which includes vs including

Hello there,

First, a disclaimer, I am not an expert - I've just started my gmat journey.
Onto the question, I don't think there is a remarkable difference between the two options, and if I had seen it on a question I would look for some other mistake to focus on.

Now lets analyze the following example (made up):

Playing Video games, which include FIFA and Tekken, improves problem-solving skills. -> In this option the two games shown are used as an example of video games, no emphasis is necessarily placed onto them.

Playing Video games, including FIFA and Tekken, improves problem-solving skills. -> In this option its as if the 2 games were not seen in a positive light by the person to whom this message is intended - as such, the speaker had to emphasize that video games (including the 2 you don't like) help with improving something.

Maybe there will be a mistake, or a point I've overlooked, hopefully an expert is here to shine a light on either.

Hi...

Again I am not an not an expert, but just adding my 2 cents here . Totally agree with auaeca

- someone found something, which includes some items that ....

vs

- someone found something, including some items that ...

Both of them basically means the same. This should not be the basis of elimination. There will be some other error in the sentence that will help you to eliminate the option.
(As well, Including is used basically to highlight a few items that the authors feels is important according to the context and needs to be specifically mentioned. On the other hand ", which includes" just given some example without giving much emphasis on those examples - a very subtle difference, but these usually are not tested on GMAT - Experts please correct me if I am wrong)

Thanks!
but I just had my GMAT practice test 1 , and the two options are the same , except that 1 of them ends with ", which includes" and the other with ", including"

I got it wrong and I would like to know why.

and another question also has similar structure , "something something something , which amounts to" vs "amounting to"

Can you share the full question please?

The new image of Stone Age people as systematic hunters of large animals, rather than merely scavenging for meat, have emerged from the examination of tools found in Germany, including three wooden spears that archaeologists believe to be about 400,000 years old.


1) merely scavenging for meat, have emerged from the examination of tools found in Germany, including

2) as merely scavenging for meat, have emerged from examining tools found in Germany, which include

3) as mere meat scavengers, has emerged from examining tools found in Germany that includes

4) mere scavengers of meat, has emerged from the examination of tools found in Germany, which includes

5) mere scavengers of meat, has emerged from the examination of tools found in Germany, including

Here basically, the subject is "The new image " - singular so we can eliminate the plural verbs ( have emerged) - Eliminate A and B

Now between C, D, and E we have

C. Germany that includes

D. Germany, which includes

E. Germany, including

Now "that" and "which" modifies the closest noun or noun phrase ( Here Germany) . The question is does Germany includes three wooden spear? No its not logical . The three wooden spear is referring to tools . so you can eliminate C and D

",verb-ing" at end of the sentence can refer to "tools" or the entire preceding clause actually

Hence E is the answer

For more detailed explanation please refer to the following thread

https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-new-imag ... 75120.html

Hope it helps!

Thank you very much SohGMAT2020
Now the mystery is cleared.

That includes, in (C), signals an essential noun modifier: the modifier must be included in the sentence or the basic meaning of the core sentence will be nonsensical.
the noun should be as close as possible to the modifier. In this case, the noun Germany is right before the comma. Logically, the modifier should refer to tools. In certain circumstances, it is possible to have a short separation of the noun and the modifier
Answer (D) changes the modifier to the non-essential structure comma which includes.
when using the word including, the sentence really can just be giving examples of something (usually a noun) that was named shortly before the comma. Unlike the modifiers in answers (C) and (D), the including modifier in (E) does not contain a verb that needs to match the noun tools, so there are no problems with the construction.
E is the correct answer.

This question is discussed here: https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-new-imag ... 75120.html Hope it helps.
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You are welcome!

Also as Bunuel said. you may look into the thread for detailed discussion.

As well, for other GMAT prep questions, if you do a google search with the first line of the question, you will usually get a discussion thread on GMAT club

Actually "including" is bit of an exception to present participial phrases.

"including" is actually a preposition (and not a present participial phrase). Hence, the rules of present participial phrases do not apply to "including".

p.s. Our book EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana discusses this property of "including". Have attached the corresponding section of the book, for your reference.

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