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OG SC 24

by mundasingh123 » Tue Apr 12, 2011 3:22 am
OG - SC - #24

Post subject: OG - SC - #24
Post Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 12:24 am


For members of the seventeenth-century Ashanti nation in Africa, animal-hide shields with wooden frames were essential items of military equipment, a method to protect warriors against enemy arrows and spears.

(A) a method to protect
(B) as a method protecting
(C) protecting
(D) as a protection of
(E) to protect

The answers is (C). I chose (E). Please help to understand why (C) is the correct answer.



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Post Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 2:07 am
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We can't use an infinitive after the comma. Remember that an infinitive functions as a verb, but we're trying to introduce a modifying clause here to provide further information about the military equipment.

This is just one of those things you have to memorize, unfortunately, especially if you are not a native speaker.

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by mundasingh123 » Tue Apr 12, 2011 3:27 am
The above thread has been copied from the thread @https://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/og-sc-24-t582.html
There is a similar parallel thread active on BTG .I created this one to ask an expert for help
Cant the portion after the comma in (A) act as an appositive here ?
Can some one elaborate on what is meant when you say one cant use an infinitive after the comma .
I didnt understand either why we cant use an infinitive after the comma.
Thanks
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by atulmangal » Tue Apr 12, 2011 6:02 am
@Mundasingh

Rule for COMMA + INFINITIVE

Do not place a comma before an adverbial infinitive at the end of the sentence.

Incorrect: You must pay a $500 deposit, to buy that car.

Correct: You must pay a $500 deposit to buy that car.

But in general also, as i have seen so far, in all the question COMMA + INFINITIVE is wrong.
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by GMATGuruNY » Tue Apr 12, 2011 6:37 am
mundasingh123 wrote:OG - SC - #24

Post subject: OG - SC - #24
Post Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 12:24 am


For members of the seventeenth-century Ashanti nation in Africa, animal-hide shields with wooden frames were essential items of military equipment, a method to protect warriors against enemy arrows and spears.

(A) a method to protect
(B) as a method protecting
(C) protecting
(D) as a protection of
(E) to protect

The answers is (C). I chose (E). Please help to understand why (C) is the correct answer.



StaceyKoprince
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Post Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 2:07 am
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We can't use an infinitive after the comma. Remember that an infinitive functions as a verb, but we're trying to introduce a modifying clause here to provide further information about the military equipment.

This is just one of those things you have to memorize, unfortunately, especially if you are not a native speaker.

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An infinitive modifier can function as an adjective or as an adverb:

The surest way to ace the GMAT is to study hard. (The infinitive modifier to ace the GMAT is an adjective modifying the noun way.)

You are certain to ace the GMAT if you study hard. (The infinitive modifier to ace the GMAT is an adverb modifying the adjective certain.)

In answer choice E above, it is unclear what word is being modified by to protect. It must be clear what a modifier is modifying. Thus, E can be eliminated.

Answer choice C begins with the participle protecting. Unlike an infinitive, a participle cannot function as an adverb. When an -ing modifier begins a phrase, it functions as an adjective modifying the subject of the previous clause. Thus, it is clear that protecting is modifying shields. In fact, we could reverse the order:

Protecting warriors against enemy arrows and spears, animal-hide shields with wooden frames were essential items of military equipment.

The correct answer is C.
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by mundasingh123 » Tue Apr 12, 2011 12:13 pm
GmatGuru,
Thanks for clarifying my doubt and ill remember what you said about using the infinitive
Just 2 more questions
1)You said the -ing modifier modifies the subject of the previous clause.I remember reading somewhere that the the -ing modifier modifies the entire preceding clause.Can you just clarify whether there are exceptions to this rule so that we can take care while practicing Questions on Modifiers
2)You said that the -ing modifier cant function as an adverb .
What about the preopisition + gerund modifier
By taking the shorter route around the western coast of Ireland,Jim became the first child to cross the English Channel.
isnt the modifier preposition + gerund modifying the action "became "
the only difference here is the presence of the preposition before the gerund ie -ing.
Thanks GmatGuru
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by GMATGuruNY » Wed Apr 13, 2011 3:40 am
mundasingh123 wrote:GmatGuru,
Thanks for clarifying my doubt and ill remember what you said about using the infinitive
Just 2 more questions
1)You said the -ing modifier modifies the subject of the previous clause.I remember reading somewhere that the the -ing modifier modifies the entire preceding clause.Can you just clarify whether there are exceptions to this rule so that we can take care while practicing Questions on Modifiers
2)You said that the -ing modifier cant function as an adverb .
What about the preopisition + gerund modifier
By taking the shorter route around the western coast of Ireland,Jim became the first child to cross the English Channel.
isnt the modifier preposition + gerund modifying the action "became "
the only difference here is the presence of the preposition before the gerund ie -ing.
Thanks GmatGuru
Consider the following example:

John ate all the cookies, upsetting Mary.

It could be argued that upsetting Mary modifies the entire clause that precedes it (John ate all the cookies). What's important is that the subject of preceding clause -- John -- is performing the action of the -ing word: John is upsetting Mary. When you see the construction comma + VERBing, the subject of the preceding clause should be performing the action of the -ing word.

Please note that the comma makes all the difference:

John ate all the cookies upsetting Mary.

Without the comma preceding it, upsetting now modifies cookies. Whereas in the first sentence John is a cad (because he ate all the cookies, thereby upsetting Mary), in the second he's a hero (because he's getting rid of all those nasty cookies that for some reason are upsetting Mary.) The purpose of the comma in the first sentence is to make it clear that upsetting modifies not the noun right before it (cookies) but the subject of the preceding clause (John).

A preposition + gerund construction -- like any prepositional phrase -- can function as an adverb. An -ing word on its own, however, can function only as a noun or as an adjective.
Last edited by GMATGuruNY on Sat Oct 01, 2011 3:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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by mundasingh123 » Wed Apr 13, 2011 10:15 am
thanks gmatguru
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by mundasingh123 » Sun Oct 02, 2011 4:25 am
GmatGuruNY ,
You said
A preposition + gerund construction -- like any prepositional phrase -- can function as an adverb.
do you mean a preposition + gerund construction with commas or without commas
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