Modifiers

Adjectives and adverbs

Adjectives and adverbs are the simplest form of modifiers. An adjective is a word used
to add something to the meaning of a noun, pronoun or gerund.
An adverb is a word used to add something to the meaning of a verb, an adjective,
another adverb, a gerund, or an entire sentence.

1) We sometimes confuse adjectives and adverbs.

a) Mei Lei looks beautiful and dresses beautifully.[beautiful is an adjective and
follows the linking verb looks, beautifully is an adverb and modifies the verb
dresses].
b) Abel quit early in the game.[here early is an adverb and modifies the verb quit].
c) Abel left early morning.[here early is an adjective and modifies the noun
morning].
d) David arrived late.[here late is an adverb and modifies the verb arrived. Note
the form of the adverb late, we do not suffix ly in the end. In fact, lately is also
an adverb and means recently. We have been doing yoga lately].
e) He is late.[here late is an adjective and follows the linking verb is].
f) Ann ran fast.[here fast is an adverb and modifies the verb ran. Note that there is
no word fastly in English].
Good and well: While good is an adjective, well may be an adjective meaning healthy
or an adverb meaning in a nice manner/properly.
a) Ravi is a good boy.[the adjective good modifies the noun boy].
b) Rahul is well.[here well is used as an adjective and follows the linking verb is].
c) Rahul has done well.[here well is used as an adverb and modifies the verb done].
1) [Q40, OG12] Dr. Tonegawa won the Nobel Prize for discovering how the body can
constantly change its genes to fashion a seeming unlimited number of antibodies,
each specifically targeted at an invading microbe or foreign substance.
(A) seeming unlimited number of antibodies, each specifically targeted at
(B) seeming unlimited number of antibodies, each targeted specifically to
(C) seeming unlimited number of antibodies, all specifically targeted at
(D) seemingly unlimited number of antibodies, all of them targeted specifically to
(E) seemingly unlimited number of antibodies, each targeted specifically at
2) [Q38, OG Verbal, SE] A study commissioned by the Department of Agriculture
showed that if calves exercise and associated with other calves, they will require less
medication and gain weight quicker than do those raised in confinement.
(A) associated with other calves, they will require less medication and gain weight
quicker than do
(B) associated with other calves, they require less medication and gain weight quicker
than
(C) associate with other calves, they required less medication and will gain weight
quicker than do
(D) associate with other calves, they have required less medication and will gain weight
more quickly than do
(E) associate with other calves, they require less medication and gain weight more
quickly than

3) [Q48, OG Verbal, SE] Reporting that one of its many problems had been the
recent extended sales slump in women's apparel, the seven-store retailer said it would
start a three-month liquidation sale in all of its stores.
(A) its many problems had been the recent
(B) its many problems has been the recently
(C) its many problems is the recently
(D) their many problems is the recent
(E) their many problems had been the recent
4) [Q33, OG Verbal, FE] Carbon-14 dating reveals that the megalithic monuments in
Brittany are nearly 2,000 years as old as any of their supposed Mediterranean
predecessors.
(A) as old as any of their supposed
(B) older than any of their supposed
(C) as old as their supposed
(D) older than any of their supposedly
(E) as old as their supposedly

2) Sometimes the same word can act as an adjective and an adverb, in different
options, in a sentence correction problem. The word, appearing in different positions,
may change the meaning of the entire sentence or make the sentence nonsensical. The
placement of an article may also change the meaning of a sentence.
a) I am only late.
b) Only I am late.
c) The toys were all broken.
d) All the toys were broken.
e) Sachin is one of the best cricketers the world has ever seen, only surpassed by Don
Bradman, the greatest cricketer of all time.
f) Sachin is one of the best cricketers the world has ever seen, surpassed only by Don
Bradman, the greatest cricketer of all time.
g) Tom spent the more than $500 he had.
h) Tom spent more than the $500 he had.
1) [Q5, OG12] Diabetes, together with its serious complications, ranks as the nation's
third leading cause of death, surpassed only by heart disease and cancer.
(A) ranks as the nation's third leading cause of death, surpassed only
(B) rank as the nation's third leading cause of death, only surpassed
(C) has the rank of the nation's third leading cause of death, only surpassed
(D) are the nation's third leading causes of death, surpassed only
(E) have been ranked as the nation's third leading causes of death, only surpassed
2) [Q137, OG10] In 1982 the median income for married-couple families with a wageearning wife was $9,000 more than a family where the husband only was employed.
(A) a family where the husband only
(B) of a family where only the husband
(C) that for families in which only the husband
(D) a family in which only the husband
(E) those of families in which the husband only

3) [Q74, OG Verbal, SE] While some academicians believe that business ethics should
be integrated into every business course, others say that students will take ethics
seriously only if it would be taught as a separately required course.
(A) only if it would be taught as a separately required course
(B) only if it is taught as a separate, required course
(C) if it is taught only as a course required separately
(D) if it was taught only as a separate and required course
(E) if it would only be taught as a required course, separately
4) [Q154, OG10] In 1791 Robert Carter III, one of the wealthiest plantation owners in
Virginia, stunned his family, friends, and neighbors by filing a deed of emancipation,
setting free the more than 500 slaves who were legally considered his property.
(A) setting free the more than 500 slaves who were legally considered
(B) setting free more than the 500 slaves legally considered as
(C) and set free more than 500 slaves, who were legally considered as
(D) and set free more than the 500 slaves who were legally considered
(E) and he set free the more than 500 slaves who were legally considered as
Also refer Q30 OG11.

