Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 08:45 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 08:45
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
   1   2   3   4   
605-655 Level|   Grammatical/Rhetorical Construction|   Grammatical/Rhetorical Construction|   Parallelism|                              
avatar
TheUltimateWinner
avatar
Schools: Harvard '24 Judge '23 LBS '24 McCombs '24 Mendoza Tepper '24 Ross '24 Cox Marshall '24 Fisher Kelley '24 Jones McDonough '24 Owen '24 Terry BU Simon '24 Katz GWU Mason Babson Gabelli Foster '24 Goizueta '24 Scheller Stern '23 CBS '23 Booth '23 Haas '25 Wharton '25 Stanford '26 Johnson'23 Fuqua '23 Kellogg '23 Kenan-Flagler'23 INSEAD Aug 22 intake Olin '23 Said '23 Sloan '23 Carey Arizona "22 Yale '23 UC Davis Madison '23 Anderson '23 Carroll Carlson '23 Darden '23
Posts: 2,489
Kudos: 2,387
Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red su 25 Jul 2020, 09:30
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
EducationAisle
TheUltimateWinner
Can I say that E is wrong because 2 consecutive modifiers (1/grown from seeds saved during the previous year; and 2/although they appear less appetizing than most of their round and red supermarket cousins..) CAN'T modify one thing (noun)!
Hi TheUltimateWinner, notice the structure of E:

Heirloom tomatoes, grown from seeds saved during the previous year, although they appear less appetizing...

Does't that sound absurd? It's basically saying:

Heirloom tomatoes (are) grown from seeds saved during the previous year, although they appear less appetizing...

This suggests that despite the fact that Heirloom tomatoes appear less appetizing, they are grown from seeds saved during the previous year!

However, that doesn't make sense. The fact that Heirloom tomatoes appear less appetizing is independent of the fact that they are grown from seeds saved during the previous year!
Show more
EducationAisle
Thanks for the reply.
It's ok, but my question is all about 'elimination process'!
Question: Can I remove any answer option(s) by seeing the 'consecutive modifiers', which modify just ONE thing?
That's it...
User avatar
EducationAisle
User avatar
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 3,891
Own Kudos:
3,579
 [1]
Given Kudos: 159
Location: India
Schools: ISB
GPA: 3.31
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: ISB
Posts: 3,891
Kudos: 3,579
 [1]
Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red su 25 Jul 2020, 19:48
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
TheUltimateWinner
Question: Can I remove any answer option(s) by seeing the 'consecutive modifiers', which modify just ONE thing?
Show more
Hi TheUltimateWinner, consecutive modifiers modifying the same entity, is indeed not a great construct. However, I recollect coming across an official question where this construct was acceptable (can't recall the exact question).

So, I would like to club these kind of constructs in the not preferable category.
avatar
TheUltimateWinner
avatar
Schools: Harvard '24 Judge '23 LBS '24 McCombs '24 Mendoza Tepper '24 Ross '24 Cox Marshall '24 Fisher Kelley '24 Jones McDonough '24 Owen '24 Terry BU Simon '24 Katz GWU Mason Babson Gabelli Foster '24 Goizueta '24 Scheller Stern '23 CBS '23 Booth '23 Haas '25 Wharton '25 Stanford '26 Johnson'23 Fuqua '23 Kellogg '23 Kenan-Flagler'23 INSEAD Aug 22 intake Olin '23 Said '23 Sloan '23 Carey Arizona "22 Yale '23 UC Davis Madison '23 Anderson '23 Carroll Carlson '23 Darden '23
Posts: 2,489
Kudos: 2,387
Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red su 25 Jul 2020, 23:55
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I would be very very greatful to you if you can help me by giving an official example where 2 conservative modifiers (staying side by side) modify the SAME thing in the correct answer choice.
EducationAisle
TheUltimateWinner
Question: Can I remove any answer option(s) by seeing the 'consecutive modifiers', which modify just ONE thing?
Hi TheUltimateWinner, consecutive modifiers modifying the same entity, is indeed not a great construct. However, I recollect coming across an official question where this construct was acceptable (can't recall the exact question).

