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605-655 (Medium)|   Modifiers|   Pronouns|   Subject Verb Agreement|                  
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Namangupta1997
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Declining values for farm equipment and land, the collateral against 05 Apr 2022, 08:30
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EducationAisle
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Hi EducationAisle

I chose option D instead of E, because in E, it seems like the decline of equipment and land is used as collateral rather that the equipment and land themselves.
For one thing, I don't see the phrase "decline of equipment and land" in E at all.

In option E, "the collateral" is used as (what's called) an appositive and it is the property of appositives that they modify the word or phrase next to it. Here, that phrase is "farm equipment and land".

p.s. Our book EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana discusses Appositives, their application and examples in significant detail. If you or someone is interested, PM me your email-id; I can mail the corresponding section.
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I didn't mean that the exact words "decline of equipment and land" are present per se. My bad for the lack of clarity. What I meant was, using the modifier "Declining values of equipment and land" wrongfully implies that the decline of values of so and so is being used as collateral.
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Declining values for farm equipment and land, the collateral against 04 May 2022, 07:45
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sayantanc2k
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Hi sayantanc2k
I have few doubts and would be happy if you can clarify..
In the above sentence, I understand that, the collateral is defined for values (which are declining) of farm equipment and land, and the same acts as Resumptive Modifier. Please correct this, if it is wrong. I got the understanding about Resumtpive modifier from - https://gmatclub.com/forum/a-group-of-pa ... l#p1700111

Now, I found a similar post of Manhantten Verbal Legend - RON, which describes similar concept about concrete noun and abstract noun.(https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/foru ... tml#p35386)
The terminologies used in the post and mentioned for Resumptive modifier are similar and thus, I am not able to differentiate between two. Can you please explain this with few examples and also in a given sentence, how can I figure out that some term is a resumptive modifier or an abstract noun?

Thanks in Advance

Understanding the difference between the following two types of modifiers would hopefully clarify your doubt:

1. Appositive modifier: A noun used to modify another noun:

Marc, my best FRIEND, will come tomorrow.
Here the noun "friend" modifies another noun "Marc" and hence is an appositive. (Also note that "my best" is an adjectival phrase that modifies the appositive "friend" in turn).
Now consider option E and compare with the above:
Declining values for farm equipment and land, THE COLLATERAL against which farmers borrow to get through the harvest season, are going to force many lenders to tighten or deny credit this spring.
Here the noun "the collateral" modifies another noun phrase"farm equipment and land" and hence is an appositive. (Also note that "against which farmers borrow to get through the harvest season" is a relative clause modifier that modifies the appositive"the collateral" in turn).

2. Absolute phrase modifier: A noun + noun modifier structure used to refer to a clause as a whole. (The following example is from Manhattan SC guide)

Scientists have found high levels of iridium in certain geological formations around the world, results that suggest the cataclysmic impact of a meteor millions of years ago.
The underlined part above is the absolute phrase modifier (Noun = results, noun modifier = that suggest the cataclysmic impact of a meteor millions of years ago). THe absolute phrase modifier modifies the whole clause.

2a. Resumptive modifier: A special case of Absolute phrase modifier - the noun within the absolute phrase is a repetition of another noun already used in the clause.
Scientists presented the results of their research , results that suggest the cataclysmic impact of a meteor millions of years ago.
The underlined part above is the absolute phrase modifier (Noun = results, noun modifier: that suggest the cataclysmic impact of a meteor millions of years ago). THe absolute phrase modifier modifies the whole clause. THe noun "results" is repeated.

Abstract noun is something else altogether and bears no relation with the above discussion. A noun that cannot be touched, but can only be felt is an abstract noun. Examples: love, faith, trust, pain etc. (You may go through any high school grammar book to recapitulate the different types of nouns).

Please note that the noun within the absolute phrase modifier (or resumptive modifier) need not be an abstract noun -
After decades of hard work, the workers built the monument, the monument that we all have read about in the history book.
The noun within the resumptive modifier ("The monument") is NOT an abstract noun, but a common noun.


Please let me know if you still have doubts.
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What is hard work in the last sentence?

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Declining values for farm equipment and land, the collateral against 19 Jun 2022, 05:29
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Hi, I can clearly see that option E has a much clearer construction than D does, but I am unable to find any other fault in D. Am I missing something?
Is there another solid reason that can be used to eliminate D?
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Declining values for farm equipment and land, the collateral against 19 Jun 2022, 05:45
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sv2023
Hi, I can clearly see that option E has a much clearer construction than D does, but I am unable to find any other fault in D. Am I missing something?
Is there another solid reason that can be used to eliminate D?
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The only reason to eliminate (D) is that the construction "use as collateral to borrow against" is redundant since the way collateral is used is through borrowing against it.
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Declining values for farm equipment and land, the collateral against 19 Jun 2022, 05:51
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sv2023
Hi, I can clearly see that option E has a much clearer construction than D does, but I am unable to find any other fault in D. Am I missing something?
Is there another solid reason that can be used to eliminate D?
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When we use something as collateral, it means we are borrowing against it. Option (D) uses both the phrases "use as collateral" and "borrow against". Hence, it has a subtle redundancy.

