Nick333 wrote:Hi GMAT Instructors,

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


Regards,

Nick

Nick333 wrote:Hi,
I am grateful guys for the response but could somebody share a more coherent response.
Cheers,
Nick

The Iceman wrote:

Nick333 wrote:Hi,
I am grateful guys for the response but could somebody share a more coherent response.
Cheers,
Nick

Nick there are two things that 'comma + ing' form does.

1> It modifies the entire clause preceding the comma

E.g. Children waited for the iceman, strolling in the garden.

It means that children waited for the iceman by strolling in the garden.

2> It expresses the result of the action performed in the preceding clause

E.g. Iceman arrived with his icecream van, ending children's wait.

It means that the act of iceman arriving led to the result of children's wait ending.

Note:
If there is no 'comma' before a present particle (-ing form of verb), the ing form modifies only the immediately preceding noun.

Nick333 wrote: Hi TheIceman,

I understand that the ing verb modifies the previous clause, referring to the subject in the previous clause. Thus, the children were deemed to be strolling in the park. By the same token in the sentence below should the career catchers not be believing something as opposed to the high level managers believing something?

The Iceman wrote:

Nick333 wrote: Hi TheIceman,

I understand that the ing verb modifies the previous clause, referring to the subject in the previous clause. Thus, the children were deemed to be strolling in the park. By the same token in the sentence below should the career catchers not be believing something as opposed to the high level managers believing something?

Exactly Nick.

Here believing modifies the preceding clause in its entirety and the subject (career switcher)that performs the scheduling of interviews also does the believing.

We could also write this sentence by reversing it and bringing the modifying phrase before the clause that it modifies:

Believing that the insight of professionals will help narrow down the many choices of careers available to graduating MBAs, Career switchers often schedule interviews with high-level managers.

Here there is one important thing to note. Unlike the first case, if the modifying phrase is placed before the clause, besides modifying the entire clause it can also modify only the subject of the following clause. This distinction is based on the intent of the modifier.

E.g. Wearing his latest puma shoes, Nick ate banana.

In this example the modifier phrase only modifies the subject Nick.