THe Gothic Cathedral

[Kushal Kumar]

Hi,

Kindly help me grasp the concept. This is a problem from Manhattan SC Guide. The sentence contains underlined modifiers. For each of these modifiers, indicate whether the modifier is correct. If the modifier is incorrect, please suggest a way to correct answer. The question goes like this:

Upon setting foot in the Gothic cathedral, the spectacularly stained-glass windows amazed the camera-wielding tourists.

I could narrow it down to :

Upon setting foot in the Gothic cathedral, the camera-wielding tourists were amazed by the spectacular stained-glass windows.

But the answer is:

Upon entering the Gothic cathedral, the camera-wielding tourists were amazed by the spectacular stained-glass windows.

Please explain the difference!

Thanks~

[Patrick_GMATFix]

Hi Kushal,

Is this a free-answer question? meaning no answer choices? Because if so, there can be several ways to correctly write a sentence. I don't see anything wrong with your choice. Both sentences are correct.

Patrick

[Kushal Kumar]

Hi Patrick,

Is this a free-answer question? meaning no answer choices?

Yes it is.

However in the answer "entering" is used rather than "setting foot". Is it just to make the sentence concise?

Also kindly explain how can we distinguish that whether the Past Participle -Ing is modifying a verb or the verb's subject.

Thanks~

[Rajat Goel]

Hi,

When using a noun modifier, does the noun being modified has to be the subject? Can it be the object of the sentence.

For Example, in this case can I say -
The spectacular stained-glass windows amazed the camera-wielding tourists, Upon setting foot in the Gothic cathedral.