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30 Jun 2013, 03:17
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Okay, this has been bugging me for quite sometimes.
When do we use past participle in active-voiced modifier?
Let me give you an example (from Manhattan SC)
"A new textbook focused on recent advances in artificial intelligence was assigned by our instructor."
Let me deconstruct (if I'm wrong, please correct me) this sentence:
Now my question are:
1) Why does the sentence use "focused", not "focusing"?
2) Generally, isn't using past participle in modifier means the modifier is in passive-voice? i.e. "Satisfied by the quality of the work, John proceeded to pay the contractor"
3) Does using "focused" have anything to do with an act of having completed something in the past in this modifier context?
When do we use past participle in active-voiced modifier?
Let me give you an example (from Manhattan SC)
"A new textbook focused on recent advances in artificial intelligence was assigned by our instructor."
Let me deconstruct (if I'm wrong, please correct me) this sentence:
- Subject = textbook
Verb = was assigned
Modifier to the subject = focused on recent advances in artificial intelligence
Now my question are:
1) Why does the sentence use "focused", not "focusing"?
2) Generally, isn't using past participle in modifier means the modifier is in passive-voice? i.e. "Satisfied by the quality of the work, John proceeded to pay the contractor"
3) Does using "focused" have anything to do with an act of having completed something in the past in this modifier context?
Archived Topic
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This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
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10 Oct 2013, 17:53
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clafikraz
Hi,
I am not an expert but as for as i know. . Focused is verb ed modifier and Subject of the sentence is Our Instructor.
After the sentence is corrected "Was assigned" is the verb.
Regards,
Rrsnathan.
11 Oct 2013, 21:55
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The use of the past participle in the MGMAT example you cited is due to tense and meaning. The textbook 'was' (in the past) so it should be 'focused' (in the past). Also, the textbook was already written and printed so it would make sense that the textbook was 'focused'. I wouldn't say there is a preference of participle based on active or passive voice.
A few words on passive vs active. The active voice is when the subject is doing the action in the sentence - 'I hit the ball'. I am the subject and I did the action. The passive voice is when the subject receives the action - 'The ball was hit by me.' The ball is now the subject and it's receiving my action.
FYI- the GMAT does not really have a preference towards active or passive voice.
KW
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Posted from my mobile device
A few words on passive vs active. The active voice is when the subject is doing the action in the sentence - 'I hit the ball'. I am the subject and I did the action. The passive voice is when the subject receives the action - 'The ball was hit by me.' The ball is now the subject and it's receiving my action.
FYI- the GMAT does not really have a preference towards active or passive voice.
KW
Posted from my mobile device
Posted from my mobile device
Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Verbal Questions Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
