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desertEagle
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how to know if a modifier is modifying a noun or a verb 27 Jan 2023, 19:48
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Hi,

Many times a modifier is placed in a sentence near to the noun, but it is modifying the verb. How to know if the modifier is modifying the noun or the verb?

For eg the sentence
On Saturday nights, Shakira dances in the show. - Is "On Saturday nights" a noun modifier modifying the noun Shakira or is it modifying the verb dances

Leonardo painted the canvas yesterday - Is yesteday a noun modifier modifying the canvas or is it modifying the verb painted

Also, in the following OG question
Added to the increase in hourly wages requested last July, the railroad employees are now seeking an expanded program of retirement benefits.


(A) Added to the increase in hourly wages requested last July, the railroad employees are now seeking an expanded program of retirement benefits.

(B) Added to the increase in hourly wages which had been requested last July, the employees of the railroad are now seeking an expanded program of retirement benefits.

(C) The railroad employees are now seeking an expanded program of retirement benefits added to the increase in hourly wages that were requested last July.

(D) In addition to the increase in hourly wages that were requested last July, the railroad employees are now seeking an expanded program of retirement benefits.

(E) In addition to the increase in hourly wages requested last July, the employees of the railroad are now seeking an expanded program of retirement benefits.

how to know if its modifying the subject or the clause or the verb

Kindly explain
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how to know if a modifier is modifying a noun or a verb 27 Jan 2023, 20:01
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Hm... I never ran that deep into the grammar in my studies. I wonder what sparked this or what brought it up? Did you see this concept tested on the official questions? This topic is new to me but what I found is that a noun or a noun phrase seems to only be modifying a noun and not a verb: http://myenglishgrammar.com/lesson-12-m ... fiers.html
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how to know if a modifier is modifying a noun or a verb 28 Jan 2023, 19:25
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Hm... I never ran that deep into the grammar in my studies. I wonder what sparked this or what brought it up? Did you see this concept tested on the official questions? This topic is new to me but what I found is that a noun or a noun phrase seems to only be modifying a noun and not a verb: http://myenglishgrammar.com/lesson-12-m ... fiers.html
Show more

The above question is an official question and is based on whether the modifier can modify a clause/verb or only a noun. See the split between Added and In Addition, its testing you if Added can modify a clause/verb or can it modify only noun. In Addition can modify clause i guess.. I dont know.. pls explain
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how to know if a modifier is modifying a noun or a verb 28 Jan 2023, 19:36
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Thanks for providing more context. I feel that’s a pretty tricky question and the explanation people have given this pretty deep in this topic. I’ve shared everything I know…

https://gmatclub.com/forum/added-to-the ... 82386.html

If you have already gone through the three pages of the discussions for that question, at this point I would recommend looking at resources outside of GMAT Club if you want to learn more. 😬



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bb
Hm... I never ran that deep into the grammar in my studies. I wonder what sparked this or what brought it up? Did you see this concept tested on the official questions? This topic is new to me but what I found is that a noun or a noun phrase seems to only be modifying a noun and not a verb: http://myenglishgrammar.com/lesson-12-m ... fiers.html

The above question is an official question and is based on whether the modifier can modify a clause/verb or only a noun. See the split between Added and In Addition, its testing you if Added can modify a clause/verb or can it modify only noun. In Addition can modify clause i guess.. I dont know.. pls explain
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how to know if a modifier is modifying a noun or a verb 28 Jan 2023, 19:56
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Thanks for providing more context. I feel that’s a pretty tricky question and the explanation people have given this pretty deep in this topic. I’ve shared everything I know…

https://gmatclub.com/forum/added-to-the ... 82386.html

If you have already gone through the three pages of the discussions for that question, at this point I would recommend looking at resources outside of GMAT Club if you want to learn more. 😬



desertEagle
bb
Hm... I never ran that deep into the grammar in my studies. I wonder what sparked this or what brought it up? Did you see this concept tested on the official questions? This topic is new to me but what I found is that a noun or a noun phrase seems to only be modifying a noun and not a verb: http://myenglishgrammar.com/lesson-12-m ... fiers.html

