Last visit was: 27 Apr 2026, 09:02 It is currently 27 Apr 2026, 09:02
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
User avatar
zhanbo
User avatar
Joined: 27 Feb 2017
Last visit: 07 Jul 2024
Posts: 1,464
Own Kudos:
2,480
Given Kudos: 114
Location: United States (WA)
GMAT 1: 760 Q50 V42
GMAT 2: 760 Q50 V42
GRE 1: Q169 V168
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 2: 760 Q50 V42
GRE 1: Q169 V168
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Posts: 1,464
Kudos: 2,480
This sentence from The Economist is poorly constructed, is it? 08 Oct 2019, 03:15
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The economist is highly recommended for GMAT / GRE test takers not only for its content but also for its writing quality. That is why I am surprised to find one sentence showing typical modifier error.

The first sentence of the article "Beyond cruise control" (https://www.economist.com/technology-qu ... se-control) reads,

Driving fast along a road outside Turin, snow-capped mountains beckon in the far distance.

Here, "Driving fast along a road outside Turin" is a present participle serving as a modifier. The subject of the sentence is "snow-capped mountains". But it is wrong to say that "snow-capped mountains" are doing the driving.

So this is a poorly constructed sentence. Agree? Is there any way to defend this sentence from such a reputable source?

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 below for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
User avatar
ccooley
User avatar
Manhattan Prep Instructor
Joined: 04 Dec 2015
Last visit: 06 Jun 2020
Posts: 931
Own Kudos:
1,658
 [1]
Given Kudos: 115
GMAT 1: 790 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 790 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Posts: 931
Kudos: 1,658
 [1]
This sentence from The Economist is poorly constructed, is it? 09 Oct 2019, 12:45
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
zhanbo
The economist is highly recommended for GMAT / GRE test takers not only for its content but also for its writing quality. That is why I am surprised to find one sentence showing typical modifier error.

The first sentence of the article "Beyond cruise control" (https://www.economist.com/technology-qu ... se-control) reads,

Driving fast along a road outside Turin, snow-capped mountains beckon in the far distance.

Here, "Driving fast along a road outside Turin" is a present participle serving as a modifier. The subject of the sentence is "snow-capped mountains". But it is wrong to say that "snow-capped mountains" are doing the driving.

So this is a poorly constructed sentence. Agree? Is there any way to defend this sentence from such a reputable source?
Show more

Excellent catch! This sentence, according to the GMAT, would be incorrect for the reason that you state.

This error shows up a lot, even in otherwise high-quality writing. Keep an eye out for it!
User avatar
zhanbo
User avatar
Joined: 27 Feb 2017
Last visit: 07 Jul 2024
Posts: 1,464
Own Kudos:
2,480
Given Kudos: 114
Location: United States (WA)
GMAT 1: 760 Q50 V42
GMAT 2: 760 Q50 V42
GRE 1: Q169 V168
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 2: 760 Q50 V42
GRE 1: Q169 V168
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Posts: 1,464
Kudos: 2,480
This sentence from The Economist is poorly constructed, is it? 09 Oct 2019, 14:11
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
ccooley
zhanbo
The economist is highly recommended for GMAT / GRE test takers not only for its content but also for its writing quality. That is why I am surprised to find one sentence showing typical modifier error.

The first sentence of the article "Beyond cruise control" (https://www.economist.com/technology-qu ... se-control) reads,

Driving fast along a road outside Turin, snow-capped mountains beckon in the far distance.

Here, "Driving fast along a road outside Turin" is a present participle serving as a modifier. The subject of the sentence is "snow-capped mountains". But it is wrong to say that "snow-capped mountains" are doing the driving.

So this is a poorly constructed sentence. Agree? Is there any way to defend this sentence from such a reputable source?

Excellent catch! This sentence, according to the GMAT, would be incorrect for the reason that you state.

This error shows up a lot, even in otherwise high-quality writing. Keep an eye out for it!
Show more

Thanks for your comment! And your scores in GMAT and GRE are my inspiration! :-)
User avatar
Hovkial
User avatar
Joined: 23 Apr 2019
Last visit: 24 Nov 2022
Posts: 802
Own Kudos:
2,604
Given Kudos: 202
Status:PhD trained. Education research, management.
Posts: 802
Kudos: 2,604
This sentence from The Economist is poorly constructed, is it? 09 Oct 2019, 15:20
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
zhanbo
The economist is highly recommended for GMAT / GRE test takers not only for its content but also for its writing quality. That is why I am surprised to find one sentence showing typical modifier error.

The first sentence of the article "Beyond cruise control" (https://www.economist.com/technology-qu ... se-control) reads,

Driving fast along a road outside Turin, snow-capped mountains beckon in the far distance.

Here, "Driving fast along a road outside Turin" is a present participle serving as a modifier. The subject of the sentence is "snow-capped mountains". But it is wrong to say that "snow-capped mountains" are doing the driving.

So this is a poorly constructed sentence. Agree? Is there any way to defend this sentence from such a reputable source?
Show more

Yes, this is a poorly constructed sentence and grammatically incorrect. What is interesting is that this type of error is very common.

This writing must have escaped the editorial process, but this is not surprising. You can see this type of error in professional and academic manuscripts as well.

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!
Moderators:
AbhishekP220108
507 posts
bhanu29
361 posts