the most ferocious animals.

Let me know if you want me to explain this further.

Payal

e-GMAT wrote:Notice how choice C corrects this error by converting this modifier to a verb-ing modifier. This modifier now extends the idea presented in the preceding clause.

When does ING form modify the subject of the touching clause and when does it not modify ?

Does ING form act as a modifier in ways other than modify the subject of the touching clause?

bubbliiiiiiii wrote:I am answering the queries as I have recently attended a session on ing forms from E-GMAT. It was fabulous.

When does ING form modify the subject of the touching clause and when does it not modify ?

The -ing form modifies the previous clause (subject-verb pair) when preceeded by a COMMA.

Clause+COMMA+-ing.

Does ING form act as a modifier in ways other than modify the subject of the touching clause?

When -ing is not preceeded by a comma it modifies the noun/phrase it touches.

NOUN/PHRASE + -ing form.

@E-GMAT, please correct if I misinterpreted the concepts.