Phrases and clauses as modifiers

Phrases and clauses can also act as modifiers. Of special interest to GMAT are participle
phrases and relative clauses.
Participle Phrases [Present Participles and Past Participles]
A participle is a verb form that has the force of a verb and an adjective. While a present
participle ends in ing, a past participle ends in ed,-d,-t,-en, or n.
Ex. a) Knocking at the gate, Ram demanded admission.
b) Loudly shouting for help, the old woman ran out of the house.
c) Blinded by a dust storm, the group fell into disorder.
d) Deceived by his friends, Tom lost all hope.
e) Driven by hunger, Harry stole a piece of bread.
f) Coming out of the departmental store, Johns wallet was stolen.
g) The child swimming in the pool is mine.
h) The girl killed in the accident was my only sister.
i) The toy bought last week was broken by the child.
j) The child, thinking all was safe, attempted to cross the road.
k) The growth of the railroads led to the abolition of local times, determined
by when the sun reached the observers meridian and differing from city to
city, and to the establishment of regional times.
l) Rohit, determined to top the exam, studied 12 hours a day.
m) We met a girl carrying a basket of flowers.
n) He saw a monkey coming out of the kitchen.
o) The manager reprimanded the man pounding on the table.
p) He saw a monkey, coming out of the kitchen.
q) The manager reprimanded the man, pounding on the table.
r) He crossed the English Channel, swimming as fast as he could.
s) The Hubble telescope detected 3 new planets in the outer space, bringing
to 16 the number of planets discovered this year.
t) He danced the whole night, causing his legs pain.
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u) The investigators examined the site destroyed by fire.

v) Tom loves his house, built by his grandfather 70 years ago.
1) [Q25, OG12] Based on accounts of various ancient writers, scholars have
painted a sketchy picture of the activities of an all-female cult that, perhaps as early
as the sixth century B.C., worshipped a goddess known in Latin as Bona Dea, the
good goddess.
(A) Based on accounts of various ancient writers,
(B) Basing it on various ancient writers accounts,
(C) With accounts of various ancient writers used for a basis,
(D) By the accounts of various ancient writers they used,
(E) Using accounts of various ancient writers,
2) [Q68, OG12] The first trenches that were cut into a 500-acre site at Tell
Hamoukar, Syria, have yielded strong evidence for centrally administered
complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East that were arising
simultaneously with but independently of the more celebrated city-states of
southern Mesopotamia, in what is now southern Iraq.
(A) that were cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar, Syria, have yielded strong
evidence for centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the
Middle East that were arising simultaneously with but
(B) that were cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar, Syria, yields strong
evidence that centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the
Middle East were arising simultaneously with but also
(C) having been cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar, Syria, have yielded
strong evidence that centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of
the Middle East were arising simultaneously but
(D) cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar, Syria, yields strong evidence of
centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East
arising simultaneously but also
(E) cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar, Syria, have yielded strong evidence
that centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East
arose simultaneously with but
3) [Q93, OG11] By a vote of 9 to 0, the Supreme Court awarded the Central
Intelligence Agency broad discretionary powers enabling it to withhold from the
public the identities of its sources of intelligence information.
(A) enabling it to withhold from the public
(B) for it to withhold from the public
(C) for withholding disclosure to the public of
(D) that enable them to withhold from public disclosure
(E) that they can withhold public disclosure of

4) [QD45, OG12] In 1923, the Supreme Court declared a minimum wage for
women and children in the District of Columbia as unconstitutional, and ruling that
it was a form of price-fixing, as such, an abridgment of the right of contract.
A) the Supreme Court declared a minimum wage for women and children in the District
of Columbia as unconstitutional, and
B) the Supreme Court declared as unconstitutional a minimum wage for women and
children in the District of Columbia, and
C) the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional a minimum wage for women and
children in the District of Columbia,
D) a minimum wage for women and children in the District of Columbia was declared
unconstitutional by the Supreme Court,
E) when the Supreme Court declared a minimum wage for women and children in the
District of Columbia as unconstitutional,
5) [Q47, OG12] Five fledgling sea eagles left their nests in western Scotland this
summer, bringing to 34 the number of wild birds successfully raised since transplants
from Norway began in 1975.
(A) bringing
(B) and brings
(C) and it brings
(D) and it brought
(E) and brought
6) [Q71, OG11] The cameras of the Voyager II spacecraft detected six small, previously
unseen moons circling Uranus, which doubles to twelve the number of satellites now
known as orbiting the distant planet.
(A) which doubles to twelve the number of satellites now known as orbiting
(B) doubling to twelve the number of satellites now known to orbit
(C) which doubles to twelve the number of satellites now known in orbit around
(D) doubling to twelve the number of satellites now known as orbiting
(E) which doubles to twelve the number of satellites now known that orbit
7) [Q28, OG12] Building on civilizations that preceded them in coastal Peru, the
Mochica developed their own elaborate society, based on cultivating such crops like
corn and beans, the harvesting of fish and shellfish, and exploiting other wild and
domestic resources.
(A) based on cultivating such crops like corn and beans, the harvesting of fish and
shellfish, and exploiting
(B) based on the cultivation of such crops as corn and beans, the harvesting of fish and
seafood, and the exploitation of
(C) and basing it on the cultivation of crops like corn and beans, harvesting fish and
seafood, and the exploiting of
(D) and they based it on their cultivation of crops such as corn and beans, the harvest of
fish and seafood, and exploiting
(E) and they based it on their cultivating such crops like corn and beans, their harvest of
fish and shellfish, and they exploited
Also refer Q83, OG Verbal, SE and Q56 OG12.