"the collateral against which they borrow... " is more formal than "which they borrow against..."
In spoken language, we often put the preposition at the end of the 'which clause' but in written, formal context, we often bring the preposition ahead - before 'which.'

Will I eliminate an option based on either one of these issues? Perhaps not. But since we have a better option that straightens out both these issues, we pick (E). It is about picking the best option.
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Declining values for farm equipment and land, the collateral against 19 Jun 2022, 06:01
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Hi,

In this SC question, your knowledge of Modifiers & Subject-Verb is tested.

Start by eliminating choices:

Option A, Option B, Option C: Rule out because of Subject-Verb agreement easily
Touch choices are D & E
Option D: which modifies what- land or land and equipment is not clear. Second, farmers don't use declining values as collateral.
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Declining values for farm equipment and land, the collateral against 20 Jun 2022, 04:24
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sv2023
Hi, I can clearly see that option E has a much clearer construction than D does, but I am unable to find any other fault in D. Am I missing something?
Is there another solid reason that can be used to eliminate D?
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Hello sv2023,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, no; the only shortcoming in Option D is its lack of conciseness and directness, relative to E.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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Declining values for farm equipment and land, the collateral against 08 Jul 2022, 19:01
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Answer D is incorrect because it repeats the same information in two phrases: "use (something) as collateral" and "borrow against (something)." It is enough to use only one of these expressions. Thus answer D is redundant. Moreover, the preposition "against" should not be placed at the end of the modifier. It should be close to the noun that it refers to ( "collateral").
Answer E corrects both mistakes. It uses the less wordy modifier "the collateral against which farmers borrow...". In addition, the preposition "against" is placed at the beginning of the modifying clause, near the noun "collateral" and not at the end of the clause.
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Declining values for farm equipment and land, the collateral against 16 Jan 2023, 12:57
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I am still not clear why 'declining values' is not singular
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Declining values for farm equipment and land, the collateral against 16 Jan 2023, 14:48
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Redwhite387
I am still not clear why 'declining values' is not singular
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Declining valueS.

"Declining" is a modifier. "Values" is the subject--and it is plural.

Don't mistake "Declining values" to be the same as "a decline in values."

"Declining values are driving an increase in purchases."

"A decline in values is driving an increase in purchases."

These sentences mean essentially the same thing, but one has a singular subject and the other a plural one.
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Declining values for farm equipment and land, the collateral against 16 Jan 2023, 22:48
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Redwhite387
I am still not clear why 'declining values' is not singular
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The subject is the plural 'values'.
'declining' is a participle modifying the noun 'values'.
What kind of values? declining values
It is similar to 'speeding cars' or 'whistling teenagers' - subjects we know are plural.
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Declining values for farm equipment and land, the collateral against 16 Jan 2023, 23:48
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Redwhite387
I am still not clear why 'declining values' is not singular
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The decline in values or the declining of values would have been singular.
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Declining values for farm equipment and land, the collateral against 19 Jan 2023, 01:08
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I got confused between "Declining values" as a gerund and "Declining values" as an adj-Noun phrase.

I believe the issue is that "declining" is an intransitive word (with "decline" meaning "reduce," not "refuse"). So there is only "X declines," not "X declines Y." That's why "declining values" can not be a gerund.

from oxfordlearnersdictionaries: "​ [intransitive] (rather formal) to become smaller, fewer, weaker, etc. "
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Declining values for farm equipment and land, the collateral against 19 Jan 2023, 03:20
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dungdt2010
I got confused between "Declining values" as a gerund and "Declining values" as an adj-Noun phrase.

I believe the issue is that "declining" is an intransitive word (with "decline" meaning "reduce," not "refuse"). So there is only "X declines," not "X declines Y." That's why "declining values" can not be a gerund.

from oxfordlearnersdictionaries: "​ [intransitive] (rather formal) to become smaller, fewer, weaker, etc. "
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Hey dungdt2010

That's correct. Excellent reasoning.

Regards,

Abhishek
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Declining values for farm equipment and land, the collateral against 19 Jan 2023, 03:40
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dungdt2010
I got confused between "Declining values" as a gerund and "Declining values" as an adj-Noun phrase.

I believe the issue is that "declining" is an intransitive word (with "decline" meaning "reduce," not "refuse"). So there is only "X declines," not "X declines Y." That's why "declining values" can not be a gerund.

from oxfordlearnersdictionaries: "​ [intransitive] (rather formal) to become smaller, fewer, weaker, etc. "
Show more

Yes, 'decline' as verb doesn't take an object so 'declining values' would not be gerund + object.

If you want to figure out whether an ing verb is working as a participial or a gerund, think about the noun in focus. Are we talking about the action or teh pure noun.