The above question is an official question and is based on whether the modifier can modify a clause/verb or only a noun. See the split between Added and In Addition, its testing you if Added can modify a clause/verb or can it modify only noun. In Addition can modify clause i guess.. I dont know.. pls explain

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hi

Thanks for the help

I think i have narrowed down why Added is wrong. Added is a verb-ed modifier, and verb-ed modifier can be used only to modify closest noun. In this case the closest noun is the rail road employees and the verb-ed modifier is trying to add wages to employees, which is wrong. So Added options are out.

thanks
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how to know if a modifier is modifying a noun or a verb 29 Jan 2023, 05:13
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desertEagle

Many times a modifier is placed in a sentence near to the noun, but it is modifying the verb. How to know if the modifier is modifying the noun or the verb?
Show more
There are generally quite clear rules for the examples you've mentioned.

Quote:

For eg the sentence
On Saturday nights, Shakira dances in the show. - Is "On Saturday nights" a noun modifier modifying the noun Shakira or is it modifying the verb dances
Show more
"On Saturday nights" is (what's called) a prepositional phrase. Prepositional phrases appearing towards the beginning of a sentence/clause act as adverbial modifiers. So, "On Saturday nights" modifies "dances" (answering the question when).

Quote:
Leonardo painted the canvas yesterday - Is yesteday a noun modifier modifying the canvas or is it modifying the verb painted
Show more
Again, yesterday is answering when Leonardo painted the canvas and so, acts as an adverb (remember adverbs typically answer the question how, when, where, how much, and why)

Quote:

Also, in the following OG question

Added to the increase in hourly wages requested last July, the railroad employees are now seeking an expanded program of retirement benefits.

how to know if its modifying the subject or the clause or the verb
Show more
"Added ..." is a past participial phrase here. The past participial phrases that appear at the beginning of the sentence modify the subject of the clause (noun) that follows the past participial phrase. So, "added to.." in the original sentence will modify "the railroad employees", thereby nonsensically suggesting that the railroad employees were added to <something>.

p.s. Our book EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana discusses the role of "prepositional phrases" at the beginning of a clause/sentence. Have attached the corresponding section of the book, for your reference.
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Prepositional Phrases.pdf [20.66 KiB]
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how to know if a modifier is modifying a noun or a verb 29 Jan 2023, 20:23
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desertEagle

Many times a modifier is placed in a sentence near to the noun, but it is modifying the verb. How to know if the modifier is modifying the noun or the verb?
There are generally quite clear rules for the examples you've mentioned.

Quote:

For eg the sentence
On Saturday nights, Shakira dances in the show. - Is "On Saturday nights" a noun modifier modifying the noun Shakira or is it modifying the verb dances
"On Saturday nights" is (what's called) a prepositional phrase. Prepositional phrases appearing towards the beginning of a sentence/clause act as adverbial modifiers. So, "On Saturday nights" modifies "dances" (answering the question when).

Quote:
Leonardo painted the canvas yesterday - Is yesteday a noun modifier modifying the canvas or is it modifying the verb painted
Again, yesterday is answering when Leonardo painted the canvas and so, acts as an adverb (remember adverbs typically answer the question how, when, where, how much, and why)

Quote:

Also, in the following OG question

Added to the increase in hourly wages requested last July, the railroad employees are now seeking an expanded program of retirement benefits.

how to know if its modifying the subject or the clause or the verb
"Added ..." is a past participial phrase here. The past participial phrases that appear at the beginning of the sentence modify the subject of the clause (noun) that follows the past participial phrase. So, "added to.." in the original sentence will modify "the railroad employees", thereby nonsensically suggesting that the railroad employees were added to <something>.

p.s. Our book EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana discusses the role of "prepositional phrases" at the beginning of a clause/sentence. Have attached the corresponding section of the book, for your reference.
Show more

Thanks for the help

Kindly explain how to know if it is modifying the noun, as you have done in case of adverbial modifiers (how, when, where, how much and why)
What about past participle phrase at the end of the sentence, what will it modify (noun or clause or verb) Kindly explain.

