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Hi
sayantanc2k,
I got a sentence correction today where the ''consecutive modifiers'' can modify the same noun.
here is given that SC.
Originally developed for detecting air pollutants, a technique called proton-induced x-ray emission, which can quickly analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance without destroying it, is finding uses in medicine, archaeology, and criminology.
(A) Originally developed for detecting air pollutants, a technique called proton-induced x-ray emission, which can quickly analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance without destroying it,
(B) Originally developed for detecting air pollutants, having the ability to analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance without destroying it, a technique called proton induced x-ray emission
(C) A technique originally developed for detecting air pollutants, called proton-induced x-ray emission, which can quickly analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance without destroying it,
(D) A technique originally developed for detecting air pollutants, called proton-induced x-ray emission, which has the ability to analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance quickly and without destroying it,
(E) A technique that was originally developed for detecting air pollutants and has the ability to analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance quickly and without destroying the substance, called proton-induced x-ray emission,
Here, A is the correct answer.
in A, two consecutive modifiers modify the same noun ('A technique')
two consecutive modifiers are:
1/ ''called proton-induced x-ray emission''
2/ ''which can quickly analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance without destroying it''
Am I correct?
Thanks for your help.
The above post by RzS4v explains your query well. The noun phrase “a technique called proton-induced x-ray emission” is the subject - "technique" is the noun and "called proton-induced x-ray emission" is an adjectival phrase. The modifier "which can quickly analyze ..." modifies the complete noun phrase (noun+noun modifier).
Nonetheless your observation is valid. Technically there ARE two consecutive modifiers referring to the same noun. This is actually an exception to the modifier touch rule (ideally "which can quickly..." should refer to "emission") - the following excerpt from Manhattan SC guide explains this exception: