Dangling modifier

Question

1. Rivaling the pyramids of Egypt or even the ancient cities of the Maya as an achievement, the army of terra-cotta warriors created to protect Qin Shi Huang, China's first emperior, in his afterlife is more than 2,000 years old and took 700,000 artisans more than 36 years to complete.

2. Digging the sediments in northern China, scientists have gathered evidence suggesting that complex life-forms emerged much earlier than previously thought.

Question: Although both of the sentences have started with dangling modifier, why the second clause of the first sentence has taken a passive subject (the army of terra-cotta warriors) and the second clause of the second sentence has taken an active subject (scientists)?

VyshakhR1995 · Answer

One way of correcting modifier error is to change active to passive or other way around so that modifier modify intended part of the sentence

In second sentence what does "Digging the sediments in northern China" modify ??

In the first sentence what does "Rivaling the pyramids of Egypt or even the ancient cities of the Maya as an achievement" modify??

chetan2u · Answer

Hi,

There is nothing wrong with Modifier here.
Dangling Modifier is when the Modifier does not refer back correctly to the word it is supposed to...

The first one means the army of terracotta is competing/comparing to the two items and the Modifier is correct there...
The second talks of action being done and refers to the subject...

umg · Answer

Here is the another way to understand this..

1.  Rivaling the pyramids of Egypt or even the ancient cities of the Maya as an achievement,  -> We are comparing Pyramids of Egypt and Ancient Cities of Maya with something. Therefore, the main clause has to start with the thing that is being compared ->  the army of terra-cotta warriors

2.  Digging the sediments in northern China,  -> Someone is digging the sediments in China. Hence the one performing the action must come next ->  scientists

Hope this helps.

jkolachi · Answer

Honestly its a great question, its something that I haven't yet thought of or considered in my prep. I don't think it makes much of a difference whether subject is passive or active. The important take away is that the Modifier modifies the Correct subject. Most GMAT questions are 2-3 split with the incorrect and correct subject. You must focus on the correct subject and look at the actual errors, which are never based on whether the subject is active or passive.

But I'd love to see questions where this is the case. I don't think I have come across such a question. usually there are other issues with the sentence other than this. Hope this helps!

But I'd love to see questions where this is the case. I don't think I have come across such a question. usually there are other issues with the sentence other than this. Hope this helps!

malavika1 · Answer

I don't think first is passive voice at all.

the army of terra-cotta warriors is more than 2,000 years old.

How is this passive voice? If it is, what will be the active voice for this?

AjiteshArun · Answer

You're correct.  The army is 2000 years old  is not in the passive.

Dangling modifier

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