Exception: An end modifier introduced by a present participle and separated by

commas may refer back to an in between noun in the previous clause. Such a
construction is considered correct.
a) I watched the sun rise over the ridge, blazing over houses, farms, and fields.
b) I saw the monkey in the kitchen, hanging on the fan and swirling its tail.
c) Meg met Tom in the corridor, laughing heartily about what had happened in the class.
1) [GMATPREP] United States Senator Daniel Inouye was appointed to several posts
within the Democratic Party during his first term, that included assistant majority whip
and vice-chair of the Democratic Senatorial Committee.
(A) that included
(B) which includes
(C) including
(D) some of which were
(E) among them being
2) [GMATPREP] Among lower-paid workers, union members are less likely than nonunion members to be enrolled in lower-end insurance plans imposing stricter limits on
medical services and requiring doctors to see more patients, and spend less time
with each.
(A) imposing stricter limits on medical services and requiring doctors to see more
patients, and spend
(B) imposing stricter limits on medical services, requiring doctors to see more patients,
and spending
(C) that impose stricter limits on medical services, require doctors to see more patients,
and spend
(D) that impose stricter limits on medical services and require doctors to see more
patients, spending
(E) that impose stricter limits on medical services, requiring doctors to see more
patients and spending

Exception: An end modifier introduced by a past participle and separated by commas,

like a present participle, may refer back to the subject of the previous clause.
a) Sheila ignored the dog and the TV set, deeply engrossed in the new book-of-themonth that had come in the mail.
b) He rushed to the hospital, shocked by the news.
[Q5, OG12] Diabetes, together with its serious complications, ranks as the nation's
third leading cause of death, surpassed only by heart disease and cancer.
(A) ranks as the nation's third leading cause of death, surpassed only
(B) rank as the nation's third leading cause of death, only surpassed
(C) has the rank of the nation's third leading cause of death, only surpassed
(D) are the nation's third leading causes of death, surpassed only
(E) have been ranked as the nation's third leading causes of death, only surpassed

Relative Clauses
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1) Relative clauses are adjective clauses introduced by relative pronouns. Examples of

relative pronouns are who, whom, whose, that, which, in which, when, and where.
2) The pronoun which and that can only refer to objects, events or unnamed animals;
they cannot be used to refer to people [Q89, OG11]. The pronoun who and whom can
refer to people, or animals intimate with people; they cannot refer to objects, events or
unnamed animals. The pronoun that must not be used to refer to people [refer Q130,
OG11; Q107, OG Verbal, SE]. The pronoun whose can refer to people, animals, or
objects. The pronoun when should be used to refer to time.[Q8, OG Verbal, SE].
3) A relative pronoun refers back to the immediately preceding noun and introduces an
adjectival clause. This adjectival clause can be essential or non-essential.
a) He called up his father, who lived in a suburb in London.
b) He called up his uncle who lived in a suburb in London.
c) Tom killed the dog that bit him twice in the compound.
4) Generally that is used to introduce essential adjective clauses, and which is used to
introduce non-essential adjective clauses. Of late, GMAT has been moving away from
this rule-compare explanations to Q7 (OG11) and Q10 (OG12). In the explanation to
Q10, OG12, GMAT writes, Some writers follow the convention that which can only be
used for non-restrictive clauses (= non-essential clauses), but insistence on this rule is
controversial. Who can introduce both essential and non-essential adjective clauses.
1) [GMATPREP] By merging its two publishing divisions, the company will increase
their share of the country's $21 billion book market from 6 percent to 10 percent, a
market ranging from obscure textbooks to mass-market paperbacks.
(A) their share of the country's $21 billion book market from 6 percent to 10 percent, a
market ranging
(B) from 6 percent to 10 percent its share of the $21 billion book market in the country,
which ranges
(C) to 10 percent from 6 percent in their share of the $21 billion book market in the
country, a market ranging
(D) in its share, from 6 percent to 10 percent, of the $21 billion book market in the
country, which ranges
(E) to 10 percent from 6 percent its share of the country's $21 billion book market,
which ranges
2) [Q42, OG, Verbal, SE] Twenty-two feet long and 10 feet in diameter, the AM-1 is one
of the many new satellites that is a part of 15 years effort of subjecting the interactions
of Earths atmosphere, oceans, and land surfaces to detailed scrutiny from space.
(A) satellites that is a part of 15 years effort of subjecting the interactions of Earths
atmosphere, oceans, and land surfaces
(B) satellites, which is a part of a 15-year effort to subject how Earths atmosphere,
oceans, and land surfaces interact
(C) satellites, part of 15 years effort of subjecting how Earths atmosphere, oceans, and
land surfaces are interacting
(D) satellites that are part of an effort for 15 years that has subjected the interactions of
Earths atmosphere, oceans, and land surfaces
(E) satellites that are part of a 15-year effort to subject the interactions of Earths
atmosphere, oceans, and land surfaces
3) [Q71, OG Verbal, SE] Analysts blamed Mays sluggish retail sales on unexciting
merchandise as well as the weather, colder and wetter than was usual in some

regions, which slowed sales of barbecue grills and lawn furniture.

