COMMA + Verb-ing Modifier Confusion [DOER of action must make sense]

Question

As per rules, the COMMA+Verb-ING modifier should modify the action of preceding clause and should make sense with the "doer" of action. However, in certain situations it is hard to assess the "sense" of this.

For example, https://gmatclub.com/forum/analysts-bla ... 20828.html - in this question, the correct answer has a verb-ing modifier which is modifying action of preceding clause but it kind of does not make sense with the doer of this action.

Taking reference from the aforementioned example, doer of action would be "weather" - and modifier is "slowing down the sales ..."

Can weather ("do") slow down the sales? It kind of sounds absurd.

@e-gmat GMATNinja l I would really appreciate your deep insight on the confusion

ReedArnoldMPREP · Answer

Often (though not always), there is a 'cause effect' relationship with comma,--ing modifiers.

So it's not that weather 'does' something, it's that 'weather being cold' causes something (slower sales).

"...weather, which was colder and wetter than usual, slowing sales of barbecue grills and lawn furniture"

can be thought of as:

"...weather, which was colder and wetter than usual,   sales of barbecue grills and lawn furniture."

Why did sales of BBQ grills and lawn furniture slow? Because the weather was colder and wetter than usual.

The cause effect can also be reversed:

"The sword and shield were considered essential for warriors, protecting a soldier and allowing him to fight the enemy at the same time."

Can be thought of as:

"The sword and shield were considered essential for warriors   a soldier and   him to fight the enemy at the same time."

Why were they considered essential? Because they protected a solider and allowed a soldier to fight the enemy.

The other way to thin about comma,--ing is to think of them as 'while' modifiers.

"We walked down the street, whistling a song."

Means "While he walked down the street, he whistled a song." (or, I suppose, While he whistled a song, he walked down the street." Either works).

jarnugirdhar · Answer

Interesting way to look at it. Essentially, the context of the question mostly will decide what to look for. Thank you so much Reed

P.S. I recently watched video from Tweak The GMAT series in which you attempt the verbal section. It was an absolute delight

ReedArnoldMPREP · Answer

Glad it was helpful!

Yeah, the context kind of gives you the type of relationship. The way I think about it is that the action of the clause and the action of the modifier must be very closely 'linked' to justify using a modifier structure instead of a 'verb conjunction verb' structure.

COMMA + Verb-ing Modifier Confusion [DOER of action must make sense]

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