Modifiers Gist for GMAT | Verbal for GMAT PDF Download

GMAT modifiers are words or groups of words that provide more information about other elements in a sentence. They can describe a noun or pronoun-like adjectives, or they can act as adverbs by describing verbs, phrases, or other adjectives. When using modifiers on the GMAT, it's crucial that the intended meaning of the sentence remains clear, regardless of whether the modifier is a single word or a phrase and regardless of what it is describing.

What are Modifiers?

• Modifiers in GMAT are essentially a group of words that describe other units in a GMAT sentence correction, regardless of whether a sentence correction modifiers is a word or a phrase or what it modifies. 
• When it is used in a sentence, the meaning of the sentence must be absolutely clear. Modifiers can act as adjectives, describing nouns and pronouns or they can act as adverbs, describing verbs, clauses, and other adjectives.
  

Types of Modifiers

1. Adjectives: Words that modify nouns and pronouns.

• Statement: The stay in the red house across the street.
• Modifier: In this ‘red’ is the adjective modifying the house.

2. Adverbs: They modify verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.

• Statement: This is a very good book. The boy ran quickly.
• Modifier: In his example, ‘very’ and ‘quickly’ are adverbs.

3. Modifier phrases: The modifier phrases can modify an action or the doer of action. For example, ‘Looking at the clock, he noticed that he was late.’

It is important to understand that most of the modifier questions and common modifier mistakes on the GMAT exam are related to the noun modifiers since the Verb modifiers simply have looser rules as there is quite a bit of freedom in where a verb modifier could be placed in a sentence.

Modifiers Error Types

Error Type 1: Dangling Modifier GMAT

• A dangling modifier occurs in a sentence when the unit being described by the modifier is not clearly identified. The term "dangling" reflects the idea that the modifier is hanging without a clear logical connection to any element in the sentence.
• Example:
  Incorrect Statement: ‘Driving on the b-40 freeway, New York strip came into view.’
  As per the example sentence above, it appears that “New York strip” was driving, but this is absolutely wrong because as per common sense and general knowledge, we know that the New York strip is a place and it cannot drive.
  Author’s perspective: The author intended to say that at a certain point when he/she was driving on b-40 freeway, the strip came into view.
  Correct Statement: ‘Driving on the b-40 freeway, I saw the New York strip.’
  Explanation: So the corrected sentence should contain the “I” since “I” is being described by the modifier, and by changing the voice of the sentence from passive voice to active voice and introducing the term “I” to reflect the logical meaning that can be inferred from this sentence.

Error Type 2: Misplaced Modifier GMAT

• To convey meaning clearly and precisely in a sentence, the strategic placement of modifiers is crucial. The importance of this becomes apparent when modifiers are not positioned close enough to the entity they are intended to modify. In such instances, the sentence loses clarity and fails to accurately convey the intended meaning. 
• Example:
  Incorrect Statement: ‘To be grilled properly, you must preheat the oven before placing chicken in it.’
  Now, once the candidate goes through the above example statement, as the questions - what is to be grilled properly? The first reading of the sentence implies that “you” need to be grilled well. This does not make any sense and can be disregarded.
  Author’s perspective: Upon reading the sentence again, one can infer the intention of the author which could be that in order to grill the chicken well, the oven must be pre-heated. Thus, as the candidate can easily see that this sentence is not successful in communicating the meaning clearly, there is a need to correct it which can be done by simply rewording the sentence.
  Correct Statement 1: ‘To grill the chicken properly, you must preheat the oven before placing the chicken in it.’
  Explanation: In this sentence, the modifier “to grill the chicken properly” now describes the action that follows i.e. the purpose of doing the action of “pre-heat”.
  However, the candidate can even correct this statement through another method, as there are multiple ways to correct sentences.
  Correct Statement 2: ‘You must preheat the oven before placing the chicken in it to properly grill the chicken.’
  Explanation: In this reworded sentence, the modifier “to properly grill the chicken” now describes the preceding clause as it shows the purpose of doing the action of “must preheat”.