(A) colder and wetter than was usual in some regions, which slowed
(B) which was colder and wetter than usual in some regions, slowing
(C) since it was colder and wetter than usually in some regions, which slowed
(D) being colder and wetter than usually in some regions, slowing
(E) having been colder and wetter than was usual in some regions and slowed
4) [Q70, OG12] His studies of ice-polished rocks in his Alpine homeland, far outside
the range of present-day glaciers, led Louis Agassiz in 1837 to propose the concept of
an age in which great ice sheets had existed in now currently temperate areas.
(A) in which great ice sheets had existed in now currently temperate areas
(B) in which great ice sheets existed in what are now temperate areas
(C) when great ice sheets existed where there were areas now temperate
(D) when great ice sheets had existed in current temperate areas
(E) when great ice sheets existed in areas now that are temperate
5) [Q8, OG VERBAL, SE] As the cost of wireless service has steadily dropped over
the last year and as mobile phones have become increasingly common, many people are
finding that they can avoid toll charges on their home phones, using their mobile
phones for making long-distance calls at night or on weekends, at a time which
many wireless companies provide unlimited airtime for a small monthly fee
(A) phones, using their mobile phones for making long-distance calls at night or on
weekends, at a time which
(B) phones, instead using mobile phones to make long-distance calls during the night of
weekends, during which
(C) phones by using their mobile phones to make long-distance calls at night or on
weekends, when
(D) phones using mobile phones for making long-distance calls during the night or
weekends, when
(E) phones when using their mobile phones to make long-distance calls at night or on
weekends, a time which

Exception: Sometimes the relative clause may be separated from the noun it refers by
other modifiers or phrases. Such intervening modifiers are generally prepositional in
nature and higher in importance.
a) The aura of invincibility that surrounded her was so strong that it almost felt
palpable.[the modifier that surrounded her modifies the noun aura, but is placed far
from it].
b) The new methodology of extracting gold from mines, which came into vogue in the
late 18th century, was not only cost effective but also practical.[the modifier which
came into vogue in the late 18th century modifies the noun methodology, but is placed
far from it].

1) [Q26, OG12] Emily Dickinson's letters to Susan Huntington Dickinson were written
over a period beginning a few years before Susan's marriage to Emily's brother and
ending shortly before Emily's death in 1886, outnumbering her letters to anyone else.
(A) Dickinson were written over a period beginning a few years before Susan's marriage to
Emily's brother and ending shortly before Emily's death in 1886, outnumbering
(B) Dickinson were written over a period that begins a few years before Susan's
marriage to Emily's brother and ended shortly before Emily's death in 1886, outnumber
(C) Dickinson, written over a period beginning a few years before Susan's marriage to
Emily's brother and that ends shortly before Emily's death in 1886 and outnumbering
(D) Dickinson, which were written over a period beginning a few years before Susan's
marriage to Emily's brother, ending shortly before Emily's death in 1886, and outnumbering
(E) Dickinson, which were written over a period beginning a few years before Susan's
marriage to Emily's brother and ending shortly before Emily's death in 1886, outnumber
.
2) [Q116, OG11] Out of Americas fascination with all things antique have grown a
market for bygone styles of furniture and fixtures that are bringing back the chaise
lounge, the overstuffed sofa, and the claw-footed bathtub.
(A) things antique have grown a market for bygone styles of furniture and fixtures that
are bringing
(B) things antique has grown a market for bygone styles of furniture and fixtures that is
bringing
(C) things that are antiques has grown a market for bygone styles of furniture and
fixtures that bring
(D) antique things have grown a market for bygone styles of furniture and fixtures that
are bringing
(E) antique things has grown a market for bygone styles of furniture and fixtures that bring
The noun + noun modifier construction (Special type of modifier)
This modifying construction consists of a noun followed by a modifier, which is generally a
participle phrase or a relative clause. The noun in the modifying construction may
sometimes refer back to the whole preceding clause.
a) The boy came running into the room, his face and hands covered with mud.
b) She walked along slowly, the infant held tightly in her arms.
c) Water vaporises to form clouds, a phenomenon called evaporation.
d) The year 1984 witnessed mass slaughtering of Sikhs in India, an episode marked by
bitter animosity between Hindus and Sikhs.
e) He pointed at Mrs. Wolfe, the woman who wore the hard hat and the tool belt.
f) The scientist showed a direct relationship between the two formulae, a discovery that
was applauded by the scientific fraternity.
1) [Q108, OG Verbal, SE] Sound can travel through water for enormous distances,
prevented from dissipating its acoustic energy as a result of boundaries in the ocean
created by water layers of different temperatures and densities.
(A) prevented from dissipating its acoustic energy as a result of
(B) prevented from having its acoustic energy dissipated by
(C) its acoustic energy prevented from dissipating by
(D) its acoustic energy prevented from being dissipated as a result of
(E) preventing its acoustic energy from dissipating by

