Michelangelo, it is believed, had made his sculpture of David using an

I was deciding between (A) and (C) and these points made me choose (C) over (A).

A) Michelangelo, it is believed, had made his sculpture of David using an eight-inch plaster model that was recently discovered after being

"using ..." is a present participle and when it is used without a comma after a noun, it modifies the noun.
Present participle can be used at the end of the sentence to modify the entire previous clause with a comma. So there is that problem.
It seems that David was using the eight-inch plaster model.

Another problem, and one that seemed to be a bigger problem to me - the point of the sentence is not to tell you that M made his sculpture using a model (that has now been found), the point is to tell you that a model (that is believed to have been used by M) has been found. The critical information is tucked away in a modifier in option (A).
Also, here it seems that it was known that M had made David using the model and it is just additional info that the model has been found recently. Whereas, it seems more likely that the model was found and that is what gave the idea that M must have used it to make David.


C) An eight-inch plaster model believed to have been used by Michelangelo for his sculpture of David has been discovered after having been

Rectifies all our issues with (A).

It seems there are some questions about (D) too.

D) It is believed that an eight-inch plaster model that Michelangelo used for his sculpture of David and has recently been discovered after it was

It is believed that ... a model (that M used) ... and has been discovered ...
It is missing the verb of subject model.

Salut lnm87

I am glad if I was of some help. Sure, inventing rules can be disastrous. However, it can be so for us aspirants. As for academic American English, it already has very well established rules that hold true on the GMAT as well. What can be even more dependable, though, is precedents – SC problems with similar structures. That’s the reason why GMATGuruNY was talking about the absence of such precedents.

A small observation: In the verbal section, not loosing is more important than winning. i.e., eliminating wrong choices is more important than choosing the correct one. That’s because we’ll find the optimal choice only upon realizing why the rest are inferior. So, eliminating choices for the correct reasons is a matter of the utmost importance. However, to do so, we need the right precedents. Do you have one?





Above are some opinions about A. Let’s see what precedents will say.

A) Michelangelo, it is believed, had made his sculpture of David using an eight-inch plaster model that was recently discovered after being lost for nearly 300 years.

Having browsed the thread, you may end up concluding that without a comma “using” modifies David rather Michelangelo, and so A is wrong. However, with such conclusion you would most probably eliminate the correct answer to the following official problem (first try yourself):

- The male whistling moths call female moths to them using acoustical signals, rather than olfactory ones.

Does “using” modify “them” here? Nope. “using” means “with” in this context. i.e., “using” acts as a preposition describing how male moths call – they call with acoustic signals. (read RonPurewal here). Here is a non-underlined part of another official problem:

- There are several ways to build solid walls using just mud or clay.

The same deal. Conveyed meaning is “to build solid walls with just mud or clay”. Similarly, “using” without a comma in choice A can be read as:

- Michelangelo had made his sculpture of David with (using) an eight-inch plaster model

Now it’s obvious that “using” refers to Michelangelo, not David, because it describes how Michelangelo made his sculpture. So, the above mentioned reason to eliminate A is unwarranted. A is incorrect for completely different reasons:

1. Take a look at the below sentences from The World Street Journal and The New York Times (this SC problem itself is a modified extract from the latter magazine)

- David Cerny made his six-ton sculpture using the body, chassis and wheels of a 1957 bus.
- He made his first kinetic sculpture using window glass.
- Sungmi Lee also makes sculpture using common materials.

As you see, “make a sculpture using something” usually implies that the sculpture is made from that thing. i.e., that thing is the used material. So, A illogically denotes that Michelangelo used a plaster model as a building material. That’s nonsensical. Think about plastic mannequins in outfit shops. Michelangelo’s plaster model was a kind of mannequin. Scholars believe that Michelangelo first made a smaller model of David using a plaster, and later, looking at this model, he crafted the bigger sculpture using marble. A fails to deliver this meaning and thus is incorrect. Note how the correct answer C avoids such construction “make... using...”.

2. Incorrectly placed short adverbial phrase “it is verbed”. Here are two official precedents (here and here):

- The use of gravity waves will, it is hoped, enable astronomers to study the actual formation of black holes.
- Modernizing the steel mill, a program that can, it is hoped, be completed in the late 1980’s, will cost approximately 51 million dollars.