So, I would like to club these kind of constructs in the not preferable category.
Show more

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
EducationAisle
User avatar
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 3,891
Own Kudos:
3,579
 [1]
Given Kudos: 159
Location: India
Schools: ISB
GPA: 3.31
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: ISB
Posts: 3,891
Kudos: 3,579
 [1]
Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red su 26 Jul 2020, 05:23
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
TheUltimateWinner
I would be very very greatful to you if you can help me by giving an official example where 2 conservative modifiers (staying side by side) modify the SAME thing in the correct answer choice
Show more
Will certainly reproduce that example here if/when I come across that sentence again.
avatar
MPRS22
avatar
Joined: 23 Sep 2020
Last visit: 22 Apr 2021
Posts: 49
Own Kudos:
10
Given Kudos: 24
Posts: 49
Kudos: 10
Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red su 21 Apr 2021, 07:11
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
AndrewN

Dear Andrew some users are saying there is no verb for heirloom tomatoes for example in option A, but there is one after the -

Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red supermarket cousins, heirloom tomatoes- [...] -they ARE often green and striped

does the verb always have to be before the -

Thanks
avatar
AndrewN
avatar
Volunteer Expert
Joined: 16 May 2019
Last visit: 29 Mar 2025
Posts: 3,502
Own Kudos:
7,511
 [1]
Given Kudos: 500
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,502
Kudos: 7,511
 [1]
Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red su 21 Apr 2021, 12:30
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
MPRS22
AndrewN

Dear Andrew some users are saying there is no verb for heirloom tomatoes for example in option A, but there is one after the -

Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red supermarket cousins, heirloom tomatoes- [...] -they ARE often green and striped

does the verb always have to be before the -

Thanks
Show more
Hello, MPRS22. Yes, there is a verb after the dash, but the problem is that there is also a pronoun, one that takes the place of heirloom tomatoes from earlier in the sentence. A noun and its pronoun should not compete for the same verb—it does not make sense to say, Heirloom tomatoes, they are often green and striped. Either the noun or its pronoun would have to be removed to make the sentence work.

I hope that helps clarify the matter. Thank you for thinking to ask.

- Andrew
avatar
anmolio
avatar
Joined: 17 Oct 2018
Last visit: 31 Jan 2022
Posts: 3
Given Kudos: 176
Location: India
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red su 13 May 2021, 11:11
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
GMATNinja, Please help with this, how to tackle the use of "-" in a sentence.
User avatar
GMATNinja
User avatar
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 7,443
Own Kudos:
69,784
Given Kudos: 2,060
Status: GMAT/GRE/LSAT tutors
Location: United States (CO)
GMAT 1: 780 Q51 V46
GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V170
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V170
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Posts: 7,443
Kudos: 69,784
Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red su 27 May 2021, 16:25
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
anmolio
GMATNinja, Please help with this, how to tackle the use of "-" in a sentence.
Show more
Here's the thing about dashes: they can do basically anything. They can separate independent clauses. They can be used to set off modifiers. They can be used to introduce examples. So when you're looking at a dash (or dashes) in an SC problem, it's not helpful to think about iron-clad rules. Instead, just consider the context.

In this case, we get a descriptive clause set off by dashes: "—they are often green and striped, or have plenty of bumps and bruises—" It appears to be providing additional information about the preceding clause, telling us how heirloom tomatoes are less appetizing than their healthier-looking relatives. And because it seems to be setting off a non-essential modifier in the same that, say, commas might set off a modifier, its role in the sentence doesn't appear to be vital.

So if I saw this on the exam, I'd spend very little time worrying about it. It's in the non-underlined portion, and aside from providing a bit of background, doesn't really impact the rest of the sentence.

The takeaway: you don't need to know tons of esoteric grammar or punctuation rules for SC! You can usually figure out what's going on by using a bit of context and logic. And anytime a rule is fuzzy, or you're not sure if there is one, you'll want to move on to other elements of the sentence.

For more on GMAT punctuation -- including a fairly long rant about why you shouldn't really worry about dashes -- check out this video.

I hope that helps!
User avatar
Bhu750
User avatar
Joined: 19 Nov 2020
Last visit: 12 Dec 2023
Posts: 85
Own Kudos:
43
Given Kudos: 121
Location: India
Schools: Fuqua '23 MIT MFin "22 Kellogg '23 Johnson '24 McDonough '24 Kellogg (S) LBS '25 (D) Emory 1YR '24 (WL)
GMAT 1: 700 Q48 V38
GPA: 3.6
Schools: Fuqua '23 MIT MFin "22 Kellogg '23 Johnson '24 McDonough '24 Kellogg (S) LBS '25 (D) Emory 1YR '24 (WL)
GMAT 1: 700 Q48 V38
Posts: 85
Kudos: 43
Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red su 28 Jun 2021, 01:15
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello I want to understand how modifiers work.
In option B - grown from seeds saved during the previous year - is a modifier that modifies heirloom tomatoes
appear less appetizing than most of their cousins - is also a modifier that modifies heirloom tomatoes

Am I correct?
If yes, is it okay to have 2 modifiers consecutively modifying heirloom tomatoes?
Is it okay for the second modifier "appear... " to not be next to heirloom tomatoes..

