thangvietnam
I am
e gmat customer and I see that many
e-gmat's articles are great.
The following is from OG. I get to the right answer comfortablly.
But I do not understand the use of "with a contract... well" . This phrase modify the previous clause. Is that right? "with" refer to what noun?
It seem that gmat dose not test this point of grammar. However , knowing how "with"phrase can be used is good for us. I see this "with" phrase appear many times on gmatprep.
e gmat expert, pls, explain fully the role of "with" phrase in the sentence.
Thank you.
Since 1986, when the Department of Labor began to allow// investment officers' fees to be based on how the
funds they manage perform, several corporations began// paying their investment advisers a small basic fee,
with a contract promising higher fees if the managers perform well.
(A) investment officers’ fees to be based on how the funds they manage perform, several corporations
began
(B) investment officers’ fees to be based on the performance of the funds they manage, several
corporations began
123
(C) that fees of investment officers be based on how the funds they manage perform, several corporations
have begun
(D) fees of investment officers to be based on the performance of the funds they manage, several
corporations have begun
(E) that investment officers' fees be based on the performance of the funds they manage, several
corporations began
Hi thangvietnam,
We will definitely write an article on prepositional phrase modifiers. But for now, I will give you a general idea about your query.
“with” modifiers are very versatile modifiers.
They can modify either the preceding clause or the preceding nouns. What they modify actually depends on the context of the sentence and the wording of the modifier itself.
Consider this correct sentence from an official question:
Bihar is India’s poorest state,
with an annual per capita income of $111,
lower than that of the most impoverished countries of the world.
In this sentence,
with modifier actually modifies the preceding noun. With modifier in this sentence has the following sense
India’s poorest state,
which has an annual per capita income of $111
Notice how “
which has” can be understood to replace “
with”.
However, this modifier can be understood to modify the subject of the clause as well because of the nature of the verb - is. This is a linking verb, which establishes the following relationship:
Bihar = India’s poorest state.
So whatever modifies India’s poorest state also modifies Bihar. You can notice similar behavior of the verb-ed modifier in OG12#5 - Diabetes ranks as…
Now lets consider a scenario in which “with” modifier modifies the preceding clause.
This is a GMATPrep Question. You can find the detailed solution of this question at
thislink.
Visitors to the park have often looked up into the leafy canopy and seen monkeys sleeping on the branches,
with arms and legs hanging like socks on a clothesline.
The highlighted modifier above modifies the preceding clause. In essence this sentence can be written as two separate sentences:
1. Visitors to the park have often looked up into the leafy canopy and seen monkeys sleeping on the branches,
2. Their arms and legs are hung like socks on a clothesline.
So sentence 2 has been converted into with modifier. This modifier extends the thought of the preceding clause by providing a detail supporting it.
Now if the above sounds very complicated, then do not worry about it. As long as you know that these modifiers are versatile and hence can modify preceding clause and preceding nouns, you would be fine. Let the meaning of the sentence guide you. You should understand the meaning of the sentence and ensure that one of these roles fit well.
Now based on this treatment, can you analyze the sentence in your post and tell me what is the role of "with modifier". Remember CONTEXT is the key.
I look forward to your response.
Thanks,
Payal
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Updated on: 11 Jun 2021, 09:54 
45%
(medium)
37%
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