What you see is called “splitting the verb”. Such adverbial phrases are placed in between the auxiliary verb and the main verb. The meaning is close, but not identical, to “It is hoped that the use of gravity waves will enable astronomers...”. (read generis here). So, the correct placement of “it is verbed” in A would be:

- Michelangelo had, it is believed, made his sculpture of David using an eight-inch plaster model.

There is a reason why it’s not written as:

- It is believed that Michelangelo had made A using B that was recently discovered.

When “it is believed” is placed in between “had” and “made”, it modifies only this action. As a result, what is believed is only Michelangelo’s use of the model. i.e., it’s not a fact that Michelangelo made the sculpture using a plaster model. It’s just believed so. The rest of the sentence is stated as a fact. However, when “it is believed” starts the sentence, the entire following clause becomes a mere belief, and there is no fact. As in the correct choice, we need the first.

3. “has been recently discovered” vs “was recently discovered”. If there is a choice between such verb tenses, the first is preferable because of “recently”. In case “recently” is paired with the latter, probably you won’t even have to choose as here.

4. Illogical “had made”. The past perfect tense is used to indicate the completion of some action prior to another action or to a certain timeframe. Let’s say, if the sentence meant that at some point Michelangelo had abandoned using the plaster model and switched to something else, or continued to use it up to a particular point, then “had made” could indicate this temporal primacy. However, nothing hints at such completed or continued action. More useful info here, all five pages.
A couple of official problems that employ the Past perfect tense without the Past tense, and that can help understand why “had made” is illogical - here and here.

5. Finally, “after being lost”. First, please, have a shot at this official problem. The GMAC seems to use “after verbing for a time period” and “after having verbed for a time period” almost interchangeably to describe completed actions. Hence, “after being lost” is a legitimate adverbial modifier describing the action “was found”.

By the way, it is kind of interesting that this is the first official problem whose correct answer contains “after having verbed” (99% sure). So, it itself is the first precedent for future similar problems. I also never knew that Michelangelo was the first to make sculptures among other ninja turtles. So, ninjas must be good at other things as well, for example GMATNinja. Isn’t it doubtful that he loves pizza too?

Michelangelo, it is believed, had made his sculpture of David using an eight-inch plaster model that was recently discovered after being lost for nearly 300 years.

A) Michelangelo, it is believed, had made his sculpture of David using an eight-inch plaster model that was recently discovered after being

B) An eight-inch plaster model is believed to have been used by Michelangelo for his sculpture of David and recently discovered after it was

C) An eight-inch plaster model believed to have been used by Michelangelo for his sculpture of David has been discovered after having been

D) It is believed that an eight-inch plaster model that Michelangelo used for his sculpture of David and has recently been discovered after it was

E) It is believed that Michelangelo used an eight-inch plaster model for his sculpture of David, and it was recently discovered after having been

A. The sentence looks to be correct. Being has not been used unnecessarily. There is no other way to write the sentence other than in passive voice. Nevertheless lets look at other choices.
B. The sentence after and turns out to be: An eight-inch plaster model recently discovered after it was- It is saying the model recently discovered something- Illogical.
C. Change in meaning. Now this sentence means the model was used for michaelangelos picture, the intended meaning is Michelangelo had made his sculpture of David using an eight-inch plaster model.
D. This part is a fragment- no verb.
E. Same change in meaning as in C. Also having been is awkward and inconcise. Being is better to use here.
A is correct.

daagh is "after being lost" correct?

Kriti
yes; probably you thought of the word' being'. Being is an object of the preposition after here. Therefore, it is a noun and not a modifier. As a noun, 'being' is acceptable.

daagh
Great explanation!
I have a question on Option A.
Besides the lack of a comma that you pointed out, don't you reckon the use of past perfect "had made" is unjustified in this option?
I can't see any related past action in the sentence to justify the use of past perfect.
The only other verb in past tense is "was recently discovered". But this is an independent action happening in a separate timeline having no bearing on Michelangelo's sculpture making.
Am I making sense here?

Debo
I do not think that such a relationship is necessary or even possible between events that occurred in the past and n the deep past. For example,

You may see that the two events have no common ground and are independent of each other; therefore your presumption may be needless.