2) [Q96, OG Verbal, SE] Floating in the waters of the equatorial Pacific, an array of buoys
collects and transmits data on long-term interactions between the ocean and the
atmosphere, interactions that affect global climate.
(A) atmosphere, interactions that affect
(B) atmosphere, with interactions affecting
(C) atmosphere that affects
(D) atmosphere that is affecting
(E) atmosphere as affects
3) [Q100, OG Verbal, SE] Sixty-five million years ago, according to some scientists, an
asteroid bigger than Mount Everest slammed into North America, which, causing plant
and animal extinctions, marks the end of the geologic era known as the Cretaceous
Period.
(A) which, causing plant and animal extinctions, marks
(B) which caused the plant and animal extinctions marking
(C) and causing plant and animal extinctions that mark
(D) an event that caused plant and animal extinctions, which marks
(E) an event that caused the plant and animal extinctions that mark
4) [Q75, OG Verbal, SE] Scientists have observed large concentrations of heavy-metal
deposits in the upper twenty centimeters of Baltic Sea sediments, which are consistent
with the growth of industrial activity there.
(A) Baltic Sea sediments, which are consistent with the growth of industrial activity there
(B) Baltic Sea sediments, where the growth of industrial activity is consistent with these
findings
(C) Baltic Sea sediments, findings consistent with its growth of industrial activity
(D) sediments from the Baltic Sea, findings consistent with the growth of industrial activity
in the area
(E) sediments from the Baltic Sea, with the growth of industrial activity there

Miscellaneous

1) Dangling modifier: A dangling modifier is a modifier that lacks a noun referent.

a) Before shifting the hospital from the present location, the public must be consulted.
[Incorrect-who will shift the hospital from the present location? the given modifier has
no noun to support it. This is an example of a dangling modifier].
b) Before shifting the hospital from the present location, the hospital authorities must
consult the public.[Correct].
c) Blinded by the dust storm, the temple was not visible.[Incorrect-who was blinded by
the dust storm? the given modifier has no noun to support it. This is an example of a
dangling modifier].
d) Blinded by the dust storm, the devotees could not see the temple.[correct].

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[Q38, OG Verbal] Using a Doppler ultrasound device, fetal heartbeats can be

detected by the twelfth week of pregnancy.
(A) Using a Doppler ultrasound device, fetal heart-beats can be detected by the twelfth
week of pregnancy.
(B) Fetal heartbeats can be detected by the twelfth week of pregnancy, using a Doppler
ultrasound device.
(C) Detecting fetal heartbeats by the twelfth week of pregnancy, a physician can use a
Doppler ultrasound device.
(D) By the twelfth week of pregnancy, fetal heartbeats can be detected using a Doppler
ultrasound device by a physician.
(E) Using a Doppler ultrasound device, a physician can detect fetal heartbeats by the
twelfth week of pregnancy.

2) Squint modifier: A squint modifier is also sometimes called a two-way modifier.

This modifying error occurs when a modifier is placed between two words/phrases and
could modify either.
a) Students who miss classes frequently fail the course.[incorrect].
b) What you hear often you will believe.[incorrect].
c) Instructors who cancel classes rarely are reprimanded.[incorrect].
[Q3, OG12] Although various eighteenth and nineteenth-century American poets had
professed an interest in Native American poetry and had pretended to imitate Native
American forms in their own works, until almost 1900,scholars and critics did not
begin seriously to study traditional Native American poetry in native languages.
(A) until almost 1900, scholars and critics did not begin seriously to study
(B)until almost 1900 scholars and critics had not begun seriously studying
(C)not until almost 1900 were scholars and critics to begin seriously to study
(D)it was not almost until 1900 when scholars and critics began to seriously study
(E)it was not until almost 1900 that scholars and critics seriously began studying

3) Adjective modifiers modify nouns. Adverbial modifiers, on the other hand, modify
verbs. Unlike adjective modifiers, adverbial modifiers need not be placed next to the
word they modify.
a) Jolly ran toward her mother with great speed.[The underlined adverbial phrase
modifies the verb ran].
b) She answered my question in a very rude manner.[The underlined adverbial phrase
modifies the verb answered].
GMAT, in order to correct a modifying error, sometimes changes an adjectival modifier
into an adverbial modifier. Such a change not only corrects the error but also shifts the
focus of the modifier from a noun [adjectival modifier] to a verb [adverbial modifier].
a) Coming out of the departmental store, Johns wallet was stolen.
The error lies in the non-underlined part. It was John and not his wallet that was coming
out of the departmental store. Since we need to correct the underlined portion, the best
that we can do is to change this participle adjective modifier into an adverbial modifier.
b) As John came out of the departmental store, Johns wallet was stolen.
Thus we have introduced an adverbial clause with the help of the subordinating
conjunction as.