Thanks
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how to know if a modifier is modifying a noun or a verb 30 Jan 2023, 09:11
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Hi,

Many times a modifier is placed in a sentence near to the noun, but it is modifying the verb. How to know if the modifier is modifying the noun or the verb?

For eg the sentence
On Saturday nights, Shakira dances in the show. - Is "On Saturday nights" a noun modifier modifying the noun Shakira or is it modifying the verb dances

Leonardo painted the canvas yesterday - Is yesteday a noun modifier modifying the canvas or is it modifying the verb painted

Also, in the following OG question
Added to the increase in hourly wages requested last July, the railroad employees are now seeking an expanded program of retirement benefits.


(A) Added to the increase in hourly wages requested last July, the railroad employees are now seeking an expanded program of retirement benefits.

(B) Added to the increase in hourly wages which had been requested last July, the employees of the railroad are now seeking an expanded program of retirement benefits.

(C) The railroad employees are now seeking an expanded program of retirement benefits added to the increase in hourly wages that were requested last July.

(D) In addition to the increase in hourly wages that were requested last July, the railroad employees are now seeking an expanded program of retirement benefits.

(E) In addition to the increase in hourly wages requested last July, the employees of the railroad are now seeking an expanded program of retirement benefits.

how to know if its modifying the subject or the clause or the verb

Kindly explain
GMATNinja KarishmaB @Sajjad96 and all other verbal experts
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I think most of your doubts are already addressed. I will add just one thing here:

'Add(added)' and 'in addition to' mean different things.

add - combine, join, sum etc
in addition to - over and above, besides

A is added to B to give C.
In addition to A, I want B.

We cannot replace one with the other in whatever form.

Here, we want to say that besides what they asked for earlier, they are asking for this now. Hence 'added' doesn't add up here! We need 'in addition to.'

Note: A verb-ed modifier usually modifies the preceding noun or when the modifier is at the beginning of a clause, it modifies the subject of the clause. But in regular English, verb-ed modifiers do appear at the end of the clause and modify the subject too so I would not eliminate an option based on that.
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how to know if a modifier is modifying a noun or a verb 30 Jan 2023, 09:33
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Kindly explain how to know if it is modifying the noun, as you have done in case of adverbial modifiers (how, when, where, how much and why)
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Basically, noun modifiers are adjectives and really should not present much difficulty in identification.

For example:

The attempt to build the canal ended in a failure.
- "to build" is an infinitive phrase, modifying the noun attempt, and hence, the infinitive phrase acts as an adjective here.

Incidentally, the prepositional phrase in a failure acts as an adverb, since it is answering how the attempt ended.

Quote:
What about past participle phrase at the end of the sentence, what will it modify (noun or clause or verb) Kindly explain.
Show more
It's not just about the past participles at the end of the sentence; there is generally always some flexibility in terms of what past participle phrases can modify; they can either modify the noun or noun-phrase preceding the participle phrase, whichever makes sense.

For example:

Peter met a lady determined to prove herself.
- Clearly, the past participle phrase determined... is modifying lady.

An official sentence:

In 1995 Richard Stallman, a well-known critic of the patent system, testified in Patent Office hearings that, to test the system, a colleague of his had managed to win a patent for one of Kirchhoff's laws, an observation about electric current first made in 1845 and now included in virtually every textbook of elementary physics.
- Past participial phrase made... modifies observation (and not "electric current"), because this is what makes sense.

p.s. Our book EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana discusses Past participial phrases, their application and examples in significant detail. If you or someone is interested, PM me your email-id; I can mail the corresponding section.

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