Sentence Correction

Question

Pls help me here, not sure why "constructed and standing" are considered noun modifiers.

avigutman · Answer

Hi  Puny , you're going to have to provide a lot more context I'm afraid.
Is this in reference to an official GMAT SC problem? You'll get better responses if you post your question on that problem's thread.
You should also explain why you find it surprising that "constructed and standing" are considered noun modifiers.

Puny · Answer

The tallest freestanding structure of the ancient world is the Great Pyramid of Khufu, a tomb that consists of three vast
chambers constructed on the outskirts of modern day Giza in 2570 BCE, by Khufu's vizier Hemon, and collectively  standing  at a little less than 147 feet tall, a height unmatched by that of any other manmade structure for over 1,000 years.

a) standing
b) stands
c) stood
d) it stood
e) is standing

I have doubt in above-mentioned ques. When I saw the solution, it mentioned constructed and standing as a noun modifier. I thought why not option B as an answer. Can you pls help here?

ReedArnoldMPREP · Answer

B is fine for several reasons and wrong for just one! It would make total sense to use parallelism and say 'a tomb that consists... and stands...'

The problem is the modifier 'collectively.' The tomb is *one thing*. I can't say "One thing collectively stands this tall."

So it must be the three chambers that collectively stand  . But in this sentence, the three chambers aren't doing a verb--they are modified by the noun modifier 'constructed,' and then, yes, with the parallel noun modifier 'standing.' Both of these modifiers are what we call 'participles' (modifiers that come from verbs). 'Constructed' is a past participle, 'standing' is a present participle, and yes, both can modify nouns. While it's unusual to have a past participle in parallel structure with a present participle, I don't believe it's wrong (I think there are official SC questions with such a construction, in fact). However, I'd love to hear Avi's and other experts' take on this one.

Puny · Answer

ReedArnoldMPREP  Thanks a lot for responding to my query. Would be great if could explain how "constructed" is identified as a noun modifer rather than a verb in the same question above.

ReedArnoldMPREP · Answer

Because it's not a verb that a subject is doing!

"The company constructed the building in less than a year." Constructed is a verb. It's what the company does in this sentence.

"The building constructed by the company in less a year is the second tallest in the entire world."

Here, 'constructed' is describing the building. It's something that 'was done' to the building by the company.

'ed' modifiers are particularly tricky, because they look exactly like a verb. You have to see how the word is used in the sentence.

EducationAisle · Answer

The above question seems to be generously inspired from  this official question .

Sentence Correction

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