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1) [GMATPREP] Although just inside the orbit of Jupiter, amateur astronomers with
good telescopes should be able to see the comet within the next few weeks.
(A) Although just inside the orbit of
(B) Although it is just inside the orbit of
(C) Just inside the orbit of
(D) Orbiting just inside
(E) Having orbited just inside
2) [Q79, OG12] Defense attorneys have occasionally argued that their clients
misconduct stemmed from a reaction to something ingested, but in attributing
criminal or delinquent behavior to some food allergy, the perpetrators are in effect
told that they are not responsible for their actions.
(A) in attributing criminal or delinquent behavior to some food allergy
(B) if criminal or delinquent behavior is attributed to an allergy to some food
(C) in attributing behavior that is criminal or delinquent to an allergy to some food
(D) if some food allergy is attributed as the cause of criminal or delinquent behavior
(E) in attributing a food allergy as the cause of criminal or delinquent behavior
3) [Q113, OG Verbal, SE] In A.D. 391, resulting from the destruction of the largest
library of the ancient world at Alexandria, later generations lost all but the Iliad and
Odyssey among Greek epics, most of the poetry of Pindar and Sappho, and dozens of
plays by Aeschylus and Euripides.
(A) resulting from the destruction of the largest library of the ancient world at Alexandria,
(B) the destroying of the largest library of the ancient world at Alexandria resulted and
(C) because of the result of the destruction of the library at Alexandria, the largest of the
ancient world,
(D) as a result of the destruction of the library at Alexandria, the largest of the ancient world,
(E) Alexandrias largest library of the ancient world was destroyed, and the result was
4) [Q141, OG10] Unlike transplants between identical twins, whose genetic
endowment is the same, all patients receiving hearts or other organs must take antirejection drugs for the rest of their lives.
(A) Unlike transplants between identical twins, whose genetic endowment is the same
(B) Besides transplants involving identical twins with the same genetic endowment
(C) Unless the transplant involves identical twins who have the same genetic endowment
(D) Aside from a transplant between identical twins with the same genetic endowment
(E) Other than transplants between identical twins, whose genetic endowment is the
same

4) An opening adjectival modifier should not be intervened by a comma. In case of

such an intervention, the opening modifier absurdly modifies the word that immediately
follows the comma.
a) Active in the night, but they are shy from inside, bats are considered the most scary
animals on earth.[Incorrect].
b) Active in the night but shy from inside, bats are considered the most scary animals on
earth.[Correct].
c) Rarely found in open areas, having the characteristics of a deadly virus, the Ebola
virus was first discovered in the marshy regions of Sahara desert.[Incorrect].
d) Rarely found in open areas and having the characteristics of a deadly virus, the Ebola
virus was first discovered in the marshy regions of Sahara desert.[Correct].
12

[D44, OG12] Seldom more than 40 feet wide and 12 feet deep, but it ran 363 miles
across the rugged wilderness of upstate New York, the Erie Canal connected the
Hudson River at Albany to the Great Lakes at Buffalo, providing the port of New York
City with a direct water link to the heartland of the North American continent.
(A) Seldom more than 40 feet wide and 12 feet deep, but it ran 363 miles across the
rugged wilderness of upstate New York, the Erie Canal connected
(B) Seldom more than 40 feet wide and 12 feet deep but running 363 miles across the
rugged wilderness of upstate New York, the Erie Canal connected
(C) It was seldom more than 40 feet wide and 12 feet deep, and ran 363 miles across the
rugged wilderness of upstate New York, but the Erie Canal, connecting
(D) The Erie Canal was seldom more than 40 feet wide or 12 feet deep and it ran 363
miles across the rugged wilderness of upstate New York, which connected
(E) The Erie Canal, seldom more than 40 feet wide and 12 feet deep, but running 363
miles across the rugged wilderness of upstate New York, connecting

5) In the same sentence, different modifiers may be introduced by different parts of

speech. While a present participle modifies the doer, the past participle modifies the
person on whom action is done.
a) Coming out of the departmental store, John realised that his wallet was stolen.
b) Thrown out of the departmental store, John realised that his wallet was stolen.
[GMATPREP] For the farmer who takes care to keep them cool, providing them with
high-energy feed, and milking them regularly, Holstein cows are producing an
average of 2,275 gallons of milk each per year.
(A) providing them with high-energy feed, and milking them regularly, Holstein cows
are producing
(B) providing them with high-energy feed, and milked regularly, the Holstein cow
produces
(C) provided with high-energy feed, and milking them regularly, Holstein cows are
producing
(D) provided with high-energy feed, and milked regularly, the Holstein cow produces
(E) provided with high-energy feed, and milked regularly, Holstein cows will produce

13

6) Sometimes we may encounter several modifiers modifying the same noun. In such
cases it is not possible to put all the modifiers immediately next to the noun they
modify. The modifiers come in a line one after the other and refer back to the same
noun. The modifiers come in order of priority.
[Q107, OG12] Originally developed for detecting air pollutants, a technique called
proton-induced x-ray emission, which can quickly analyze the chemical elements
in almost any substance without destroying it, is finding uses in medicine,
archaeology, and criminology.
(A) Originally developed for detecting air pollutants, a technique called proton-induced
x-ray emission, which can quickly analyze the chemical elements in almost any
substance without destroying it,
(B) Originally developed for detecting air pollutants, having the ability to analyze the
chemical elements in almost any substance without destroying it, a technique called
proton induced x-ray emission
(C) A technique originally developed for detecting air pollutants, called proton-induced
x-ray emission, which can quickly analyze the chemical elements in almost any
substance without destroying it,
(D) A technique originally developed for detecting air pollutants, called proton-induced
x-ray emission, which has the ability to analyze the chemical elements in almost any
substance quickly and without destroying it,
(E) A technique that was originally developed for detecting air pollutants and has the
ability to analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance quickly and without
destroying the substance, called proton-induced x-ray emission,

