NOUN + NOUN MODIFIERS Before we start discussing about the functions of noun + noun modifiers, let’s do a little warm up exercise here. Following are the three sentences. On the basis of the usage of modifier, identify which of the following are correct. 1. James created a magnificent design by using latest graphic design tools, a work acknowledged and appreciated by all investors. 2. James created a magnificent design by using latest graphic design tools, an experiment that many feared to do because of the instability in the output resulting from these tools. 3. James created a magnificent design by using latest graphic design tools, expensive but super helpful devices developed especially for minute detailing and elaboration. NOUN + NOUN MODIFIERS: CONFUSION All the above mentioned “warm up” sentences are correct. Well, I would not be surprised to know that the answer surprised you. The modifier that all the three sentences have here follows the structure of noun + noun modifier. The usage of this modifier in all the above mentioned sentences is correct. https://e-gmat.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Noun+Noun-Modifiers-e1344991278348.png 1. James created a magnificent design by using latest graphic design tools, a work acknowledged and appreciated by all investors . 2. James created a magnificent design by using latest graphic design tools, an experiment that many feared to do because of the instability in the output resulting from these tools . 3. James created a magnificent design by using latest graphic design tools, expensive but super helpful devices developed especially for minute detailing and elaboration . Noun + Noun modifiers are very versatile modifiers. Unlike the structure of other modifiers, their structure does not restrict their modification to a particular entity in the sentence. For example, verb-ed or verb-ing modifier without a preceding comma can only modify the preceding noun entity. The noun + noun modifiers are very versatile because despite having a definite structure, they don’t modify an entity in a definite position in the sentence. The noun + noun modifiers can modify the entire preceding clause, the preceding noun entity, or a noun in the middle of the sentence . The modification done by these modifiers is completely driven by the context of the sentence . https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Modifiers-e1344977443711.png This versatility of noun + noun modifiers to modify any aspect in a sentence makes them very complex and dreaded. The GMAT takers do possess some knowledge of such modifiers and their functions. However, this complex nature of noun + noun modifiers to be able to modify just about any aspect in a sentence leaves them confused as to how to identify which particular entity a noun + noun modifier is referring to in a particular sentence. Hence, they pray not to encounter these scary modifiers. https://e-gmat.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Celebrating-Milestones1.png Another thing to keep in mind is that a noun + noun modifier must refer to only one entity in the sentence. If the modification leads to slightest of ambiguity, then the usage of this modifier will stand incorrect. Let’s understand this point through an example : https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Kim-e1344977677780.png https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/confused-e1343248595519.png In the above sentence, “a gift that was in her wish list from a very long time” is the noun + noun modifier. a gift = noun that was in her wish list from a very long time = noun modifier Now, in this sentence, there are two equally strong contenders for the modification of this noun + noun modifier – iPhone 4S and iPad 3. https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/ambiguous-e1344978007812.png Any one of them qualify to be in Kim’s wish list. The noun + noun modifier “a gift that…” will make sense with both the entities. Hence, in this sentence, there is ambiguity about the modification of noun + noun modifier. Hence use of this modifier here is incorrect. We can rectify this error by saying: https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/no-ambiguity-e1344978169266.png https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/gmat2-banner11-e1373945998281.jpg In this sentence, noun + noun modifier has been replaced by relative pronoun clause. Relative pronoun “which” clearly refers to the preceding noun iPad 3, making it clear that this item was in Kim’s wish list for a very long time. We can interchange the devices to denote which article was in Kim’s wish list for long. Also, since the modification of noun + noun modifiers is completely context driven, a test taker may find it extremely difficult to identify the entity this modifier modifies in a sentence if he/she is unable to understand the intended logical meaning of the sentence. PURPOSE OF THIS ARTICLE This article is aimed at doing away with all the fears and confusions related to the usage of noun + noun modifiers. In this article, we will demonstrate how and in which scenarios, a Noun + Noun Modifier can be used to modify various entities in the preceding clause including the entire preceding clause itself. At the end of the article, we have also included a small quiz for you to check your understanding of this particular modifier. NOUN + NOUN MODIFIERS: FUNCTION As already mentioned above, noun + noun modifiers are very versatile modifiers and can modify an entity in the sentence. This entity can be the immediate preceding noun, a noun in the middle of the preceding clause, or the entire preceding clause. The modification of noun + noun modifiers completely depends on the context of the sentence. Let’s discuss the “warm up” sentences to see how they are correct and the noun + noun modifier in each sentence is modifying which entity in the sentence and why. 1. NOUN + NOUN MODIFIER: MODIFYING PRECEDING NOUN Noun + Noun modifier can modify the immediate preceding noun entity if the context of the sentence demands so. Sentence 3 of the “warm up” exercise falls into this category. SIMPLE EXAMPLE: Noun + Noun modifier can modify the immediate preceding noun entity if the context of the sentence demands so. Sentence 3 of the “warm up” exercise falls into this category. https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/expensive-1-e1344978764594.png This sentence means that James created an excellent design by using latest design tools. Then the modifier explains what kind of tool they are. They are expensive but helpful devices that are especially created for certain specific tasks. In this sentence, “expensive but super helpful devices developed especially for minute detailing and elaboration” is the noun + noun modifier. Here, expensive but super helpful devices = noun entity developed especially for minute detailing and elaboration = noun modifier. Notice that “developed” is the verb-ed modifier here that is modifying the preceding noun entity “expensive but super helpful devices”. The noun “expensive but super helpful devices” can logically refer to the “latest graphic design tools”, because there is no other noun entity that it will make sense with. Now “design” is another noun in the sentence. However, “design” cannot be classified as “tools”. Hence, logically this modification will not make sense. Hence, per the context of the sentence, the noun + noun modifier (expensive but super helpful devices developed especially for minute detailing and elaboration) is modifying the preceding noun entity (latest graphic design tools) in this sentence because that is the only logical referent in the main clause. https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/expensive-2-e1344979045651.png OFFICIAL EXAMPLE: OG 12#118 (with correct answer choice C) https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/OG-118-1-e1344979248633.png In order to understand the modification in this sentence, let us first understand the intended meaning of the sentence. The sentence says that The WWF has declared that global warming will create havoc among migratory birds. It will do so by changing the environment in such ways that will be harmful to their habitats. By the way, global warming is a phenomenon that most scientists agree is caused by burning of fossil fuels by humans. In this sentence, “a phenomenon that most scientists agree is caused by human beings' burning of fossil fuels” is the noun + noun modifier. a phenomenon = noun entity that most scientists agree is caused by human beings' burning of fossil fuels = noun modifier The noun modifier in this structure is a relative pronoun “that” clause. Here “that” refers to “a phenomenon”, the preceding noun. So, logically what can be referred as “a phenomenon…” in this sentence? The WWF can certainly be not classified as “a phenomenon”. So this noun is ruled out. Again, can “a phenomenon” be attributed to the action of declaring by the WWF? Certainly not because it does not make sense to say that the declaration is a phenomenon that most scientist agree is caused by a certain activity of humans. So this entity is also rejected. Can “global warming” be called “a phenomenon” that most scientists agree is cause by humans? By all means, yes. It is the phenomenon that has cause by humans’ burning of fossil fuel. https://e-gmat.