Hello experts,
In the below question, How the modifier can be politicians, but not an ambitious plan. Please explain
How to approach this modifier problem
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- ceilidh.erickson
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Modifier issues are usually dependent on meaning.
When a sentence begins "reaching a decision...," the subject that comes after that comma must be the person (or entity) who reached a decision. From a meaning perspective, "politicians" are capable of reaching decisions, but "ambitious plans" are inanimate abstract nouns, so they cannot reach decisions.
When a sentence begins "reaching a decision...," the subject that comes after that comma must be the person (or entity) who reached a decision. From a meaning perspective, "politicians" are capable of reaching decisions, but "ambitious plans" are inanimate abstract nouns, so they cannot reach decisions.
Ceilidh Erickson
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
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Harvard Graduate School of Education
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Technically, neither politicians nor ambitious plan is the modifier; the modifier is: Finally reaching a decision on an issue that has long been politically charged in the Pacific Northwest.
This modifier belongs to a category of grammatical construction called participial phrases. A participial phrase such as this one modifies the word/phrase that is immediately next to it, in this case politicians (in the original sentence).
p.s. Our book SC Nirvana discusses Participial phrases, their application and examples in significant detail. If you can PM you email, I can send you the corresponding section.
Ashish
MBA - ISB, GMAT - 99th Percentile
GMAT Faculty @ EducationAisle
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Sentence Correction Nirvana available at:
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MBA - ISB, GMAT - 99th Percentile
GMAT Faculty @ EducationAisle
www.EducationAisle.com
Sentence Correction Nirvana available at:
a) Amazon: Sentence Correction Nirvana
b) Flipkart: Sentence Correction Nirvana
Now! Preview the entire Grammar Section of Sentence Correction Nirvana at pothi