Please clarify the gaps in my understanding. Thank you.
User avatar
EducationAisle
User avatar
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 3,891
Own Kudos:
3,579
 [1]
Given Kudos: 159
Location: India
Schools: ISB
GPA: 3.31
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: ISB
Posts: 3,891
Kudos: 3,579
 [1]
Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red su 28 Jun 2021, 04:38
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bhu750

appear less appetizing than most of their cousins - is also a modifier that modifies heirloom tomatoes
Show more
Hi Bhu750, this isn't really a modifier; "appear" is a verb (modifiers are generally adjectives or adverbs).
User avatar
AjiteshArun
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 15 Jul 2015
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 5,949
Own Kudos:
5,080
 [2]
Given Kudos: 732
Location: India
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q83 V90 DI83
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q83 V90 DI83
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Posts: 5,949
Kudos: 5,080
 [2]
Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red su 28 Jun 2021, 22:58
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bhu750
Hello I want to understand how modifiers work.
In option B - grown from seeds saved during the previous year - is a modifier that modifies heirloom tomatoes
appear less appetizing than most of their cousins - is also a modifier that modifies heirloom tomatoes

Am I correct?
If yes, is it okay to have 2 modifiers consecutively modifying heirloom tomatoes?
Is it okay for the second modifier "appear... " to not be next to heirloom tomatoes..

Please clarify the gaps in my understanding. Thank you.
Show more
Hi Bhu750,

EducationAisle has already made the most important point here, that appear is a complete verb.

Generally speaking, using "two modifiers consecutively" is possible. Whether it's okay or not depends on how good the other options are.
User avatar
CrackverbalGMAT
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 03 Oct 2013
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 4,844
Own Kudos:
8,945
 [1]
Given Kudos: 225
Affiliations: CrackVerbal
Location: India
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 4,844
Kudos: 8,945
 [1]
Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red su 29 Jun 2021, 04:54
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red supermarket cousins, heirloom tomatoes, grown from seeds saved during the previous year—they are often green and striped, or have plenty of bumps and bruises—heirlooms are more flavorful and thus in increasing demand.

The non-underlined part within the two dashes explains heirloom tomatoes.
After the dash, we have a clause that says heirloom tomatoes are more flavorful and thus in increasing demand. As “although” is used for contradiction, we need to have a clause that denotes something negative about heirloom tomatoes in the first clause.

(A) Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red supermarket cousins, heirloom tomatoes, grown from seeds saved during the previous year
There is no corresponding verb for “heirloom tomatoes”. Eliminate.

(B) Although heirloom tomatoes, grown from seeds saved during the previous year, appear less appetizing than most of their round and red supermarket cousins
Correct.

(C) Although they appear less appetizing than most of their round and red supermarket cousins, heirloom tomatoes, grown from seeds saved during the previous year
Same as A.

(D) Grown from seeds saved during the previous year, heirloom tomatoes appear less appetizing than most of their round and red supermarket cousins
There’s no punctuation or conjunction that suggests a contrast in the sentence. Eliminate

(E) Heirloom tomatoes, grown from seeds saved during the previous year, although they appear less appetizing than most of their round and red supermarket cousins

The placement of the subordinating conjunction “although” is faulty.
There is no corresponding verb for “heirloom tomatoes”. Eliminate.
User avatar
whichscore
User avatar
Joined: 24 Jul 2010
Last visit: 06 Nov 2021
Posts: 42
Own Kudos:
455
Given Kudos: 32
Concentration: Finance, Strategic Management, International Management
Posts: 42
Kudos: 455
Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red su 06 Jul 2021, 16:47
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
In answer choice B, why isn't there a Comma after "cousins"?
User avatar
AjiteshArun
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 15 Jul 2015
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 5,949
Own Kudos:
5,080
 [2]
Given Kudos: 732
Location: India
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q83 V90 DI83
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q83 V90 DI83
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Posts: 5,949
Kudos: 5,080
 [2]
Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red su 06 Jul 2021, 22:04
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
whichscore
In answer choice B, why isn't there a Comma after "cousins"?
Show more
Hi whichscore,

That's because we can't use both a comma and a dash together there.

1. Although heirloom tomatoes appear less appetizing than most of their cousins,—they are often green and striped, or have plenty of bumps and bruises—heirlooms are more flavorful... ← We can't use both a comma and a dash together like this.