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/FT-header3-e1532524244114.jpg Hence, per the context of the sentence, the noun + noun modifier is actually talking about the preceding noun entity “global warming” in that it is giving additional information about global warming which a phenomenon, an incident. The noun + noun modifier is referring to the immediate preceding noun in this official sentence. https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/OG-118-2-e1344979363881.png 2. NOUN + NOUN MODIFIER: MODIFYING NOUN IN MIDDLE A noun + noun modifier can easily modify a noun entity in the middle of the preceding clause, provided the context of the sentence demands such modification. The versatility of this modifier allows it zoom into any entity of the preceding clause to modify it. Let’s understand this by examples. SIMPLE EXAMPLE: Sentence 2 of the “warm up” exercise falls into this category. https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/work-1-e1344979538485.png As usual, let’s first get the meaning of this sentence. The sentence says that James created an excellent design, using latest graphic design tools. It was a work that was acknowledged and appreciated by all investors. In this sentence, “a work acknowledged and appreciated by all investors” is the noun + noun modifier. a work = noun entity acknowledged and appreciated by all investors = noun modifier (verb-ed modifier) that modifies the preceding noun. Per the context, the noun entity “a work” must refer to refer to a logical entity. Now, the only logical entity to which “a work acknowledged…” can be logically attributed to is “a magnificent design”. This is the work that James did. Now let’s ask, is it possible for this noun + noun modifier to refer to the preceding noun “latest graphic design tools”? Logically, no it’s not. “Tools” cannot be called “a work”. Their creation can be classified as work but “tools” themselves are not work. So, per the logical context of the sentence, “a work acknowledged…” modifies a noun that appears somewhere in the middle of the preceding clause. https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/work-2-e1344979636916.png OFFICIAL EXAMPLE: OG 12#48 (with correct answer choice B) https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Pope-1-e1344979740364.png Let’s take the first step. Let’s first understand the meaning of this sentence. The sentence says that in 1713, Pope started translating the Iliad. This work of translation took him seven years. Johnson pronounced this work the greatest translation in any language. So as identified already, “a work... any language” is the noun + noun modifier in this sentence. a work = noun entity that took… any language = noun modifier (relative pronoun “that” clause modifier) https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/gmat2-banner11-e1373945998281.jpg There are two nouns before “a work” that this modifier can refer to – “translation” and “Iliad”. Let’s first analyze the modification with “translation”. It makes absolute sense for “a work” to refer to “translation” because translation is the work that Pope did and this is the work that took him seven years too. Also, it is the translation only that Johnson pronounced the greatest in any language. Now let’s see if “a work” can refer to “Iliad”. Certainly not because Pope did not take seven years to finish Iliad. He took that long to translate Iliad. Also, Johnson did not call the Iliad the greatest translation. He called Iliad’s translation, done by Pope, the greatest in any language. Hence, logically it makes sense for “a work,,, any language”, a noun + noun modifier to refer to “translation”, a noun entity somewhere in the middle of the preceding clause. https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Pope-2-e1344979845444.png 3. NOUN + NOUN MODIFIER: MODIFYING PRECEDING CLAUSE Another entity that a noun + noun modifier can refer to is the entire preceding clause, if the context demands such modification. In this case, the noun + noun modifier will not refer to any particular entity but to the subject and the verb of the preceding clause. Let’s see how. SIMPLE EXAMPLE: Sentence 2 of the “warm up” exercise falls into this classification. https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/experiment-1-e1344979996684.png Let’s understand the meaning first. James created an excellent design, using latest graphic design tools. This creation of the design by using latest design tools was an experiment that many were scared to do because the results that were obtained by using these tools were not stable. As already highlighted in green, “an experiment… these tools” is the noun + noun modifier. an experiment = noun entity that may… these tools = noun modifier (relative pronoun “that” clause modifier) So let’s consider and analyze the possible entities this noun + noun modifier can refer to. This noun + noun modifier cannot refer to the immediate preceding noun because “latest graphic design tools” are no experiment. They are tools, kind of devices used for certain activities. Hence, this modification is logically impossible. What about a noun entity in the middle of the preceding clause – “design”? Well, same logic again. “Design” itself is not an experiment that many were afraid to do. Hence, this entity is rejected too. However, it does make sense to for this modifier to modify the entire preceding clause because James’ creation of the design by using the graphic design tools was an experiment because of the reason stated in the sentence. Hence, per the context of the sentence, this noun + noun modifier refers to the entire preceding clause in this sentence. https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/experiment-2-e1344980153590.png OFFICIAL EXAMPLE: OG 12#83 (with correct answer choice B) https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/OG-83-1-e1344980257717.png Performing the ritual, let’s first understand the meaning of this one. In 2000, just 24 products were responsible for increase in the money spent on prescriptions. There were two reasons for this incident: a. drugs are becoming more expensive. b. doctors are prescribing expensive drugs. The green portion of the sentence is the noun + noun modifier. a phenomenon = noun “that is… high-cost drugs” = noun modifier (relative pronoun “that” clause modifier) Is this modifier modifying the preceding noun? It cannot do so because logically “prescriptions drugs” is no phenomenon. They are products. Moreover, singular “a phenomenon” does not agree in number with plural “prescriptions drugs”. Can it modify another noun entity “half the increase in spending”? Logically it cannot because this information fails to incorporate the fact that only 24 products are responsible for this increase. This increase is phenomenal because of the fact that it has been happened because of the sale of mere 24 drugs. Hence, it makes sense for the noun + noun modifier in this sentence that to modify the entire preceding clause. This modification makes it clear why this increase is noteworthy. The noun modifiers present the reasons for this phenomenal increase in spending. https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/OG-83-2-e1344980384967.png A QUICK LOOK https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Example-table-e1344980506670.png https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/TA-e1344980862255.png

