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How Meaning will change

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by vikram4689 » Fri Jun 24, 2011 9:35 pm
In virtually all types of tissue in every animal species, dioxin induces the production of enzymes that are the organism's trying to metabolize, or render harmless. the chemical that is irritating it.

(A) trying to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical that is irritating it

(E) attempt to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritant

Correct answer is E. I am concerned if there is meaning change in following sentence.

Correct answer:In virtually all types of tissue in every animal species, dioxin induces the production of enzymes that are the organism's attempt to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritant

1. Removing First Comma: In virtually all types of tissue in every animal species, dioxin induces the production of enzymes that are the organism's attempt to metabolize or render harmless, the chemical irritant - I think this does NOT make any sense

2. Removing First and Second Comma: In virtually all types of tissue in every animal species, dioxin induces the production of enzymes that are the organism's attempt to metabolize or render harmless the chemical irritant - I think this makes same sense as that of original sentence.
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Source: — Sentence Correction |

by e-GMAT » Sat Jun 25, 2011 10:19 pm
You are correct in your analysis Vikram. Good job!!

Here is the application in terms of a simple sentence.

1: OG Correct sentence is similar to following sentence:
Stomach digests, or breaks down, the food.

2: Removing just first comma results in the sentence that resembles this one:
Stomach digests, the food.

3: Removing both first comma & second comma results in the sentence that resembles this one:
Stomach digests or breaks down the food.

So in essence you are separating the object from the verb by a comma in sentence 2 and that is why it is incorrect.


That being said, I am not sure what you meant when you made your comment about meaning change.
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by vikram4689 » Sun Jun 26, 2011 5:42 am
Thank, my intention was to check if there is meaning change or the description i have given is fine.

Just one more thing, is there any scenario in which a comma can come before that.

X,that Y .....is it correct construction. (i saw this in same OG ques but now i forgot which was the ques.)

I do not think it is correct because ",that" cannot combine 2 independent clause. and if that is acting as a modifier then there is NO requirement of comma. But can this construction be used if Y is dependent clause. or if there is any other case please let me know.
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