7) A modifier in a sentence may be followed by another modifier that modifies the last
noun of the first modifier.
1) [Q97, OG12] Unlike Schoenberg's 12-tone system that dominated the music of
the post war period, Bartok founded no school and left behind only a handful of
disciples.
(A) Schoenberg's 12-tone system that dominated
(B) Schoenberg and his 12-tone system which dominated
(C) Schoenberg, whose 12-tone system dominated
(D) the 12-tone system of Schoenberg that has dominated
(E) Schoenberg and the12-tone system, dominating
2) [Q105, OG12] Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating
them with her narratives, capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural
world.
(A) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her
narratives,
(B) In her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, Beatrix
Potter
(C) In her book illustrations, which she carefully coordinated with her narratives,
Beatrix Potter
(D) Carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations
(E) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinated them with her
narratives and

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8) The phrase in addition to is worth mentioning. GMAT uses in addition to in 2

different ways.
a) In addition to apples, oranges are liked by Ram.
b) In addition to apples, Ram likes oranges.
1) [GMATPREP] In addition to her work on the Miocene hominid fossil record, Mary
Leakey contributed to archaeology through her discovery of the earliest direct
evidence of hominid activity and through her painstaking documentation of East
African cave paintings.
(A) Mary Leakey contributed to archaeology through her discovery of the earliest direct
evidence of hominid activity and through her painstaking documentation of
(B) Mary Leakey contributed to archaeology by her discovery of the earliest direct
evidence of hominid activity and painstakingly documenting
(C) Mary Leakey was a contributor to archaeology by discovering the earliest direct
evidence of hominid activity and with her painstaking documentation of
(D) Mary Leakey's contributions to archaeology include her discovery of the earliest
direct evidence of hominid activity and painstakingly documenting
(E) Mary Leakey's contributions to archaeology include her discovering the earliest
direct evidence of hominid activity and painstaking documentation of
2) [GMATPREP] In addition to her work on the Miocene hominid fossil record, Mary
Leakey contributed to archaeology with her discovery of the earliest direct
evidence of hominid activity and painstakingly documenting East African cave
paintings.
(A) Leakey contributed to archaeology with her discovery of the earliest direct evidence
of hominid activity and painstakingly documenting
(B) Leakey contributed to archaeology by her discovery of the earliest direct evidence
of hominid activity and by painstakingly documenting
(C) Leakey was a contributor to archaeology with her discovery of the earliest direct
evidence of hominid activity and with her painstaking documentation of
(D) Leakey's contributions to archaeology include her discovery of the earliest direct
evidence of hominid activity and her painstaking documentation of
(E) Leakey's contributions to archaeology include her discovering the earliest direct
evidence of hominid activity and painstaking documentation of

9) Modifiers need not always be introduced by participles or relative clauses.

Modifiers can also be introduced by other phrases.
1) [Q58, OG12] A leading figure in the Scottish enlightenment, Adam Smiths two
major books are to democratic capitalism what Marxs Das Kapital is to socialism.
(A) Adam Smiths two major books are to democratic capitalism what
(B) Adam Smiths two major books are to democratic capitalism like
(C) Adam Smiths two major books are to democratic capitalism just as
(D) Adam Smith wrote two major books that are to democratic capitalism similar to
(E) Adam Smith wrote two major books that are to democratic capitalism what

15

2) [Q100, OG12] The stars, some of them at tremendous speeds, are in motion just
as the planets are, yet being so far away from the Earth that their apparent positions in
the sky do not change enough for their movement to be observed during a single human
lifetime.
(A) The stars, some of them at tremendous speeds, are in motion just as the planets are,
yet being
(B) Like the planets, the stars are in motion, some of them at tremendous speeds, but
they are
(C) Although like the planets the stars are in motion, some of them at tremendous
speeds, yet
(D) As the planets, the stars are in motion, some of them at tremendous speeds, but they
are
(E) The stars are in motion like the planets, some of which at tremendous speeds are in
motion but
3) [GMATPREP] Currently 26 billion barrels a year, world consumption of oil is
rising at a rate of 2 percent annually.
(A) world consumption of oil is rising at a rate of
(B) the world consumption is consuming oil at an increasing rate of
(C) the world's oil is being consumed at the increasing rate of
(D) the rise in the rate of the world's oil consumption is
(E) oil is consumed by the world at an increasing rate of
4) [GMATPREP] With no natural predators and expanses of green suburban
neighborhoods that allow no hunting, wildlife officials estimate the New Jersey
deer population to have grown to exceed 175,000.
(A) With no natural predators and expanses of green suburban neighborhoods that allow
no hunting, wildlife officials estimate the New Jersey deer population to have
(B) With no natural predators and with expanses of green suburban neighborhoods that
do not allow hunting, wildlife officails' estimate of deer population in New Jersey has
(C) With no natural predators and with expanses of green suburban neighborhoods
where there is no hunting, the Deer Population in New Jersey, wildlife officials
estimate, has
(D) Without natural predators and no hunting allowed in expanses of green suburban
neighborhoods, New Jersey has a deer population that wildlife officials estimate to have
(E) Without natural predators and with expanses of green suburban neighbourhoods
where there is no hunting, wildlife officials in New Jersey estimate a deer population
that has

