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SC from Manhattan, Please Help!

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SC from Manhattan, Please Help!

by kashefian » Sat Nov 20, 2010 12:14 pm
I found the following example in Manhattan GMAT flash cards. I cannot figure out the structure of the sentence especially the reason why "Thinking" is not incorrect. I though it should be "to think". Here is the sentence:

I sent a card thanking my eighth-grade English teacher for teaching me about grammar and inspiring me to write.
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by e-GMAT » Sat Nov 20, 2010 1:01 pm
This sentence does not appear to be correct as is. Note that verb-ing modifiers when not preceded by a comma, modify the preceding noun. In this case since "thanking my 8th grade teacher..." is not preceded by a comma, it modifies "card". And for the modification to be correct, the verb-ing modifier should state a property or characteristic of the preceding noun. For example:

I sent a card containing letters inscribed in gold. In this sentence "containing letters..." describes the card appropriately.

However, in the sentence in question, "thanking my 8th grade teacher" is not a characteristic of the card. It is basically an emotion expressed by the person who has sent the card.

The correct construction should have a comma prior to the verb-ing modifier.

Another correct construction can be made by replacing "thanking" with "to thank"
I sent a card to thank my 8th grade teacher...

If you would like to review the verb-ing modifiers, you can access the concept titled "Modifiers-Verb-ing" in the Free Preview of e-gmat SC course.

Thanks,

Payal
Last edited by e-GMAT on Sat Nov 20, 2010 10:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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by kashefian » Sat Nov 20, 2010 9:47 pm
The only ambiguity that still remains is how a card thank my teacher? I thought attributing the action of "thanking" to the card would not be true.
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by e-GMAT » Sat Nov 20, 2010 10:51 pm
Yes that is correct. :)
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