Hi All, Here is the detailed solution of this one. A group of paleontologists recently announced that a site in Utah has yielded fossils of some of the biggest armored dinosaurs ever found, and that they were at least 25 million years older than any similar dinosaur type previously found in North America. Since the meaning of the sentence is pretty simple to understand, let’s move on to error analysis. Error Analysis: 1. The paleontologists found some fossils and on the basis of this discovery, they announced these dinosaurs were at least 25 million years older than any other similar type previously found in North America. Hence, these two actions are not independent of each other. There is a causal relationship here. Hence, presenting these two information as two independent entities in a parallel list does not make sense. 2. Although it’s a not a deterministic error, it’s worth mentioning. Comma + and is used to join more than two entities in the list. Here it has been used to join two entities. Since comma lies in the non-underlined portion of the sentence, we do need suitable structure. 3. Also pronoun “they” can refer to “dinosaurs” as well as “fossils”. https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/gmat2-banner11-e1373945998281.jpg PoE: (A) and that they were at least 25 million years older than any similar dinosaur type previously: Incorrect for the reasons stated above. (B) and they are at least 25 million years older than those of any similar dinosaur type that previously was: Incorrect. 1. This choice repeats all the errors of Choice A. 2. “those of” now stands for “fossils”. This leads to incorrect comparison. Logically, the comparison should be between two types of “dinosaurs”. But here the comparison is incorrect any way. If “they” refers to “fossils”, then the comparison is between fossils. This is certainly incorrect. If “they” refers to “dinosaurs” then the comparison is illogical because now “dinosaurs” are compared to “fossils”. (C) and the fossils are at least 25 million years older than any similar dinosaur types that previously were: Incorrect. Incorrect. This choice as illogical comparison. Entities compared – “fossils” and “any similar dinosaur types”. (D) fossils that are at least 25 million years older than those of any similar dinosaur type previously: Correct. (E) fossils at least 25 million years older than similar dinosaur types previously: Incorrect. Same comparison error as in choice C. Hope this helps. Thanks. Shraddha

