Doubt ...

BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

This topic has expert replies

Post new topic Locked

Previous Topic Next Topic

kaulnikhil: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 338; Joined: Fri Apr 17, 2009 1:49 am; Thanked: 9 times; Followed by:3 members

Doubt ...

by kaulnikhil » Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:21 pm

Originally developed for detecting air pollutants, a technique called proton-induced X-ray emission, which can quickly analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance without destroying it,

Is a technique called proton-induced X-ray emission a phrase ??? In case it is , what role does "called "play in the phrase ??

Quote

Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:21 pm

chrispy: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 8; Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 4:51 pm; Followed by:2 members

by chrispy » Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:18 pm

"A technique called proton-induced X-ray emission" looks like it would function as the subject of this sentence, with "technique" being the simple subject.

"A technique...emission" is not actually a phrase because a phrase requires a noun and a verb, and "called" in this case is actually a participle (verb acting as an adjective). "Called proton-induced X-ray emission" is actually a participial phrase, or a phrase that modifies the noun, "technique." Basically, all "called" is doing is describing "technique." They're not actually saying the technique called anything; the technique is called something.

Hope that helps.

Quote

chrispy: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 8; Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 4:51 pm; Followed by:2 members

by chrispy » Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:56 pm

Whoops, just noticed: "a technique called proton-induced X-ray emission" IS a phrase since it has no real verb. I was thinking that it wasn't a CLAUSE. So sorry

Quote

sanjaysmart: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 28; Joined: Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:28 pm; Thanked: 5 times

by sanjaysmart » Thu Dec 17, 2009 12:07 am

Originally developed for detecting air pollutants, a technique called proton-induced X-ray emission, which can quickly analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance without destroying it,

Dear Nikhil, 'a technique called proton-induced X-ray emission' is a noun phrase in the subject position.
The elemebnts of the noun phrase are DETERMINER + PRE MODIFIER + HEAD NOUN + POST MIDIFIER. In this phrase, 'a' is the determiner, there is no pre modifier, 'technique' is the head noun and 'called proton-induced X-ray emission' is the post modifier in the form of the reduced adjective clause.
This stem is actually a fragment because "Originally developed for detecting air pollutants,' is a modifying phrase preceding the subject. "a technique called proton-induced X-ray emission' is the subject and "which can quickly analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance without destroying it' is the non-restrictive adjective clause modifying the subject. This sentence does not have a main verb and is thus a fragment.
I hope that was helpful.
I am attachingsome files on subjects and phrases around the subject to help you.

Attachments