Error Type 3: Squinting Modifiers

• Identifying squinting modifiers can be challenging because they have the potential to modify more than one element, leaving the reader uncertain about the intended meaning. However, the most frequent errors arise when words like "only," "except," "almost," and similar adverbs are used.
• Example:
  Incorrect Statement: I am only watching positive news these days
  The above example statement will confuse the reader as to whether the author is watching positive news and nothing else, or while watching the news, the author watches only positive news. It is essential to understand that squinting modifiers are so common that the test takers have developed immunity towards such error.
  Correct Statement: I am watching only positive news these days
  Explanation: Note down words before and after modifiers like “only” as words like “only”, “except”, “almost” and other adverbs should not come between two phrases or between two discrete words that can both be described by the modifier.

Clausal GMAT Modifiers

Clausal GMAT Modifiers Consists of 3 Major Variations:

1) Underlined Modifier - Filled to the brim, the thermos was a testament to the importance of coffee.
2) Underlined Subject - Filled to the brim, the thermos was a testament to the importance of coffee.
3) Entire Underlined Sentence - Filled to the brim, the thermos was a testament to the importance of coffee.

1. Underlined Modifier

When the first clause of a sentence is underlined, that clause is almost always a modifier. The modifier modifies the subject immediately after the modifier.
Example:  
Right: 
Having trained for twenty years, Jonas Matheson won the trophy by sheer dedication.
“Having trained for twenty years” describes what? Jonas Matheson. Correct!
On par with the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, is one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks.

 2. Underlined Subject 
When the second clause of a sentence is underlined, that clause is almost always being modified. The modifier must correctly modify what follows the comma.
Example:  
Wrong: 
Erected in 1889 as the entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair, Paris, France is home to the Eiffel Tower, is known as one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks.
“Erected in 1889 as the entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair” describes what? The Eiffel Tower, not Paris France.
This sentence is wrong!  
A modifier most modify what immediately follows or precedes it. If what follows doesn’t match, it’s wrong!

 3. Entire Sentence Underlined 
When the entire sentence is underlined, the issue is almost always a modifier error. These sentences usually require a fairly dramatic rewrite if wrong. The modification in the sentence must comply with all rules of modification.
Example:  
Right: 
The doctor, after rendering the opinion after extensive analysis, informed the family that the patient’s prognosis had improved.
Who rendered the opinion after extensive analysis? The doctor. Modifier correct!
Who informed the family? The doctor. Modifier correct!

Other Modifications

1. Which

“Which” should be preceded by a comma, and modify the item just before the comma. You can think of “, which” as a reverse modifier
Example:  
Right:
The world's largest steppe region, which is often referred to as "the Great Steppe", is found in southwestern Russia and neighboring countries in Central Asia.
This is not to be confused with “in which”. “In which” describes detail within something. Example: “scenario in which”, “strategy in which” 

2. Word Modification 

The placement of a single word can have a significant impact on the meaning of a sentence.
Example (suppose the coach believes the defense is well organized):  
Wrong (implies the coach seemed to argue):
The coach seemingly argued that the defense was well organized.
Right (implies the defense seemed well organized):
The coach argued that the defense was seemingly well organized. 

Solved Examples

Q1: The professor’s consistent late arrival is offset somewhat by the remarkable quality of his lectures.
A) The professor’s consistent late arrival
B) The consistent late arrival of the professor
C) The professor’s consistently late arrival
D) Lately, the professor’s arriving consistently
E) The professor’s consistent late arriving
Solution: Grammar issue presented: Modifiers (adjectives / adverbs)
There are several modifiers in this sentence: consistent, late, somewhat, and remarkable. In the underlined part of the sentence, we have the group consistent late arrival, where the adjective late correctly modifies the noun arrival, but the adjective consistent incorrectly modifies the adjective late. Adjectives cannot modify adjectives; only adverbs can modify adjectives. We need the adverb consistently.
A) The professor’s consistent late arrival
Modifiers used correctly? NO – consistent (adjective) modifies late (adjective)
B) The consistent late arrival of the professor
Modifiers used correctly? NO – consistent (adjective) modifies late (adjective)
C) The professor’s consistently late arrival
Modifiers used correctly? YES – consistently (adverb) modifies late (adjective)
Additional errors? NO
D) Lately, the professor’s arriving consistently
Modifiers used correctly? YES – consistently (adverb) modifies arriving (verb)
Additional errors? Illogical meaning: This sentence requires a contrast between something negative (the professor’s late arrival) and something positive (the quality of his lectures). Here, the adjective late is moved to the front of the sentence, where it means something like “these days.” Hence, there is no contrast and the sentence is illogical.
E) The professor’s consistent late arriving
Modifiers used correctly? NO – consistent (adjective) modifies late (adjective)
(C) is correct.