I like racing in Intl circuits.
racing - gerund
in Intl circuits - prepositional phrase modifying the gerund 'racing'
I like what? Racing

I like racing cars.
racing - gerund
I like what? Racing. Racing what? Cars

Racing cars are very high tech.
Racing - participle. Cars - subject
What are very high tech? Cars. What kind of cars? Racing cars
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Declining values for farm equipment and land, the collateral against 24 Jan 2023, 17:08
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dungdt2010
I got confused between "Declining values" as a gerund and "Declining values" as an adj-Noun phrase.

I believe the issue is that "declining" is an intransitive word (with "decline" meaning "reduce," not "refuse"). So there is only "X declines," not "X declines Y." That's why "declining values" can not be a gerund.

from oxfordlearnersdictionaries: "​ [intransitive] (rather formal) to become smaller, fewer, weaker, etc. "
Show more
Context is key. Can "values" be declined? Probably not. But what about an offer or an invitation? Those are things that certainly can be declined, so "decline" can absolutely function as a transitive verb:

  • "Tim declined the job offer from Enron."
  • "Tim declined an invitation to Kim and Kourtney's party."

So "declining" can in fact be used as a gerund:

  • "Tim is very popular among prospective employers lately, and declining job offers has become part of his daily routine."
  • "Declining a wedding invitation from your best friend would likely cause a rift in the friendship."

And maaaaybe we could even come up with an example where "values" could be "declined". For example, perhaps your company has a very strict set of core values, and, since you're a rebel, you decline those values? That's a stretch, but the point is that you don't want to rely on memorizing a list of words that can and cannot act as gerunds. The GMAT isn't really interested in that issue.

Instead, you have to think carefully about the context. Are "values for farm equipment and land" something that can be declined in this context? And if so, is this sentence trying to use the act of declining as a noun (i.e. as the subject of the sentence)?

Nope. Something is going to force many lenders to tighten or deny credit this spring, and that something is the decreasing values for farm equipment and land. So in this context, "declining" makes sense as a modifier.

I hope that helps a bit!
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Declining values for farm equipment and land, the collateral against 16 Jun 2023, 20:55
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Hello GMATNinja AjiteshArun KarishmaB

Can you please help with this problem?
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Declining values for farm equipment and land, the collateral against 17 Oct 2023, 03:42
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Why is "declining values for farm.." not considered as verbing phrase acting as a subject of the sentence and hence needs a singular verb?

For me, if I ask what is going many lenders to tighten or deny credit this spring? I get the answer declining values. Values on its own will not force, but fact the values are declining is going to act as force.

Please help me with this.
@gmatninja

ThankYou
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Declining values for farm equipment and land, the collateral against 17 Oct 2023, 19:38
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Danisha1234
Why is "declining values for farm.." not considered as verbing phrase acting as a subject of the sentence and hence needs a singular verb?

For me, if I ask what is going many lenders to tighten or deny credit this spring? I get the answer declining values. Values on its own will not force, but fact the values are declining is going to act as force.

Please help me with this.

@‌gmatninja

ThankYou
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In order to make "declining" the subject, you'd have to write something like this: "The declining of values for farm equipment... is going to force..." That sounds a little bit awkward, but it works.

Choice (E) is more like this:

    "The screaming children are disturbing everyone else on the plane."

Sure, you could say that "screaming" is the problem (e.g. "the screaming of the children IS disturbing..."), but you could also say that the children are the problem BECAUSE they are screaming. In other words, children (no modifier) aren't disturbing, but SCREAMING children are -- and the modifier explains why the children are the problem.

Similarly, in choice (E), the complete subject is "DECLINING values", not "values" alone -- the modifier explains why the values ARE forcing something to happen.

I hope that helps!
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Declining values for farm equipment and land, the collateral against 18 Oct 2023, 22:04
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Danisha1234
Why is "declining values for farm.." not considered as verbing phrase acting as a subject of the sentence and hence needs a singular verb?

For me, if I ask what is going many lenders to tighten or deny credit this spring? I get the answer declining values. Values on its own will not force, but fact the values are declining is going to act as force.

Please help me with this.
@gmatninja

ThankYou
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Hi Danisha1234,

To understand the reason we look at declining values as a noun phrase rather than a gerund phrase, we have to look at the meaning of declining.

Although decline can be a noun, declining is a form of the verb decline. As a verb:

1. Decline can mean {to become smaller or less in some way}. For example, "The population of Japan declined".

When used like this, decline doesn't take an object. That is, we can't say something like "X declined the population of Japan" to mean "X reduced the population of Japan".

2. Decline can be used with or without an object to mean {turn down or refuse}. For example, "She declined his invitation" means she refused his invitation (not she reduced his invitation).

If we make declining the main word in declining values, we force it to take the second meaning. That is, {declining values} means {refusing or turning down values}.

On the other hand, as an adjective, declining just means {becoming smaller}. That's why {declining values} means {values that are becoming smaller}.
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