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Wearing a huge sombrero, the sun's rays could not harm John.

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Wearing a huge sombrero, the sun's rays could not harm John. [#permalink] New post   18 Oct 2021, 01:30
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77% (00:29) correct 23% (00:34) wrong based on 151 sessions
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Wearing a huge sombrero, the sun's rays could not harm John.


A. the sun's rays could not harm John

B. the rays of the sun could not harm John

C. John could not harm the sun's rays

D. John could not be harmed by the rays from the sun

E. John could not be harmed by the sun's rays
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Re: Wearing a huge sombrero, the sun's rays could not harm John. [#permalink] New post   19 Oct 2021, 01:15
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OFFICIAL EXPLANATION



Wearing a huge sombrero, the sun's rays could not harm John.


A. the sun's rays could not harm John

This sentence begins with a modifier: Wearing a huge sombrero. A modifier should be placed right next to the noun it describes. The only thing that this modifier can logically modify is John, as it's hard to imagine that the sun's rays are wearing a huge sombrero... However, John is quite far from the modifier that describes him.

What helps us identify this question as a Dangling Modifier question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign:

    A modifier, characterized by all of the following:
    1. Verb+ing or Verb in 3rd form
    2. Separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma
    3. Appears at the very beginning of the sentence

Whenever you see this Stop Sign, focus on the modifier: check whether the noun right after the modifier is indeed the noun that the modifier describes. If it isn't - you've found your mistake.


B. the rays of the sun could not harm John

This answer choice repeats the original mistake. This sentence begins with a modifier: Wearing a huge sombrero. A modifier should be placed right next to the noun it describes. The only thing that this modifier can logically modify is John, as it's hard to imagine that the rays of the sun are wearing a huge sombrero... However, John is quite far from the modifier that describes him.

What helps us identify this question as a Dangling Modifier question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign:

    A modifier, characterized by all of the following:
    1. Verb+ing or Verb in 3rd form
    2. Separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma
    3. Appears at the very beginning of the sentence

Whenever you see this Stop Sign, focus on the modifier: check whether the noun right after the modifier is indeed the noun that the modifier describes. If it isn't - you've found your mistake.


C. John could not harm the sun's rays

Although this answer choice corrects the originalDangling Modifier mistake and is grammatically correct, it changes the meaning of the original sentence. It is not the sun's rays that are in danger of being harmed by John, but the other way around.


D. John could not be harmed by the rays from the sun

Although this answer choice corrects the originalDangling Modifier mistake and is grammatically correct, stylistically it is not the most concise of the five answer choices. The phrase the rays from the sun is wordy and, therefore, redundant. There's another grammatically correct answer that is more concise than this one. Look for it!


E. John could not be harmed by the sun's rays

This sentence begins with a modifier: Wearing a huge sombrero. A modifier should be placed right next to the noun it describes. The only thing that this modifier can logically modify is John, so John should immediately follow the modifier.
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Re: Wearing a huge sombrero, the sun's rays could not harm John. [#permalink] New post   18 Oct 2021, 03:43
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A. the sun's rays could not harm John
We need 'John' to follow the comma. It's not the sun's rays that are wearing the sombrero.

B. the rays of the sun could not harm John
Once again, it is not the sun's rays that are wearing the sombrero. We need 'John' to follow the comma.

C. John could not harm the sun's rays
Sentence just does not make sense. John is not trying to harm the sun rays. He is wearing the sombrero to protect from the sun's rays.

D. John could not be harmed by the rays from the sun
This answer choice makes sense, however, it is wordy and not very concise.

E. John could not be harmed by the sun's rays
Correct. Makes perfect sense and is a lot more concise than answer choice D.

Answer E
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Wearing a huge sombrero, the sun's rays could not harm John. [#permalink] New post   18 Oct 2021, 04:43
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My answer is (E). It took me 23 seconds.

What is "Sombrero"? Sombrero in English refers to a type of wide-brimmed hat from Mexico, used to shield from the sun. While I do not know this word, I do have the understanding that Sun (or sunray) does not wear anything to help avoid harming anybody. Rather, if not for the atmosphere of the planet Earth, we would be bereft of vital protections from the Sun.

(A) The sun's rays do not wear a huge sombrero.
(B) The rays do not wear a huge sombrero.
(C) Hugely unlikely that GMAT sentences describe a superhero who can choose to harm or not to harm the sun's rays.
(DE）both make sense. In comparison, (E) is briefer. "Shorter is better". That said, sunrays would have been the briefest.
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Re: Wearing a huge sombrero, the sun's rays could not harm John. [#permalink] New post   18 Oct 2021, 06:47
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Wearing a huge sombrero, the sun's rays could not harm John.


A. the sun's rays could not harm John - Modifier error. Incorrect.

B. the rays of the sun could not harm John- Modifier error. Incorrect.

C. John could not harm the sun's rays - Changes the meaning of the sentence. Incorrect.

D. John could not be harmed by the rays from the sun - Wordy. Incorrect

E. John could not be harmed by the sun's rays - Correct. Corrects the issue with modifier and provides the actual meaning of the sentence.

IMO E
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Re: Wearing a huge sombrero, the sun's rays could not harm John. [#permalink] New post   18 Oct 2021, 07:31
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A. the sun's rays could not harm John
wrong modifier, 'Wearing a huge sombrero' is modifying sun's rays here. Eliminate.

B. the rays of the sun could not harm John
wrong modifier, 'Wearing a huge sombrero' is modifying 'rays of the sun' here. Eliminate.

C. John could not harm the sun's rays
Meaning changed that John is harming sun's rays. Eliminate

D. John could not be harmed by the rays from the sun
Grammatically correct with the modifier. keep

E. John could not be harmed by the sun's rays
Grammatically correct with the modifier and the sentence is concise than D.
Eliminate D.

So the best answer choice is E
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Re: Wearing a huge sombrero, the sun's rays could not harm John. [#permalink] New post   18 Oct 2021, 07:47
Correct Option E

Eliminate A, and B,
because Wearing a huge sombrero, wrongly modify the sun's rays or rays of sun, and they cannot wear huge sombro.

A. Wearing a huge sombrero,
the sun's rays could not harm John
B. Wearing a huge sombrero,
the rays of the sun could not harm John

Eliminate C:
Option C. Wearing a huge sombrero,
John could not harm the sun's rays

Eliminate D : Wordy and Grammatically doubtful
Option D. Wearing a huge sombrero,
John could not be harmed by the rays from the sun

Correct: Correct Modifier, Short and Grammatically correct.
Option E.Wearing a huge sombrero,
John could not be harmed by the sun's rays

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Re: Wearing a huge sombrero, the sun's rays could not harm John. [#permalink]
18 Oct 2021, 07:47
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