Michelangelo, it is believed, had made his sculpture of David using an eight-inch plaster model that was recently discovered after being lost for nearly 300 years.

A) Michelangelo, it is believed, had made his sculpture of David using an eight-inch plaster model that was recently discovered after being - WRONG. The placeholder pronoun 'it' seems fine. But I think problem is with the placement of 'it is believed' since the its placement in original sentence suggests to modify Michelangelo whereas it should modify usage of eight-inch plaster model or the model itself. Bit confused, but anyhow looks open ended and clumsily ambiguous.

B) An eight-inch plaster model is believed to have been used by Michelangelo for his sculpture of David and recently discovered after it was - WRONG. 'And' signifies parallelism but between which two things. So, structure of the sentence is 'Noun(An.. model) + verb(is) + X(believed...David) + and + Y(recently...years). 'Is recently' really doesn't make sense. Not sure though about the way i eliminated it.

C) An eight-inch plaster model believed to have been used by Michelangelo for his sculpture of David has been discovered after having been - CORRECT. 'Believed ... David' just modifies 'An.. model'. Would have been clean if it had been put between two commas. But overall looks best among the five.

D) It is believed that an eight-inch plaster model that Michelangelo used for his sculpture of David and has recently been discovered after it was - WRONG. Easier to eliminate since 'it' is used twice and they refer to two different things. Also part before and 'It is believed... David' is missing a verb. Plus the clumsiness.

E) It is believed that Michelangelo used an eight-inch plaster model for his sculpture of David, and it was recently discovered after having been - WRONG. Easier to eliminate. Again similar error for using 'it' as that in D.

IMO Answer C.

More detailed explanation/approach here

Source : New York Times

An eight-inch plaster model believed to have been used by Michelangelo to make his sculpture of David, the monumental statue in Florence that is among the world's most famous works of art, has been discovered after having been lost for nearly 300 years, a leading Renaissance scholar said yesterday.

daagh
Can I say: Choice D is sentence fragment?
Thanks__

No.

The sentence is not correct for other reason but overall it has a subject (whatever it is wrong), it has a verb and a complete thought.

Put simply, a sentence fragment is a clause that falls short of true sentencehood because it is missing one of three critical components: a subject, a verb, and a complete thought.

so for me is not fragment. it is certainly awkward, wrong but I understand the idea it wants to convey to the reader

Regards

Dear carcass and Asad, I hope you don’t mind if I chime in.

D isn’t a fragment. In D, “it” is used as an expletive pronoun that delays the subject of the sentence. The following “that-clause” is that subject to which “it” refers. First, take a look at a simpler example:

- It is certain that she will win the local election.
Here, "it" refers to the following that-clause, which is the subject of the sentence. Conveyed meaning:

- That she will win the local election is certain.
Here, that-clause, also known as a noun-clause, acts as a noun and thus can be replaced with a noun to make its meaning easily discernible:

- Her victory is certain.
So, the first sentence has both a subject (that-clause) and a verb (is), and thus isn’t a fragment. Similarly, in D, “it” refers to the following huge that-clause, which in turn is the subject of the sentence.

D. It is believed that an eight-inch plaster model that Michelangelo used for his sculpture of David and has recently been discovered after it was lost for nearly 300 years.

So, D has both a subject (that-clause) and a verb (is believed), and thus isn’t a fragment. The starting that-clause is also called a noun clause, a nominal clause, or a substantive clause; For more, please, read generis here. More on the correct usage of “it” as an expletive pronoun, please, read GMATGuruNY here.





Dear daagh

Let me, please, express a bit dissenting view. The dual reference of “it” isn’t a flaw unless such reference is ambiguous. Please, consider the below official example (aspirants may want first to try themselves here.) :

- It was only after Katharine Graham became publisher of The Washington Post in 1963 that it moved into the first rank of American newspapers, and it was under her command that the paper won high praises for its unrelenting reporting of the Watergate scandal.

The first “it” refers to the following that-clause (that it moved... American newspapers)
The second “it” refers to “The Washington Post”
The third “it” refers to the following that-clause (that the paper... Watergate scandal)
The forth “it” refers to “the paper”

We can see that as long as a context allows inferring the exact reference of each “it”, we are safe to consider such multiple-reference correct. Correspondingly, in D, the first “it” refers to the following huge that-clause (that Michelangelo used... 300 years) and the second “it” most logically refers to “an eight-inch plaster model”. Hence, eliminating D because of dual reference is unwarranted.




