Sentence Correction

Hi,

Kindly help me understand this question!

The rain has flooded drainage canals in many orange-tree groves, which has caused the fruit to fall before it will ripen and also threatened to kill the trees.

a) which has caused the fruit to fall before it will ripen and also threatened to kill
b) which not only caused the fruit to fall without ripening, but also threatened killing
c) not only causing the fruit to fall before ripening, but also threatening to kill
d) causing the fruit to fall before it will ripen, which will threaten killing
e) causing the fruit to have fallen before it ripened, which threatened to kill

What is the source of the question? None of the choices looks good..

What's the OA?

This question is a supplementary GMAT prep questions. The OA is C.

Does they test the Idiom '....Not only....but also...' ?

Uva@90 wrote:Does they test the Idiom '....Not only....but also...' ?

I doubt.. "caused" should have been rather "causing". As per the rule, verb+ed form should go the nearest object; if that's the case, then the meaning is changed. Maybe, there is some typo??

Hey all,

Thanks for your assistance. I got a good explanation from another forum. Thought I will share it here.

Option A & B - Eliminate as 'which' is used incorrectly here. 'Which' always modifies the nearest grammatically eligible word. So, in A and B, which modifies orange-tree groves, suggesting that orange-tree groves caused the fruit to fall; however, from the context, it is clear that flooding of drainage canals caused the fruit to fall.

Option C - Correct. Error free. Not only but also idiom also matches!

Option D - The future tense 'will ripen' makes no sense

Option E - The present perfect infinitive 'to have fallen' makes no sense

Cheers & Best wishes with your preparations!

theCodeToGMAT wrote:

Uva@90 wrote:Does they test the Idiom '....Not only....but also...' ?

I doubt.. "caused" should have been rather "causing". As per the rule, verb+ed form should go the nearest object; if that's the case, then the meaning is changed. Maybe, there is some typo??

Is this always true ???

Regards,
Uva.

Uva@90 wrote:

theCodeToGMAT wrote:

Uva@90 wrote:Does they test the Idiom '....Not only....but also...' ?

I doubt.. "caused" should have been rather "causing". As per the rule, verb+ed form should go the nearest object; if that's the case, then the meaning is changed. Maybe, there is some typo??

Is this always true ???

Regards,
Uva.

Yes, I have come across this "VERB+ED after comma" on several forums.

But, I am not sure about this posted question.. I am still not convinced with the Question.

Rahul I deeply regret the typo! I had to keep doing an alt + tab while typing. You are correct. Choice C should be read as causing and not caused. I have corrected the option above! Regret the trouble mate!

theCodeToGMAT wrote:

Uva@90 wrote:

theCodeToGMAT wrote:

Uva@90 wrote:Does they test the Idiom '....Not only....but also...' ?

I doubt.. "caused" should have been rather "causing". As per the rule, verb+ed form should go the nearest object; if that's the case, then the meaning is changed. Maybe, there is some typo??

Is this always true ???

Regards,
Uva.

Yes, I have come across this "VERB+ED after comma" on several forums.

But, I am not sure about this posted question.. I am still not convinced with the Question.

That's Ok Mate!

Joseph_Alexander wrote:Rahul I deeply regret the typo! I had to keep doing an alt + tab while typing. You are correct. Choice C should be read as causing and not caused. I have corrected the option above! Regret the trouble mate!

theCodeToGMAT wrote:

Uva@90 wrote:

theCodeToGMAT wrote:

Uva@90 wrote:Does they test the Idiom '....Not only....but also...' ?

I doubt.. "caused" should have been rather "causing". As per the rule, verb+ed form should go the nearest object; if that's the case, then the meaning is changed. Maybe, there is some typo??

Is this always true ???

Regards,
Uva.

Yes, I have come across this "VERB+ED after comma" on several forums.

But, I am not sure about this posted question.. I am still not convinced with the Question.

this is for not only,but also idiom.

Option C is correct.

Joseph_Alexander wrote:Hi,

Kindly help me understand this question!

The rain has flooded drainage canals in many orange-tree groves, which has caused the fruit to fall before it will ripen and also threatened to kill the trees.

a) which has caused the fruit to fall before it will ripen and also threatened to kill
b) which not only caused the fruit to fall without ripening, but also threatened killing
c) not only causing the fruit to fall before ripening, but also threatening to kill
d) causing the fruit to fall before it will ripen, which will threaten killing
e) causing the fruit to have fallen before it ripened, which threatened to kill

C is the correct option.
It introduces the only..but also idiom which I first considered unnecessary. But this option "not only" uses the idiom correctly, "but also" corrects the verb tense which is wrong in all other options. Also, answers containing "which" should be totally eliminated at first.
Well, also this is a good example where elimination of wrong answers is well utilized!
@Experts: Let me know if my concept needs correction.

Thanks

Im no expert but i can give this a shot
We can use "-ing" participle phrases to show a direct consequence of the main sentence.
the "comma + ing" modifier should only be used when:

(A)
it MODIFIES THE ENTIRE ACTION of the preceding clause, and it APPLIES TO THE SUBJECT of that clause;

AND

(B)
one of the following is true:
(1) the "ing" action is SIMULTANEOUS with, and SUBORDINATE to, the main action;
- i ran down the sidewalk, flapping my arms wildly
(2) the "ing" action is a DIRECT AND IMMEDIATE CONSEQUENCE of the main action.
- i got a 100 on the most recent exam, bringing my average up to 91

Now the second phrase"causing" is a direct consequence of the action of the verb of the main clause "flooding"
A and B are out since they suggest the grooves cause the flooding
D and E are out since "which" is used incorrectly
C is correct because it correctly parallels the flooding and threatening which are the direct consequences of flooding

Yes I also think that option C is correct.