In the last few decades, physicists have identified the existence of

Hi all,

In the last few decades, physicists have identified the existence of different "flavors" of subatomic particles called quarks, most of them as small or smaller than the electron, which display a property known as color charge.

Error Analysis: 1. This sentence uses the incorrect idiom “as small or smaller than” which is actually the mix of two degrees of comparison. This is incorrect. We must one correct idiom to convey the intended meaning.
2. Understanding the sentence structure is very important here. Note that “which display…” is meant to modify “quarks”. However, “which” is closer to “electron” than to “quarks”. Hence, there is an ambiguity in the reference of “which”. Also “display” does not agree in number with “electron” if “which” has to refer to “electron”.

POE:
A) most of them as small or smaller than the electron, which display: Incorrect for the reasons stated above.

B) most of them as small or smaller than the electron and displaying: Incorrect. The idiom error persists.

C) mostly as small or smaller than the electron, displaying: Incorrect. The idiom error persists.

D) mostly at least as small as the electron, which display: Incorrect. “which” is closer to “electron” and hence refer to “electron”. However, “the verb “display” does not agree in number with “electron”.

E) most of them at least as small as the electron, displaying: Correct. Notice that the modifier “most of them at least as small as the electron” is placed between two commas that make this information non-essential for the sentence. In this case, “displaying” correctly modifies “quarks”. If we remove the non-essential information for the sentence, the comma before “displaying” will also be removed. Here, we do not have the case of comma + verb-ing that is modifying the preceding clause.

This sentence is like the following GMAT Prep question the correct answer of which is C:
In the past several years, astronomers have detected more than 80 massive planets, most of them as large or larger than Jupiter, which circleother stars.
A. most of them as large or larger than Jupiter, which circle
B. most of them as large or larger than Jupiter and circling
C. most of them at least as large as Jupiter, circling
D. mostly at least as large as Jupiter, which circle
E. mostly as large or larger than Jupiter, circling

Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha
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B and E are the only real competitors. "As small or smaller than" in B is awkward. So going with E. "them" can unambiguously refer to quarks as it is a part of the modifier of "quarks".

Since physicists is the subject of the previous clause,cant "them" refer it physicists.

The noun modifier should always touch the noun. A corollary of this can be taken as "A modifier modifies the noun which it touches."

But true the sentence could be better framed as E here uses a series of modifiers to modify the same noun. However, of the given options, E is the best.

Fairly straight. As small or smaller than is wrong idiom. So A , B and C are out.
D: Mostly is an adverb; we want a pronoun such as most to refer to the noun quarks. So D is wrong

E is the ultimate choice.
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Hi,

Doesn't "them" in choice E seems to have antecedent error?


In the last few decades, physicists have identified the existence of different “flavors” of subatomic particles called quarks, [color=#ff00000]most of them as small or smaller than the electron, which display[/color] a property known as color charge.

Them can refer to physicists/quarks right?

Hii Shan.
"most of them......." is a modifier and hence it will modify the subject of only the preceding clause. The preceding clause is "called quarks".
Hope this helps.

Thanks marcab!
ya "most of them... " is modifier.
So u mean pronoun in modifier refers to antecedent modifies clause/noun !
am i right?

Hii Shan.
Here "them" refers to "quarks" and hence "most of them" correctly refers to "most of quarks".
Hope this helps.

In the last few decades, physicists have identified the existence of different “flavors” of subatomic particles called quarks, most of them as small or smaller than the electron, which display a property known as color charge.

(A) most of them as small or smaller than the electron, which display---"which" is referring to eletron instead of quarks
(B) most of them as small or smaller than the electron and displaying --- idiom "as small as",
(C) mostly as small or smaller than the electron, displaying---awkward
(D) mostly at least as small as the electron, which display WHICH---samae as A is used falsely
(E) most of them at least as small as the electron, displaying-------correct

Hi Shraddha,

I have a different understanding from what you explained. I thought that the term "as small or smaller than" is different from "as large or larger than" in your example.
- " most of them as large or larger than B" can be rewritten as " most of them at least as large as B", because B is the standard for the smallest.
- " most of them as small or smaller than B" actually points out that B is the standard for the largest rather than smallest, so rewritten as "most of them at least as small as B", this choice changes the meaning of what is expected in the sentence.

Anyways, if I have to choose, E is still the best choice though I'm not satisfied because even though the idiom is correct, the meaning of the sentence is disputable.

The part after the comma can be dropped, creating the sentence:
In the last few decades, physicists have identified the existence of different “flavors” of subatomic particles called quarks which display a property known as color charge.

This is correct right? this means that A or D are the correct answers.

E on the other hand will sound like:

In the last few decades, physicists have identified the existence of different “flavors” of subatomic particles called quarks, most of them at least as small as the electron, displaying a property known as color charge.
And if we take out the comma part:
In the last few decades, physicists have identified the existence of different “flavors” of subatomic particles called quarks displaying a property known as color charge.

This isn't right....
Can someone elaborate on this?

Exactly, I agree. Does not this change the meaning? Shraddha?

If I understood you correctly, you mean to say that the correct wording would be " at most as small as...". If this is what you meant, following is my reasoning:

In "at least as as large as ", the phrase "at least" is a measure of largeness. {"more large" = larger}

In "at least as as small as ", the phrase "at least" is a measure of smallness. {"more small" = "smaller"}

Thus either way the phrase "at least" is applicable.

(A) most of them as small or smaller than the electron, which display. Wrong Idiom
(B) most of them as small or smaller than the electron and displaying. Wrong Idiom
(C) mostly as small or smaller than the electron, displaying. Same as above
(D) mostly at least as small the electron, which display. which is modifying electron but per the meaning of the sentence we want ot modify quarks
(E) most of them at least as small as the electron, displaying[/quote] Correct.
Displaying...... is correctly modifying quarks

Isn't 'are' required after 'most of them'? Most of them are at least........
Without any helping verb, it seems awkward!
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No, "verb" is not required. "Most of them at least as small as the electron" is a subgroup modifier. Following are the correct structures of subgroup modifiers:

1. ...most of which are at least as small as the electron...
2. ...most of them at least as small as the electron...
3. ...most at least as small as the electron...

Thanks.

Would you please explain why be verb is used in the following correct sentence?

Prompted by recent discoveries, paleontologists have started research on the fossils of feathered dinosaurs, a study that has ignited the debate over when and why dinosaurs developed plumage, and that makes many researchers believe that possibly all or most of them had feathers. Source: E-gmat.
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Here "all or most of them...." is NOT A subgroup modifier, but a complete clause. A subgroup modifier must have a noun (referring to a group) preceding the modifier. In the subject question, the noun that the subgroup modifier refers is "quarks".

Beside the river I saw some animals, some of them behaving strangely..... subgroup modifier referring to "animals"
Beside the river I saw some animals; I can confirm that some of them were behaving strangely...... clause: "sum of them" is the subject