yt770 wrote:
As per your explanation "both" is an adverb modifying dating. And we know that COMMA + -ING modifier always modifies the entire previous clause. But I am not able to understand how "dating... " can modify the previous clause. I see no relation of -ING modifier to the verb of the previous clause. Can you please explain? Thanks a ton!!
Hi
yt770, there
is correlation between the participial phrase (
both dating back...) and the previous clause.
The clause states that the Acoma and Hopi are probably the two
oldest surviving Pueblo communities; subsequently, the participial phrase elaborates
to what extent these communities are old:
both date back at least a thousand years.
On the other hand, had the sentence been (say):
The Acoma and Hopi considered children born into the mother's clan, both dating back at least a thousand years.
In this sentence, there is indeed
no correlation between the
clause and the
participial phrase. Hence, use of participial phrase would be
incorrect here.
p.s. Our book
EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana discusses these
issues with participial phrases, their application and examples in significant detail. If someone is interested, PM me your email-id; I can mail the corresponding section.
_________________
Ashish
MBA-ISB Hyderabad, GMAT-99th percentile
www.EducationAisle.com