D is incorrect for another reason. A noun “an eight-inch plaster model” is modified by two essential noun modifiers:

- an eight-inch plaster model that Michelangelo used for his sculpture of David
and
- an eight-inch plaster model (that) has recently been discovered after it was lost for nearly 300 years

Here, the second “that” is omitted but implied. Now, we can see that everything after “an eight-inch plaster model” is a big modifier describing this model, and thus we can read the sentence without it:

- It is believed that an eight-inch plaster model

Now, it’s clear that the that-clause misses any verb and thus incorrect. The sentence itself, though, isn’t a fragment because it has both a subject and a verb.

Jon.
Are you meaning that ‘is believed’ is the verb of the subordinate clause? You realize that choice D is a complex sentence involving;
1. The Main IC- It is believed (perse ‘is believed’ is the verb of the main clause) and a loosely hanging subordinate phrase.
2. You also admit the phrase started with ‘that’ is simply a noun with two big essential modifiers. We all know that modifiers are only adjectival or adverbial and not verbs.
3. Then why is the change of stand that ‘is believed’ is the verb, when you know well that you cannot drag the main verb to stand for the subordinate phrase?

5. The noun phrase is dangling without a verb of its own. If a verb is missing, can I know what name you give for it other than ‘fragment’?

If you feel gratified that there is no point in my rationale, pl carry on.

lnm87

Michelangelo, it is believed, had made his sculpture of David using an eight-inch plaster model that was recently discovered after being lost for nearly 300 years.


You may like to view daagh Sir's approach about how without a coma, a verb-ing modifier using incorrectly modifies David.


Let me try to help.The core of sentence is a discovery, so ideally I would love to see it as main verb .
In this choice, if you look closely to have been used and discovered are made ||el and the sentence no longer
stresses more on a discovery and places discovery and used on same plane of reference.
I think the verb was lost is also incorrect to show prior of two actions (much like a past perfect tense, much on that in a minute)
AjiteshArun MentorTutoring Can you add your two cents, confirming that discovered is not a verb-ed modifier?


Amazing, Do you now see how believed is a modifier that modifies model and believed to have been used by Michelangelo for his sculpture of David just becomes the part of that long modifier. See how has been discovered now forms core verb to match with subject: An eight-inch plaster model.
I will like to add why we need a present participle tense in a passive form since it represents earlier to two actions.
Please refer this and this post for usage of: having been lost



I believe you did superb to catch the absence of missing verb as doubts raised by Asad. Keep up the good work!


If you meant that second it refers to sculpture and not model, Bingo! Good job.
However, I would still take pronoun as last arsenal in my armor kit, and I guess bigger issue is why are we making two independent clauses and losing core meaning to highlight discovery of model. Let me know if this resonates with you.
AjiteshArun MentorTutoring
Could you add why a present participle (in passive form) is used over a past perfect (though later is not present in any options)?

Hello, adkikani. Thank you for helping other members of the community. I will respond to your specific queries below.


There is a dual interpretation of discovered that is justifiable because the sentence is cockeyed, missing a verb in was or has been after the conjunction and.

1) Discovered as a verb: My preferred interpretation, based on the other sentences. In short, a model is believed to something, and it, the model, was or has been discovered recently.

2) Discovered as a modifier: Because of the missing verb mentioned above, someone could look at the sentence in isolation and argue that the final part of the sentence could be a modifier and that and is used incorrectly, even if the placement of the phrase would make it sound as though the statue of David itself, not the model, had been lost. Observe:

An eight-inch plaster model is believed to have been used by Michelangelo for his sculpture of David, recently discovered after it was lost for nearly 300 years.

That is a bit of a stretch, and the final sentence, with and put back in and the comma removed, is even worse, but I just wanted to illustrate how discovered could be interpreted as a modifier.


The use of having been at the end of the underlined portion allows the clause to continue without an unwieldy second it in after it had been. At that point, our count of it would be up to three in the sentence. It is not that I would argue against using the past perfect in another sentence, just not in this particular one.

- Andrew

Dear daagh

Thank you for your reply. I appreciate the time you spent reviewing my post.