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Noun + Noun Modifiers: The most "versatile" modifier

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egmat

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31 Jul 2013, 06:59

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Hi All,

Here is the detailed solution of this one.

A group of paleontologists recently announced that a site in Utah has yielded fossils of some of the biggest armored dinosaurs ever found, and that they were at least 25 million years older than any similar dinosaur type previously found in North America.

Since the meaning of the sentence is pretty simple to understand, let’s move on to error analysis.

Error Analysis:

1. The paleontologists found some fossils and on the basis of this discovery, they announced these dinosaurs were at least 25 million years older than any other similar type previously found in North America. Hence, these two actions are not independent of each other. There is a causal relationship here. Hence, presenting these two information as two independent entities in a parallel list does not make sense.

2. Although it’s a not a deterministic error, it’s worth mentioning. Comma + and is used to join more than two entities in the list. Here it has been used to join two entities. Since comma lies in the non-underlined portion of the sentence, we do need suitable structure.

3. Also pronoun “they” can refer to “dinosaurs” as well as “fossils”.

PoE:

(A) and that they were at least 25 million years older than any similar dinosaur type previously: Incorrect for the reasons stated above.

(B) and they are at least 25 million years older than those of any similar dinosaur type that previously was: Incorrect.
1. This choice repeats all the errors of Choice A.
2. “those of” now stands for “fossils”. This leads to incorrect comparison. Logically, the comparison should be between two types of “dinosaurs”. But here the comparison is incorrect any way. If “they” refers to “fossils”, then the comparison is between fossils. This is certainly incorrect. If “they” refers to “dinosaurs” then the comparison is illogical because now “dinosaurs” are compared to “fossils”.

(C) and the fossils are at least 25 million years older than any similar dinosaur types that previously were: Incorrect. Incorrect. This choice as illogical comparison. Entities compared – “fossils” and “any similar dinosaur types”.

(D) fossils that are at least 25 million years older than those of any similar dinosaur type previously: Correct.

(E) fossils at least 25 million years older than similar dinosaur types previously: Incorrect. Same comparison error as in choice C.

Hope this helps.

