Last visit was: 28 Apr 2026, 09:43 It is currently 28 Apr 2026, 09:43
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
User avatar
idilbayar
User avatar
Joined: 08 Oct 2022
Last visit: 26 May 2023
Posts: 15
Own Kudos:
3
Given Kudos: 15
Location: Turkey
Posts: 15
Kudos: 3
TTP Modifiers SC Question 06 Mar 2023, 12:57
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
(C) Happy consuming many foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and twigs, the Black Rat has a desire to be close to human populations, which, along with its ability to harbor in its blood a wide-range of infectious bacteria, such as Yersinia pestis, the Black Plague pathogen, makes the Black Rat a highly effective disease vector.

The above sentence is the correct answer to an example sentence correction question of TTP
When I read the sentence, I eliminated it since I thought the usage of "which" was incorrect. According to my knowledge, a relative pronoun should be placed right after its antecedent (a noun). So I thought "which" refers to the plural noun "populations." Can you explain why this is not the case and how a relative pronoun can refer to a noun phrase?
User avatar
MartyTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 24 Nov 2014
Last visit: 11 Aug 2023
Posts: 3,471
Own Kudos:
5,645
 [2]
Given Kudos: 1,430
Status:Chief Curriculum and Content Architect
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V51
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V51
Posts: 3,471
Kudos: 5,645
 [2]
TTP Modifiers SC Question 06 Mar 2023, 14:12
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
idilbayar
According to my knowledge, a relative pronoun should be placed right after its antecedent (a noun). So I thought "which" refers to the plural noun "populations." Can you explain why this is not the case and how a relative pronoun can refer to a noun phrase?
Show more
Hi idilbayar.

The information you have is incorrect. A relative pronoun, such as "which," can refer not only to the preceding noun but alternatively to the preceding noun phrase.

You can see lesson 1550 in the TTP course for a full discussion of this topic.
User avatar
idilbayar
User avatar
Joined: 08 Oct 2022
Last visit: 26 May 2023
Posts: 15
Own Kudos:
3
Given Kudos: 15
Location: Turkey
Posts: 15
Kudos: 3
TTP Modifiers SC Question 07 Mar 2023, 06:16
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
MartyTargetTestPrep
idilbayar
According to my knowledge, a relative pronoun should be placed right after its antecedent (a noun). So I thought "which" refers to the plural noun "populations." Can you explain why this is not the case and how a relative pronoun can refer to a noun phrase?
Hi idilbayar.

The information you have is incorrect. A relative pronoun, such as "which," can refer not only to the preceding noun but alternatively to the preceding noun phrase.

You can see lesson 1550 in the TTP course for a full discussion of this topic.
Show more

Hi Marty,
Thank you so much for your reply, your explanations are the best. Sorry to bother but what do you mean by lesson 1550? I can see chapters with their headings and their respective lessons like 4.1, 4.2.. etc.
User avatar
mysterymanrog
User avatar
CR Forum Moderator
Joined: 25 Jan 2022
Last visit: 06 Feb 2026
Posts: 791
Own Kudos:
714
 [2]
Given Kudos: 559
Location: Italy
Schools: HEC (A) LBS (D) ESSEC (A)
GPA: 3.8
Schools: HEC (A) LBS (D) ESSEC (A)
Posts: 791
Kudos: 714
 [2]
TTP Modifiers SC Question 07 Mar 2023, 06:49
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
idilbayar
(C) Happy consuming many foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and twigs, the Black Rat has a desire to be close to human populations, which, along with its ability to harbor in its blood a wide-range of infectious bacteria, such as Yersinia pestis, the Black Plague pathogen, makes the Black Rat a highly effective disease vector.

The above sentence is the correct answer to an example sentence correction question of TTP
When I read the sentence, I eliminated it since I thought the usage of "which" was incorrect. According to my knowledge, a relative pronoun should be placed right after its antecedent (a noun). So I thought "which" refers to the plural noun "populations." Can you explain why this is not the case and how a relative pronoun can refer to a noun phrase?
Show more

Although Marty already answered, I will try to give an explanation:
If you look at the structure of the sentence, "which" cannot logically refer to "populations". Consider crossing out the intermediate modifier: "along... pathogen". The sentence then becomes "the black has a desire to be close to human populations, which makes The Black Rat a highly effective disease vector". Notice that "which" is referring to the black rat's desire, and it is perfectly logical for it to do so - there is no other logical way to read the sentence. Moreover, the modifier right after "which" uses "along with ITS ability to..", its refers to a singular option, which must refer directly to The Black Rat, and not populations (plural).

