Verb ING Modifier

This topic has expert replies
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Dec 17, 2012 10:51 pm

Verb ING Modifier

by Nick333 » Tue Dec 18, 2012 6:29 am
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
Source: — Sentence Correction |

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 84
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2012 9:02 am
Followed by:1 members

by babuxavier » Tue Dec 18, 2012 9:48 am
IMO A[/spoiler]

Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Dec 17, 2012 10:51 pm

by Nick333 » Tue Dec 18, 2012 10:42 am
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

User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 28
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2012 7:01 am
Location: Bangalore
Thanked: 1 times
Followed by:1 members

by Chitturi » Tue Dec 18, 2012 11:23 am
Hi Nick,

I am not GMAT instructor, but i can give my thoughts.

ING modifier after a ',' modifies entire clause.

I think like this

Career switchers often schedule interviews with high-level managers.

why they interview high high level managers or what is the reason behind interviewing the high level managers.

They interview because they believe that that the insight of professionals ( i.e these high level managers ) will help narrow down the many choices of careers available to graduating MBAs.

When u see ING modifier ask y/s these questions why it is happening, when is it happening.
ING modifiers is a answer to question or reason the preceding clause.

My explanation may not be 100 % correct, but I think it may help a bit.

Regards

Ratnakar

Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Dec 17, 2012 10:51 pm

by Nick333 » Wed Dec 19, 2012 12:05 pm
Hi,
I am grateful guys for the response but could somebody share a more coherent response.
Cheers,
Nick

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 194
Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2012 7:14 pm
Location: India
Thanked: 47 times
Followed by:6 members

by The Iceman » Wed Dec 19, 2012 2:10 pm
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.

Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Dec 17, 2012 10:51 pm

by Nick333 » Wed Dec 19, 2012 11:32 pm
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.
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?

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.

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 194
Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2012 7:14 pm
Location: India
Thanked: 47 times
Followed by:6 members

by The Iceman » Thu Dec 20, 2012 1:34 am
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.

Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Dec 17, 2012 10:51 pm

by Nick333 » Thu Dec 20, 2012 5:09 am
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.
Hi the Iceman,

I do understand what you are implying here and I have gone through these rules earlier. Do kindly look at this sentence A and B below:

A) 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.
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

Here option A is wrong and the B option is right. I wish to understand why A is wrong.

Thanks & regards,
Nick

• Page 1 of 1