Hi, Ron, I've read a lot of your posts and learned quite a lot from your explanations to various problems. I have long been bewildered by the uses of modifiers starting with "with". Sometimes this construction is legitimate while sometimes turns out wrong. I've collected some examples below, hope you can help me with this problem. Big thanks!
GMATprep questions:
1. The thirteen original British colonies in North America, some formed as commercial ventures, others as religious havens, each had a written charter that set forth its form of government and the rights of the colonists.
A. some formed as commercial ventures, others as religious havens, each had a written charter
B. some being formed as a commercial venture, others as religious havens, all of which had written charters
C. some that formed as commercial ventures, others as religious havens, all had written charters
D. with some being formed as a commercial venture, others as religious havens, all had a written charter
E. with some formed as commercial ventures, while others as religious havens, each had a written charter
OA is A.If E is "with some formed as commercial ventures, and others as religious havens, each had a written charter" would this be right? When do modifiers starting with "with" contain a connotation, that the noun after "with" is possessed by the noun before ", with..." ?
2. The results of the company's cost-cutting measures are evident in its profits, which increased five percent during the first three months of this year after it fell over the last two years.
A. which increased five percent during the first three months of this year after it fell
B. which had increased five percent during the first three months of this year after it had fallen
C. which have increased five percent during the first three months of this year after falling
D. with a five percent increase during the first three months of this year after falling
E. with a five percent increase during the first three months of this year after having fallen
OA is C.Why is "with" in D is wrong? Isn't "with ..." here modifying profits? Or it's modifying the whole sentence? How can you tell if it's the nearest noun or the whole clause that "with ..." modifies ?
Why are "with" correct in problem #3 and #4?
3. With surface temperatures estimated at minus 230 degrees Fahrenheit, Jupiter's moon Europa has long been considered far too cold to support life, and with 60 square miles of water thought to be frozen from top to bottom.
A. Europa has long been considered far too cold to support life, and with
B. Europa has long been considered far too cold to support life, its
C. Europa has long been considered as far too cold to support life and has
D. Europa, long considered as far too cold to support life, and its
E. Europa, long considered to be far too cold to support life, and to have
4. Because of wireless service costs plummeting in the last year, and as mobile phones are increasingly common, many people now using their mobile phones to make calls across a wide region at night and on weekends, when numerous wireless companies provide unlimited airtime for a relatively small monthly fee.
A. Because of wireless service costs plummeting in the last year, and as mobile phones are increasingly common, many people
B. As the cost of wireless service plummeted in the last year and as mobile phones became increasingly common, many people
C. In the last year, with the cost of wireless service plummeting, and mobile phones have become increasingly common, there are many people
D. With the cost of wireless service plummeting in the last year and mobile phones becoming increasingly common, many people are
E. While the cost of wireless service has plummeted in the last year and mobile phones are increasingly common, many people are
OA is D
5. For the last five years the Dutch economy has grown faster than Britain, France, or Germany, with the unemployment rate having remained well below that of the other three countries.
D. the economy of Britain, France, and Germany, with the unemployment rate that has remained
E. the economies of Britain, France, and Germany, and the unemployment rate has remained
if D is worded "the economies of Britain, France, and Germany, with the unemployment rate remaining...", would this be alright? Or would this be considered a noun modifier modifying "the economies of Britain, France, and Germany," ? Can this be considered an adverbial modifier modifying "For the last five years the Dutch economy has grown faster than..."?
I'm taking GMAT in a week, thank you in advance!
GMATprep questions:
1. The thirteen original British colonies in North America, some formed as commercial ventures, others as religious havens, each had a written charter that set forth its form of government and the rights of the colonists.
A. some formed as commercial ventures, others as religious havens, each had a written charter
B. some being formed as a commercial venture, others as religious havens, all of which had written charters
C. some that formed as commercial ventures, others as religious havens, all had written charters
D. with some being formed as a commercial venture, others as religious havens, all had a written charter
E. with some formed as commercial ventures, while others as religious havens, each had a written charter
OA is A.If E is "with some formed as commercial ventures, and others as religious havens, each had a written charter" would this be right? When do modifiers starting with "with" contain a connotation, that the noun after "with" is possessed by the noun before ", with..." ?
2. The results of the company's cost-cutting measures are evident in its profits, which increased five percent during the first three months of this year after it fell over the last two years.
A. which increased five percent during the first three months of this year after it fell
B. which had increased five percent during the first three months of this year after it had fallen
C. which have increased five percent during the first three months of this year after falling
D. with a five percent increase during the first three months of this year after falling
E. with a five percent increase during the first three months of this year after having fallen
OA is C.Why is "with" in D is wrong? Isn't "with ..." here modifying profits? Or it's modifying the whole sentence? How can you tell if it's the nearest noun or the whole clause that "with ..." modifies ?
Why are "with" correct in problem #3 and #4?
3. With surface temperatures estimated at minus 230 degrees Fahrenheit, Jupiter's moon Europa has long been considered far too cold to support life, and with 60 square miles of water thought to be frozen from top to bottom.
A. Europa has long been considered far too cold to support life, and with
B. Europa has long been considered far too cold to support life, its
C. Europa has long been considered as far too cold to support life and has
D. Europa, long considered as far too cold to support life, and its
E. Europa, long considered to be far too cold to support life, and to have
4. Because of wireless service costs plummeting in the last year, and as mobile phones are increasingly common, many people now using their mobile phones to make calls across a wide region at night and on weekends, when numerous wireless companies provide unlimited airtime for a relatively small monthly fee.
A. Because of wireless service costs plummeting in the last year, and as mobile phones are increasingly common, many people
B. As the cost of wireless service plummeted in the last year and as mobile phones became increasingly common, many people
C. In the last year, with the cost of wireless service plummeting, and mobile phones have become increasingly common, there are many people
D. With the cost of wireless service plummeting in the last year and mobile phones becoming increasingly common, many people are
E. While the cost of wireless service has plummeted in the last year and mobile phones are increasingly common, many people are
OA is D
5. For the last five years the Dutch economy has grown faster than Britain, France, or Germany, with the unemployment rate having remained well below that of the other three countries.
D. the economy of Britain, France, and Germany, with the unemployment rate that has remained
E. the economies of Britain, France, and Germany, and the unemployment rate has remained
if D is worded "the economies of Britain, France, and Germany, with the unemployment rate remaining...", would this be alright? Or would this be considered a noun modifier modifying "the economies of Britain, France, and Germany," ? Can this be considered an adverbial modifier modifying "For the last five years the Dutch economy has grown faster than..."?
I'm taking GMAT in a week, thank you in advance!