Hope this helps!
User avatar
MartyTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 24 Nov 2014
Last visit: 11 Aug 2023
Posts: 3,471
Own Kudos:
5,645
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1,430
Status:Chief Curriculum and Content Architect
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V51
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V51
Posts: 3,471
Kudos: 5,645
 [1]
TTP Modifiers SC Question 07 Mar 2023, 07:58
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
idilbayar
Hi Marty,
Thank you so much for your reply, your explanations are the best. Sorry to bother but what do you mean by lesson 1550? I can see chapters with their headings and their respective lessons like 4.1, 4.2.. etc.
Show more
When you're in a lesson, go to the url. The url of the lesson will end with a number. You can access lesson 1550 by replacing the number in the url with 1550 and going to that page.
User avatar
idilbayar
User avatar
Joined: 08 Oct 2022
Last visit: 26 May 2023
Posts: 15
Own Kudos:
3
 [1]
Given Kudos: 15
Location: Turkey
Posts: 15
Kudos: 3
 [1]
TTP Modifiers SC Question 07 Mar 2023, 08:17
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mysterymanrog
idilbayar
(C) Happy consuming many foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and twigs, the Black Rat has a desire to be close to human populations, which, along with its ability to harbor in its blood a wide-range of infectious bacteria, such as Yersinia pestis, the Black Plague pathogen, makes the Black Rat a highly effective disease vector.

The above sentence is the correct answer to an example sentence correction question of TTP
When I read the sentence, I eliminated it since I thought the usage of "which" was incorrect. According to my knowledge, a relative pronoun should be placed right after its antecedent (a noun). So I thought "which" refers to the plural noun "populations." Can you explain why this is not the case and how a relative pronoun can refer to a noun phrase?

Although Marty already answered, I will try to give an explanation:
If you look at the structure of the sentence, which cannot logically refer to "populations". Consider crossing out the intermediate modifier: "along... pathogen". The sentence then becomes "the black has a desire to be close to human populations, which makes The Black Rat a highly effective disease vector". Notice that "which" is referring to the black rat's desire, and it is perfectly logical for it to do so - there is no other logical way to read the sentence. Moreover, the modifier right after "which" uses "along with ITS ability to..", its refers to a singular option, which must refer directly to The Black Rat, and not populations (plural).

Hope this helps!
Show more

Hi mysterymanrog,
Thank you so much for your help.
User avatar
mysterymanrog
User avatar
CR Forum Moderator
Joined: 25 Jan 2022
Last visit: 06 Feb 2026
Posts: 791
Own Kudos:
714
Given Kudos: 559
Location: Italy
Schools: HEC (A) LBS (D) ESSEC (A)
GPA: 3.8
Schools: HEC (A) LBS (D) ESSEC (A)
Posts: 791
Kudos: 714
TTP Modifiers SC Question 07 Mar 2023, 12:50
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
idilbayar
mysterymanrog
idilbayar
(C) Happy consuming many foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and twigs, the Black Rat has a desire to be close to human populations, which, along with its ability to harbor in its blood a wide-range of infectious bacteria, such as Yersinia pestis, the Black Plague pathogen, makes the Black Rat a highly effective disease vector.

The above sentence is the correct answer to an example sentence correction question of TTP
When I read the sentence, I eliminated it since I thought the usage of "which" was incorrect. According to my knowledge, a relative pronoun should be placed right after its antecedent (a noun). So I thought "which" refers to the plural noun "populations." Can you explain why this is not the case and how a relative pronoun can refer to a noun phrase?

Although Marty already answered, I will try to give an explanation:
If you look at the structure of the sentence, which cannot logically refer to "populations". Consider crossing out the intermediate modifier: "along... pathogen". The sentence then becomes "the black has a desire to be close to human populations, which makes The Black Rat a highly effective disease vector". Notice that "which" is referring to the black rat's desire, and it is perfectly logical for it to do so - there is no other logical way to read the sentence. Moreover, the modifier right after "which" uses "along with ITS ability to..", its refers to a singular option, which must refer directly to The Black Rat, and not populations (plural).

Hope this helps!

Hi mysterymanrog,
Thank you so much for your help.
Show more

No problem! I am glad you found my post useful.
Moderators:
gchandana
193 posts
MBAACCOUNT2025
General GMAT Forum Moderator
473 posts