Q2: Previously thought to have been extinct, a team of biologists rediscovered the New Caledonia crested gecko in 1994.
A) a team of biologists rediscovered the New Caledonia crested gecko in 1994.
B) a team of biologists, in 1994, rediscovered the New Caledonia crested gecko.
C) in 1994 the New Caledonia crested gecko was rediscovered by a team of biologists.
D) in 1994 a team of biologists rediscovered the New Caledonia crested gecko.
E) the New Caledonia crested gecko was rediscovered by a team of biologists in 1994.
Solution: Grammar issue presented: Modifiers (misplaced modifiers)
The modifier “Previously thought to have been extinct” refers to “the New Caledonia crested gecko.” These two elements must be as close as possible to each other in the sentence.
A) a team of biologists rediscovered the New Caledonia crested gecko in 1994.
Modifier used correctly? NO – “Previously thought to have been extinct” is followed by “a team of biologists”
B) a team of biologists, in 1994, rediscovered the New Caledonia crested gecko.
Modifier used correctly? NO – “Previously thought to have been extinct” is followed by “a team of biologists”
C) in 1994 the New Caledonia crested gecko was rediscovered by a team of biologists.
Modifier used correctly? YES – “Previously thought to have been extinct” is followed by “the New Caledonia crested gecko.”
Additional errors? Awkward construction: The phrase “in 1994” gets in the way of the modifier and the noun being modified.
D) in 1994 a team of biologists rediscovered the New Caledonia crested gecko.
Modifier used correctly? NO – “Previously thought to have been extinct” is followed by “a team of biologists”
Additional errors? Awkward construction: The phrase “in 1994” gets in the way of the modifier and the noun being modified.
E) the New Caledonia crested gecko was rediscovered by a team of biologists in 1994.
Modifier used correctly? YES – “Previously thought to have been extinct” is followed by “the New Caledonia crested gecko.”
Additional errors? NO
(E) is correct.

Q3: Erasmus’s tomb lies inside the Basel Munster, located in Switzerland, an architectural monument which having survived medieval earthquakes, and remains one of Switzerland’s most well-known buildings to this day.
A) Erasmus’s tomb lies inside the Basel Munster, located in Switzerland, an architectural monument which having survived medieval earthquakes, and
B) Erasmus’s tomb lies inside Switzerland’s Basel Munster, an architectural monument that survived medieval earthquakes and
C) Switzerland’s Basel Munster, an architectural monument that survived medieval earthquakes, houses Erasmus’s tomb,
D) The Basel Munster, in Switzerland, an architectural monument which, having survived medieval earthquakes, is now home to the tomb of Erasmus and
E) The tomb of Erasmus, being housed inside Switzerland’s Basel Munster, is an architectural monument that survived medieval earthquakes and
Solution: Grammar issue presented: Modifiers (misplaced modifiers)
The modifier “an architectural monument” refers to “the Basel Munster.” These two elements must be next to each other in the sentence.
A) Erasmus’s tomb lies inside the Basel Munster, located in Switzerland, an architectural monument which having survived medieval earthquakes, and
Modifier used correctly? NO – “an architectural monument” follows “Switzerland”
B) Erasmus’s tomb lies inside Switzerland’s Basel Munster, an architectural monument that survived medieval earthquakes and
Modifier used correctly? YES – “an architectural monument” follows “Basel Munster”
Additional errors? NO
C) Switzerland’s Basel Munster, an architectural monument that survived medieval earthquakes, houses Erasmus’s tomb,
Modifier used correctly? YES – “an architectural monument” follows “Basel Munster”
Additional errors? Missing conjunction: this choice lacks the linking word “and” after “tomb.”
D) The Basel Munster, in Switzerland, an architectural monument which, having survived medieval earthquakes, is now home to the tomb of Erasmus and
Modifier used correctly? NO – “an architectural monument” follows “Switzerland”
E) The tomb of Erasmus, being housed inside Switzerland’s Basel Munster, is an architectural monument that survived medieval earthquakes and
Modifier used correctly? YES – “an architectural monument” follows “Basel Munster”
Additional errors? Verb form: this choice uses the passive voice (“being housed”). It should be reworded so that “Basel Munster” is the subject of the sentence and can perform the action (“houses”).
(B) is correct.