16

10) Assorted Questions

1) [GMATPREP] Until recently, the Inuit people led a nomadic existence,
sheltering in igloos, the ice-block domes that are peculiar to north-central Canada, and
in structures made of stones, bones, driftwood, and skins.
(A) Until recently, the Inuit people led a nomadic existence, sheltering
(B) During recent times, the Inuit people lead a nomadic existence, sheltering
(C) In the times that are recent, the Inuit people led a nomadic existence, sheltered
(D) Up until recently, the Inuit people, leading a nomadic existence, have sheltered
(E) Until recent times, leading a nomadic existence, the Inuit people were sheltered
2) [GMATPREP] Most of the purported health benefits of tea comes from
antioxidantscompounds also found in beta carotene, vitamin E, and vitamin C
that inhibit the formation of plaque along the bodys blood vessels.
(A) comes from antioxidantscompounds also found in beta carotene, vitamin E, and
vitamin C that
(B) comes from antioxidantscompounds that are also found in beta carotene, vitamin
E, and vitamin C, and they
(C) come from antioxidantscompounds also found in beta carotene, vitamin E, and
vitamin C, and
(D) come from antioxidantscompounds that are also found in beta carotene, vitamin
E, and vitamin C and that
(E) come from antioxidantscompounds also found in beta carotene, vitamin E, and
vitamin C, and they
3) Introduced by Italian merchants resident in London during the sixteenth century, in
England life insurance remained until the end of the seventeenth century a
specialized contract between individual underwriters and their clients, typically
being ship owners, overseas merchants, or professional moneylenders.
(A) in England life insurance remained until the end of the seventeenth century a
specialized contract between individual underwriters and their clients, typically being
(B) in England life insurance had remained until the end of the seventeenth century a
specialized contract between individual underwriters with their clients, who typically
were
(C) until the end of the seventeenth century life insurance in England had remained a
specialized contract between individual underwriters and their clients, typically
(D) life insurance in England remained until the end of the seventeenth century a
specialized contract between individual underwriters and their clients, typically
(E) life insurance remained until the end of the seventeenth century in England a
specialized contract between individual underwriters with their clients, who typically
were

17

4) Although she had been known as an effective legislator first in the Texas Senate and
later in the United States House of Representatives, not until Barbara Jordans
participation in the hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon in
1974 was she made a nationally recognized figure, as it was televised nationwide.
(A) later in the United States House of Representatives, not until Barbara Jordans
participation in the hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon in
1974 was she made a nationally recognized figure, as it was
(B) later in the United States House of Representatives, Barbara Jordan did not become
a nationally recognized figure until 1974, when she participated in the hearings on the
impeachment of President Richard Nixon, which were
(C) later in the United States House of Representatives, it was not until 1974 that
Barbara Jordan became a nationally recognized figure, with her participation in the
hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, which was
(D) then also later in the United States House of Representatives, not until 1974 did
Barbara Jordan become a nationally recognized figure, as she participated in the
hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, being
(E) then also later in the United States House of Representatives, Barbara Jordan did not
become a nationally recognized figure until 1974, when she participated in the hearings
on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, which was
5) The Chicago and Calumet Rivers originally flowed into the St. Lawrence by way
of Lake Michigan, but having been redirected by constructing canals so that the
water now empties into the Mississippi by way of the Illinois River.
(A) Rivers originally flowed into the St. Lawrence by way of Lake Michigan, but
having been redirected by constructing
(B) Rivers had originally flowed into the St. Lawrence by way of Lake Michigan, but
they have been redirected by constructing
(C) Rivers, which originally flowed into the St. Lawrence by way of Lake Michigan but
have been redirected by the construction of
(D) Rivers, originally flowing into the St. Lawrence by way of Lake Michigan, but
having been redirected by the construction of
(E) Rivers, originally flowing into the St. Lawrence by way of Lake Michigan, have
been redirected through the construction of
6) Until Berta and Ernst Scharrer established the concept of neurosecretion in 1928,
scientists believed that either cells secreted hormones, which made them endocrine
cells and thus part of the endocrine system, or conducted electrical impulses, in which
case they were nerve cells and thus part of the nervous system.
(A) either cells secreted hormones, which made them
(B) either cells secreted hormones, making them
(C) either cells secreted hormones and were
(D) cells either secreted hormones, in which case they were
(E) cells either secreted hormones, which made them

18

7) Asset allocators create portfolios, often in the form of mutual funds, with the
intention to turn in good results in both "bull" and "bear" markets.
(A) with the intention
(B) the intention of which is
(C) intended
(D) and intending
(E) so intended as

19