I did quite extensive research on the exact definition of “a sentence fragment”. Almost all sources I browsed seem to agree on this regard; here are two of them for your own reference: Purdue Online Writing Lab. and Your Dictionary.

In general, sentence fragments are:
1. Fragments without a subject - Shows no improvement in your efficiency.
2. Fragments without a verb - A time of wonder and amazement.
3. Dependent clauses without the main clause - After I finish the project.

However, a sentence whose subject itself is flawed in some way is not necessarily a fragment – even if the meaning is incomplete.

For example:
- A high-speed internet connection is still not available in most countries. (not fragment)
- A highly-speed internet connection is still not available in most countries. (still not fragment)

Yes, the second sentence is incorrect because it has a problem in its subject (a highly-speed internet connection), but NOT because it is a fragment. The fact that the subject itself has some problem doesn’t make the sentence a fragment – because the sentence still has a subject and a verb.

The same is true for D. When “it” is used as an expletive (dummy) pronoun, the subject of the sentence is the following noun clause. If that noun clause itself is flawed in some way, the sentence won’t necessarily become a fragment exactly for this reason. (definition of a noun clause here.). Please, take a look at the following simpler official example:

- It was under her command that the paper won high praise. (not fragment)
Here, “that the paper won high praise” is a noun clause, and is the subject of the sentence. Since “it” refers to the noun clause, we can replace “it” with that noun clause to see the conveyed meaning:
- That the paper won high praise was under her command. (not fragment)

What if a verb “won” is turned into a modifier “winning”? :

- It was under her command that the paper winning high praise. (still not fragment)
- That the paper winning high praise was under her command. (still not fragment)

Yes, now these sentences are incorrect because their subjects have a problem – they miss a verb. However, the sentences themselves have both a verb and a subject, and don’t start with a subordinate conjunction. Hence, they don’t fall into any of the 3 categories mentioned above. To conclude, even though the meaning is incomplete, they are NOT fragments.

The same is true for D. It doesn’t fall into any of the 3 mentioned categories.



Yes, that-clauses can be either noun clauses or adjective clauses.

1. When that-clause plays the role of a noun, it is a noun clause. Such that-clauses usually follow a verb and can easily be replaced with “something”:

- I know that you are not local. (I know something)
- He suggests that the price for this medication will upsurge in the near future. (he suggests something)
- It is great that you are here = That you are here is great (something is great)

2. When that-clause plays the role of an adjective, it is an adjective clause (or a relative clause). Such that-clauses usually follow the noun they modify and answer the question “what kind of” or “which”:

- I bought a car that can park itself. (what kind of car? – a car that can park itself)
- The instrument that I love is the piano. (which instrument? – the instrument that I love)

3. Sometimes sentences may include both types of that-clauses:

- It is great that London has the instrument that I love in its every airport.
- That London has the instrument that I love in its every airport is great.

Here, “that I love” is an adjective clause modifying “the instrument”. And “that London has the instrument that I love in its every airport” is a noun clause and the subject of the sentence.

D has a similar structure:

D. It is believed that an eight-inch plaster model that Michelangelo used for his sculpture of David and has recently been discovered after it was lost for nearly 300 years.

Here, “is believed” is the verb. The huge that-clause “that an eight-inch... 300 years” is altogether a noun clause and the subject. “that Michelagelo used... and (that) has been recently discovered” is an adjective clause modifying “an eight-inch plaster model”. The core of the sentence is:

- It is believed that an eight-inch plaster model + modifier
- That an eight-inch plaster model + modifier is believed.

Here, it’s the subject that misses a verb, not the sentence itself. Yes, the meaning is incomplete, but D has both a subject and a verb, and doesn’t start with subordinate conjunctions. Hence, D doesn’t fall into any of the 3 categories mentioned above. Therefore, D is NOT a fragment.

Michelangelo and other ninja turtles support me either.



Not sure whether “a fragment” is an appropriate name for things that are not fragments - nor am I sure whether there is a specific name for sentences with flawed subjects. As long as we know how such things work and what they look like, I think we can name them whatever we want. Pink flamingo maybe?

Dear Jon,
I have replied to your last with the last line of my previous post. My limited focus in the given case was that I ruled out D as wrong in some seconds.

You are welcome to think your way and wish you well.

Thanks and regards