Thanks.
Shraddha

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25 Oct 2013, 17:16

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gorupruthi

egmat

Hi Folks,

Try this official question (OG Verbal 2#100) to aee if you have understood the concept discussed in the article well.

Sixty-five million years ago, according to some scientists, an asteroid bigger than Mount Everest slammed into North America, which, causing plant and animal extinctions, marks the end of the geologic era known as the Cretaceous Period.

A. which, causing plant and animal extinctions, marks
B. which caused the plant and animal extinctions marking
C. and causing plant and animal extinctions that mark
D. an event that caused plant and animal extinctions, and it marks
E. an event that caused the plant and animal extinctions that mark

Thanks.
Shraddha

Hi Shraddha ,
It is a great great article. Note that i have not mistakenly written "great" 2 times

:)
I have 1 doubt in respect to tense in this question.Why we are using Mark in present tense . Acc. to my analysis since that happened 65million years ago.
Also i got confused and assumed "it" in choice D should refer to Event , because original choice structure is like not giving any indication that "marks" should be the verb of extinctiojns.So thats why i chose D as correct one.
Please clarify that how i can avoid such mistakes.

Regards,
Gourav

Hi Shraddha,

Great to read this article. I have question of understanding this sentence correctly. I chose D as correct answer (although base on your analysis, it's wrong). Same with Gourav, think "an event that caused plant and animal extinctions, and it marks " is true because "event" refer to "an asteroid bigger than Mount Everest slammed into North America". The event "an asteroid bigger than Mount Everest slammed into North America" leads to two things: 1>plant and animal extinctions and 2>marks the end of the geologic era. It's logical to think that "asteroid slammed into North America" causes the end of the geologic era because this is the end of "GEOLOGIC" not the "LIVES" of plant and animal. That's why D is an option. How do you think?

Best regards,
Lucy

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10 Jan 2014, 04:18

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Hi There,

Sixty-five million years ago, according to some scientists, an asteroid bigger than Mount Everest slammed into North America, which, causing plant and animal extinctions, marks the end of the geologic era known as the Cretaceous Period.

A. which, causing plant and animal extinctions, marks -which has wrong referent
B. which caused the plant and animal extinctions marking -which has wrong referent
C. and causing plant and animal extinctions that mark -Parallelism error- caused
D. an event that caused plant and animal extinctions, and it marks -ambigious referent for it
E. an event that caused the plant and animal extinctions that mark- an event + marks should be the verb

Can someone pls advise me that in choice E why the verb is mark not marks

Tks/Brgds

Anurag

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anuragd

Hi There,
Sixty-five million years ago, according to some scientists, an asteroid bigger than Mount Everest slammed into North America, which, causing plant and animal extinctions, marks the end of the geologic era known as the Cretaceous Period.

A. which, causing plant and animal extinctions, marks -which has wrong referent
B. which caused the plant and animal extinctions marking -which has wrong referent
C. and causing plant and animal extinctions that mark -Parallelism error- caused
D. an event that caused plant and animal extinctions, and it marks -ambigious referent for it
E. an event that caused the plant and animal extinctions that mark- an event + marks should be the verb

Can someone pls advise me that in choice E why the verb is mark not marks

Tks/Brgds

Anurag

Because mark is modifying extinctions and not event

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31 May 2018, 05:03

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egmat

Hello everyone,

Try this official question.

A group of paleontologists recently announced that a site in Utah has yielded fossils of some of the biggest armored dinosaurs ever found, and that they were at least 25 million years older than any similar dinosaur type previously found in North America.

(A) and that they were at least 25 million years older than any similar dinosaur type previously
(B) and they are at least 25 million years older than those of any similar dinosaur type that previously was
(C) and the fossils are at least 25 million years older than any similar dinosaur types that previously were
(D) fossils that are at least 25 million years older than those of any similar dinosaur type previously
(E) fossils at least 25 million years older than similar dinosaur types previously

Looking forward to your detailed analysis.

The answer should be D.
In A there is ambiguity about the reference being made to the fossils or the big armoured dinosaurs.
B doesn't describe if the fossils are 25 million years old or the dinosaurs are but compares the fossils in the latter half. So, B is eliminated .
C and E have a similar problem. Altough they describe that the fossils are old , the comaprision is made between the types of dinosaurs and the fossils in the later half. So, I eliminated C and E.