The comma is dropped because we have an element within a pair of dashes immediately after cousins.
avatar
GK002
avatar
Joined: 03 May 2021
Last visit: 27 Jun 2022
Posts: 29
Own Kudos:
14
Given Kudos: 13
Location: Kuwait
Posts: 29
Kudos: 14
Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red su 09 Jul 2021, 06:55
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
So can we take it as a rule that whenever we see two em-dashes, the middle clause (after first dash and before second dash) is extraneous?
User avatar
AjiteshArun
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 15 Jul 2015
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 5,949
Own Kudos:
5,080
Given Kudos: 732
Location: India
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q83 V90 DI83
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q83 V90 DI83
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Posts: 5,949
Kudos: 5,080
Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red su 09 Jul 2021, 21:52
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
GK002
So can we take it as a rule that whenever we see two em-dashes, the middle clause (after first dash and before second dash) is extraneous?
Show more
Hi GK002,

Yes. A pair of dashes introduces additional information. The element within a pair of dashes may or may not be a clause though.
User avatar
amoljain
User avatar
Joined: 18 Nov 2017
Last visit: 16 Nov 2021
Posts: 24
Own Kudos:
4
Given Kudos: 20
Posts: 24
Kudos: 4
Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red su 24 Jul 2021, 00:26
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
macjas
Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red supermarket cousins, heirloom tomatoes, grown from seeds saved during the previous year—they are often green and striped, or have plenty of bumps and bruises—heirlooms are more flavorful and thus in increasing demand.


(A) Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red supermarket cousins, heirloom tomatoes, grown from seeds saved during the previous year

(B) Although heirloom tomatoes, grown from seeds saved during the previous year, appear less appetizing than most of their round and red supermarket cousins

(C) Although they appear less appetizing than most of their round and red supermarket cousins, heirloom tomatoes, grown from seeds saved during the previous year

(D) Grown from seeds saved during the previous year, heirloom tomatoes appear less appetizing than most of their round and red supermarket cousins

(E) Heirloom tomatoes, grown from seeds saved during the previous year, although they appear less appetizing than most of their round and red supermarket cousins

OG16 SC118
OG17 SC784
OG18 SC786
Show more

Although I did arrive at the right answer using POE, I have a doubt in Option B.
Quote:
Combining with the rest of sentence, it looks like

Although heirloom tomatoes, grown from seeds saved during the previous year, appear less appetizing than most of their round and red supermarket cousins—they are often green and striped, or have plenty of bumps and bruises—heirlooms are more flavorful and thus in increasing demand.
Show more

In the option, the portion between the 2 dash 'they are often green and striped, or have plenty of bumps and bruises' seems to be modifying 'supermarket cousins' as that is the closest plural subject to 'they'. Do we have to use the rule that the subject of the second clause can refer back to subject of the 1st clause? Because in this case, it seems that the sentence is just extra information to supermarket cousins.

Can someone please explain this in detail? Thanks.
User avatar
AjiteshArun
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 15 Jul 2015
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 5,949
Own Kudos:
5,080
 [1]
Given Kudos: 732
Location: India
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q83 V90 DI83
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q83 V90 DI83
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Posts: 5,949
Kudos: 5,080
 [1]
Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red su 24 Jul 2021, 22:20
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
amoljain
Although I did arrive at the right answer using POE, I have a doubt in Option B.

In the option, the portion between the 2 dash 'they are often green and striped, or have plenty of bumps and bruises' seems to be modifying 'supermarket cousins' as that is the closest plural subject to 'they'. Do we have to use the rule that the subject of the second clause can refer back to subject of the 1st clause? Because in this case, it seems that the sentence is just extra information to supermarket cousins.

Can someone please explain this in detail? Thanks.
Show more
Hi amoljain,

Pronoun reference is extremely resistant to rules. We should certainly consider that they ambiguous, but we should also keep in mind that ambiguity is not an "absolute" error.
User avatar
bansalgaurav
User avatar
Joined: 26 Mar 2021
Last visit: 20 Nov 2021
Posts: 112
Own Kudos:
32
Given Kudos: 36
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
Schools: IIMB EPGP'23
GMAT 1: 640 Q50 V25
Schools: IIMB EPGP'23
GMAT 1: 640 Q50 V25
Posts: 112
Kudos: 32
Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red su 08 Aug 2021, 19:14
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I ve solved this question based on the following two concepts::
-- any info within single dash or double dashes or parentheses is extra information and can be avoided
-- "Although" should immediately be followed by Subject + Verb
==> only B justifies the use of "although" and gives a complete sense as intended
User avatar
RajatGMAT777
User avatar
Joined: 08 Oct 2020
Last visit: 12 Mar 2025
Posts: 34
Own Kudos:
18
Given Kudos: 28
Posts: 34
Kudos: 18
Although appearing less appetizing than most of their round and red su 07 Sep 2021, 20:41
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hey Community
I am new to Prep on GMAT Club for SC, I am not able to understanding the below explanation from daagh, can you provide any reading material or explain me in depth?
-D Grown from seeds saved during the previous year, heirloom tomatoes appear less appetizing than most of their round and red supermarket cousins. ---------- The two ICs forming the compound sentence are not conjugated with the conjunction and hence is a run-on
daagh EMPOWERgmatVerbal souvik101990
Any suggestion in general for SC will also be appreciated!!
Thank you for the help :please: :please:
   1   2   3   4   
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7443 posts
GMATNinjaTwo
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
231 posts
miag
189 posts