TorGmatGod wrote:
Hi
AjiteshArun AndrewNI have question about modifier.
The controversy has divided the Senate,
(V.ing modifier1), and
(V.ing modifier2).
In first example, both
(V.ing modifier1) and
(V.ing modifier2) modify preceding clause,
The controversy has divided the Senate.
The controversy has divided the Senate,
(V.ing modifier1),
(V.ing modifier2).
In second example
without and, does
(V.ing modifier2) modify only
(V.ing modifier1)?, or this sentence is considered grammatically incorrect?
Good question,
TorGmatGod. I think we can safely say that the second type of sentence would require a careful read. I am not going to say that a sentence could not be constructed in this manner. It could come down to a stylistic choice of the author. (Consider the case in which the conjunction might be omitted for a poetic purpose—
He showed up to work early every day, hoping to improve his circumstances, aiming to climb one rung of the corporate ladder at a time. Yes, both modifiers would be understood to comment on the main clause. And in case you are curious, this stylistic choice has a name: asyndeton.) Nevertheless, I have yet to lay eyes on such a sentence
on the GMAT™ as a correct answer to a Sentence Correction question. As such, I would not worry too much about this sort of potential sentence. If I did come across one as an answer choice, I would look to see how other options dealt with the same expression of meaning, no different from how I would look at any other SC question.
I hope you find this information and advice useful. Thank you for thinking to ask.
- Andrew
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