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05 Feb 2020, 11:17

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Can someone tell me the difference between appositive and noun+noun modifiers?

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Enkhhulan

Can someone tell me the difference between appositive and noun+noun modifiers?

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Enkhhulan

An appositive is a noun modifier that just gives additional information of the preceding noun. Basically a replacement for that noun in a descriptive way. They are usually non-essential modifiers and can be removed from the sentence without affecting the sentence in any way.

For eg. Rio de Janeiro, a city in Brazil, is famous for its Carnival celebration.

In the above example "a city in Brazil" is giving more information about Rio De Janeiro.

On the other hand, Noun + Noun Modifier can modify either a preceding noun, any noun in the preceding clause or the whole clause itself. The examples are pretty well explained above in this article.

For eg.
These micro-organisms decompose organic matter in the soil and release plant nutrients, a process which occurs particularly rapidly in an oxidised soil under tropical conditions of warmth and humidity

The noun "a process" that follows the main clause "These micro .... nutrients" summarizes the main clause in word and then what follows that noun (a process) is modifying this noun further.

Hope that helps!!

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05 Feb 2020, 14:35

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Shameekv1989

Thank you for your explanation.
I want to clarify one thing that appositive is differ from noun+noun modifier in way that appositive is non essential, that noun+noun modifier is essential.

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05 Feb 2020, 14:51

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Enkhhulan

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Appositives can be essential as well as I understand:-

For eg. The author O. Henry wrote “One Thousand Dollars.” -> O.Henry modifying the author.

Basically appositive (O. Henry) is what you can replace for the other noun (the author).

Noun + Noun modifier can be non-essential as well since they are modifying the clause before it which can stand for itself. This will just provide more information about the clause before it.

So Noun + Noun modifier and appositives are totally different things and don't have much to do with essential and non-essential. They both are modifiers having different functions.

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05 Feb 2020, 15:39

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here are some examples of appositives, can you explain on these sentences.

1. that state has proposed new rules that would set minimum staffing levels for nurses, rules intended to ensure that at least one nurse is assigned for every four patients put through triage in a hospital emergency room
this example is similar that noun + noun modifier that modifies any noun in preceding clause

2. yellow jackets number among the 900 or so species of the world's social wasps, wasps living in a highly cooperative and organized society where they consist almost entirely of females-the queen and her sterile female workers.
this example is similar that noun + noun modifier that modifies preceding noun

i couldn't find the difference between above examples and the examples given in this noun+noun modifier article.

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05 Feb 2020, 16:01

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Enkhhulan

Enkhhulan :- These are not appositives - these are noun + noun modifier examples. "rules" in i) is an example of Summative modifier - a rule was defined in the main clause and then just using a single word noun (rules) to summarizes the main clause and expand it further for additional information for the rules.

Similarly in ii) wasps after comma summarizes those yellow jackets - a species of wasps and then wasps after comma takes everything from the main clause (what kind of wasps - yellow jackets number among the 900 or so species of the world's social wasps)

Here is one more example :-
America’s latest probe to Mars, Insight landed safely on the Martian surface on November 26, an event that made it the first rover dedicated to studying the deep interiors of Mars to land successfully on its surface, and is expected to successfully revive two other malfunctioned American rovers on the Martian surface

In this "an event" is summarizing or is standing for "Insight landed safely"

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23 Apr 2020, 15:43

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I believe in formal grammar jargon, Noun + Noun modifer are known as "absolute phrases". Correct me if I am wrong!

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02 Nov 2020, 09:07

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Astronomers at the Palomar Observatory have discovered a distant supernova explosion, one that they believe is a type previously unknown to science.

Hi egmat can you clarify why in this case the Noun noun modifier does not work out

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23 Jun 2021, 09:18

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alwaysHP

Hello alwaysHP,
Thank you for the question.

Astronomers at the Palomar Observatory have discovered a distant supernova explosion, one that they believe is a type previously unknown to science.

The Noun + Noun Modifier does work out in this sentence. The Noun + Noun Modifier in this correct official sentence is "one that is a type...". The clause "they believe" simply acts as a modifier in this part of the sentence. The usage of this SV pair conveys that astronomers believe that this type of supernova explosion is unknown to science. The presence of this clause affects neither the meaning nor the grammar of the sentence.

Hope this helps/

Thanks.
Shraddha

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