The congressmen conferred quietly in the cloakroom wearing patriotic p

Question

The congressmen  conferred quietly in the cloakroom wearing patriotic pins.

A. conferred quietly in the cloakroom wearing patriotic pins

B. conferred quietly in the cloakroom, wearing patriotic pins

C. quietly conferred in the cloakroom wearing patriotic pins

D. wearing patriotic pins conferred quietly in the cloakroom

E. wearing patriotic pins, conferred quietly in the cloakroom

krishnabalu · Accepted Answer

I doubt the answer. Doesn't D state that only the congressman who wore patriotic pins conferred instead of author's intended meaning that all congressman conferred in cloakroom and they wore patriotic pins? I believe B would suit this.

dracarys007 · Answer

A humble request – Please give KUDOS if you like the response.
Let us first dissect the sentence.
The congressmen conferred quietly in the cloakroom wearing patriotic pins.

A. conferred quietly in the cloakroom wearing patriotic pins
Wearing patriotic pins is modifying the congressman. This choice changes the meaning of the sentence. It modifies cloakroom

B. conferred quietly in the cloakroom, wearing patriotic pins
Wearing patriotic pins is modifying the congressman. This choice changes the meaning of the sentence. It modifies cloakroom

C. quietly conferred in the cloakroom wearing patriotic pins
Wearing patriotic pins is modifying the congressman. This choice changes the meaning of the sentence. It modifies cloakroom
If you are still reading my post please hit the KUDOS button.

D. wearing patriotic pins conferred quietly in the cloakroom
This si the correct choice.

E. wearing patriotic pins, conferred quietly in the cloakroom
The means that the only congressmen who is wearing the patriotics pins now.

Answer is D.

Gmatprep998 · Answer

Wearing patriotic pins” modifies the noun “congressman” not “cloakroom”; therefore, it must be placed directly after the word “congressmen.”

jaisonsunny77 · Answer

The congressmen  conferred quietly in the cloakroom wearing patriotic pins.  
 
A. conferred quietly in the cloakroom wearing patriotic pins  -  (A) implies that the action ''conferred'' was performed by ''wearing'' patriotic pins. This does not make sense.  
 
B. conferred quietly in the cloakroom, wearing patriotic pins  -  (B) implies that the action ''conferred'' was performed by ''wearing'' patriotic pins. This does not make sense.  
 
C. quietly conferred in the cloakroom wearing patriotic pins  -  (C) implies that the action ''conferred'' was performed by ''wearing'' patriotic pins. This does not make sense.

D. wearing patriotic pins conferred quietly in the cloakroom - has no error. Hence,   (D) is the right answer choice. 
  
E. wearing patriotic pins, conferred quietly in the cloakroom  -  we do not have a full clause here.

scranjith · Answer

Can you please help me understand further why choice E (with comma) is an incomplete clause and wrong?

Posted from my mobile device

SofiaDahiya · Answer

'wearing patriotic pins' is modifying the congressmen, so it is working as a modifier. A modifier should be either enclosed in comma pair or written simply without any comma. In choice E, only single comma has been used, hence this modifier has not been used properly. 
Another point to consider here is, subject and verb should not be separated using comma. Here, usage of single comma has separated subject from its verb.

For ex. The congressmen, wearing patriotic pins, conferred quietly in the cloakroom - correct
 The congressmen wearing patriotic pins, conferred quietly in the cloakroom - Incorrect
 The congressmen wearing patriotic pins conferred quietly in the cloakroom - correct

Crytiocanalyst · Answer

A. conferred quietly in the cloakroom wearing patriotic pins
The cloakroom isn't wearing the partiotic pins wrong meaning therefore out

B. conferred quietly in the cloakroom, wearing patriotic pins
Dependent clauses shouldn't be seperated with comma therefore out

C. quietly conferred in the cloakroom wearing patriotic pins
The meaning isn't perfect therefore out

D. wearing patriotic pins conferred quietly in the cloakroom
THe meaning is fine therefore let us hnag on to it

E. wearing patriotic pins, conferred quietly in the cloakroom
Comma is unnecessary distorting the meaning therefore out

Therefore IMO D

thakurarun85 · Answer

looks like "wearing patriotic pins" is an essential clause. Hence D is correct.

arya251294 · Answer

Hi @VeritasKarishma can we not look at option B as --->

Wearing patriotic pins, the congressmen conferred quietly in the cloakroom.

I see a meaning difference in B and D.
Option B says that congressmen conferred while wearing patriotic pins , however, option D says that congressmen who were wearing patriotic pins conferred quietly.
Can you please help.

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Hello  arya251294 ,

We hope this finds you well.

Having gone through the question and your query, we believe we can resolve your doubt.

Option B uses the "comma + present participle ("verb+ing" - "wearing" in this sentence)" construction, illogically implying that there is a cause-effect relationship between the congressmen conferring quietly in the cloakroom and them wearing patriotic pins; please remember, the introduction of present participle ("verb+ing"- “wearing” in this case) after comma generally leads to a cause-effect relationship.

We hope this helps. 
All the best!
Experts' Global Team

The congressmen conferred quietly in the cloakroom wearing patriotic p

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The congressmen conferred quietly in the cloakroom wearing patriotic p

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