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Modifier Verb-ing - Why Incorrect

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by eastcoastrocks » Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:35 am
Emily Dickinson's letters to Susan Huntington Dickinson were written over a period beginning a few years before Susan's marriage to Emily's brother and ending shortly before Emily's death in 1886, outnumbering her letters to anyone else.

A.Dickinson were written over a period beginning a few years before Susan's marriage to Emily's brother and ending shortly before Emily's death in 1886, outnumbering
B.Dickinson were written over a period that begins a few years before Susan's marriage to Emily's brother and ended shortly before Emily's death in 1886, outnumber
C.Dickinson, written over a period beginning a few years before Susan's marriage to Emily's brother and that ends shortly before Emily's death in 1886and outnumbering
D.Dickinson, which were written over a period beginning a few years before Susan's marriage to Emily's brother, ending shortly before Emily's death in 1886, and outnumbering
E.Dickinson, which were written over a period beginning a few years before Susan's marriage to Emily's brother and ending shortly before Emily's death in 1886, outnumber

Why is option A wrong? I read it somewhere that since "letters" is not close to outnumbering, the sentence is wrong.
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by sl750 » Wed Jul 20, 2011 8:08 am
When you read the sentence as follows, choice E makes sense

Emily Dickinson's letters to Susan Dickinson outnumber her letters to anyone

as opposed to

Emily Dickinson's letters to Susan Dickinson outnumbering her letters to anyone

which makes no sense
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by e-GMAT » Wed Jul 20, 2011 8:35 am
Choice A is incorrect because of modifier error.

"outnumbering her letters to anyone else" should modify the letters but its placement is such that it appears to modify the preceding clause.

Notice that comma + verb-ing modify the preceding clause. And this modification does not make sense here. This is because it was not because the letters were written in the specified period that these letters outnumbered the other set of letters.

In fact these two actions - were written and outnumber are really two different characteristics of the letters.

Lets consider an example sentence:

The film was shot in a small town of Guthernberg, exceeding expectations of the producers.

This sentence is incorrect since the verb-ing modifier appears to modify preceding clause and in this sentence this modification does not make sense.The fact that the film was shot in a small town did not really lead to exceeding the expectations of the producers.

The correct sentence is:

The film, shot in a small town of Guthernberg, exceeded the expectations of the producers.

The sentence simply states a fact that this film exceeded the expectations. It does not provide any reasoning for the same.

The film received significant critical acclaim, exceeding the expectations of the producers.

This sentence is correct. In this sentence, the verb-ing modifier makes complete sense with the preceding clause. The expectations of the producers were exceeded by virtue of the film receiving significant critical acclaim.

For better understanding of verb-ing modifiers review the concept "verb-ing modifiers" by clicking here
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by eastcoastrocks » Wed Jul 20, 2011 12:57 pm
Thanks e-GMAT for your detailed response.

@sl750, I do not think that your explanation is correct. Please do not mind my saying so...We cannot just omit the rest of the sentence between Dickinson and outnumbering - this part includes the main verb - were written - and say that this sentence does not mean anything. Also, please note that there is a comma that separates out outnumbering...
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by mundasingh123 » Wed Jul 20, 2011 1:03 pm
Payal i read somewhere that comma + -ing modifiers could not only be used to signify qa cause - effect scenario but also be used to provide further information on the preceding clause .

As is conveyed by your example
Joe killed the snake , using the stick.
Using the stick is not an effect of the preceding clause but a means to killing the snake .
Could you please clarify
I Seek Explanations Not Answers
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by e-GMAT » Wed Jul 20, 2011 1:11 pm
@mundasingh123, yes what you are saying is correct. Comma + verb-ing constructions can modify the preceding clause and can extend the thought expressed in the modified clause.
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by tanviet » Thu Jul 21, 2011 2:16 am
When gmat makes us choose between COMMA DOING and AND DO, remember, COMMA DOING shows that this action is in relation, not necessary, causal relation with the the action of previous clause. AND DO shows that this action is separate from previous action. What is logic would be correct choice.
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by e-GMAT » Thu Jul 21, 2011 4:53 am
very well said duongthang...:)
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by Nick333 » Tue Dec 25, 2012 10:05 am
Hi e-GMAT Instructor,

I have an issue relating to the Verb ING Modifier in the sentence below; Option A is considered wrong and it was mentioned in the explanation that believing after the comma is referring to Managers. But from what I understand the ING vERB modifies the entire clause/subject and not the noun before the ING - verb and thus should have modified Career Switchers. This is not the case in option A. Do please share your thoughts.

Career switchers often schedule interviews with high-level managers, believing that the insight of professionals will help narrow down the many choices of careers available to graduating MBAs.
a) Same as above
B) Career Switchers, beliveing that the insight of professionals will help narrow down the many choices of careers avialable to graduating MBAs, often schedule interviews with high level managers
c) career switchers believind that scheduling interviews with the insight of high level prossional managers will help narrow down the many choices of careers availbale to graduating MBAS.
d)career switchers, believing that interviews with high level managers whose insight will help narrow down the many choices of careers available to hraduating MBAs, often schedule them
e) Career switchers often schedule intervies to narrow down the many choices of careers availableto graducating MBAs, believing that the insight of professionals with high level managers will help them
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