1: COMMA + verb-ing modifier---> modifies the preceding clause.

Eample: !he engineer identified the problem" using the latest technolog#. $as #ou cited%

&: 'erb-ing modifier O()* ------> modifies the preceding (O+( or (O+( ,-.A/E onl#.
Eample: 0ohn sat in the minivan carr#ing seven passengers. $1carr#ing seven passengers2 modifies
1minivans2 and means that the minivan in 3hich 0ohn sat had seven passengers%

& also applies to verb-ed modifiers.

4iscouraged b# the long hours and lo3 pa#" m# sister finall# 5uit her 6ob. Correct.

M# sister" discouraged b# the long hours and lo3 pa#" finall# 5uit her 6ob. Correct.

M# sister finall# 5uit her 6ob" discouraged b# the long hours and lo3 pa#. 7ncorrect as per 8MA! rules
$.efer to .egular English 's 8MA! section belo3%. -ere the verb-ed modifier is modif#ing the preceding
noun 1her 6ob2 3hich does not ma9e sense.

RULES PART I: /o reall# spea9ing these are the rules governing verb-ing : verb-ed modifiers:
'erb-ing modifiers
1: ;hen separated b# comma modifies the preceding clause
&: ;hen not separated b# comma modifiers the preceding noun or noun phrase

'erb-ed Modifiers
1: Al3a#s modif# preceding noun or noun phrase.

;e have covered this concept in detail in our concept titled <Modifiers - 'erb-ing Modifiers<. !his
concept is available in the free previe3 of the e-8MA! /C course. 7 suggest #ou revie3 this concept in
the free trial. *ou 3ill be able to appl# the concepts 3hen #ou ta9e the post assessment 5ui= in this file.
After that definitel# revie3 a fe3 O8 sentence constructions to understand and appl# these concepts on
the Official >uestions.

REGULAR ENGLISH Vs. GMAT: !he point to be noted here is that in regular English"
comma + verb-ed modifiers modif# the preceding clause. !he# behave in similar manner as do comma +
verb-ing modifiers. -o3ever" 8MA! goes against this practice as is evident from O81&?@A.
/ince Official 8uides set up the rules here" 3e incorporate these rules in our course curriculum and
5uestions. 7f do3n the line" O8 modifies this 5uestion and changes the eplanation" reflecting that
comma + verb-ed modifiers modif# preceding clause" then 3e 3ill change our curriculum and 5uestions
based on this rule accordingl#.


-ere are a fe3 eamples from O81& for verb-ed modifiers:
'erb-ed modifier modif#ing preceding noun B O81&?&C" O81&?@A.

7n the light of this understanding" let us no3 anal#=e O81&?@

4iabetes ran9s as the nationDs third leading cause of death" surpassed onl# b# heart disease and cancer.

7n this sentence" it 3ill not ma9e sense for verb-ed modifier to modif# the preceding noun 1death2.
4eath cannot be surpassed b# an#thing. -ence" the verb-ed modifier is modif#ing noun phrase 1the
nationDs third leading cause of death2. (o3 the reference ma9es sense and the modifier establishes the
fact this particular cause of death is 1surpassed onl# b# heart disease and cancer2.
(otice that 1diabetes2 is the 1the nationDs third leading cause of death2. !he verb 1ran9s2 stands as 1is2
meaning 1diabetes2 B 1the nationDs third leading cause of death2. -ence it is logical for the verb-ed
modifier to modif# 1diabetes2 also because it is the 1the nationDs third leading cause of death2.
/tructurall#" the verb-ed modifier is modif#ing the preceding noun phrase 1the nationDs third leading
cause of death2.

RULES PART II: /o far 3e discussed the role of the verb-ed and the verb-ing modifiers placed
after the clause preceded or not b# a comma. (o3 ans3er to #our second 5uestion is that verb-ed
modifier is a noun modifier. ;hen placed in the beginning of the sentence follo3ed b# a comma" it
al3a#s modifies the sub6ect of the clause. Again let me cite #our eample onl#:
4iscouraged b# the long hours and lo3 pa#" m# sister finall# 5uit her 6ob. $7f #ou as9 the modifier" 3ho
3as discouraged" the ans3er 3ill be 1m# sister2%.
7n case of the verb-ing modifiers" 3hen places before the clause separated b# a comma the# can modif#
either the sub6ect or the entire clause" depending upon the contet of the sentence.

Eample: /inging a beautiful song" Mar# mesmeri=ed ever#one present in the room. $/o ho3 did Mar#
mesmeri=e ever#oneE F# singing a beautiful song. -ere the verb-ing modifier is modif#ing the entire
clause.%
;earing a blue short" 0oe 9illed the sna9e. $-ere the verb-ing modifier is 6ust giving additional
information about ho3 0oe 3as dressed. -is 3earing a blue shirt has nothing to do 3ith 9illing the
sna9e.%



THE DIFFERENCE: (o3 let us anal#=e the difference bet3een these t3o sentences:
4iabetes ran9s as the nationDs third leading cause of the death" surpassed onl# b# heart disease and
cancer.

4iabetes ran9s as the nationDs third leading cause of the death" surpassing onl# b# heart disease and
cancer.
!he first sentence is grammaticall# as 3ell as logicall# correct. Fut the second is not grammaticall#
correct. !he first sentence can be re3ritten as: 4iabetes is the nationDs third leading cause of the death
that is surpassed onl# b# heart disease and cancer.
(otice that the 1that2 clause is 3ritten in passive voice because diabetes is not the doer of the action
1surpass2. 7t is 1heart disease and cancer2 that are the doer of this action.
7n the second sentence" 1surpassing2 modifies the preceding clause and hence associates 3ith the
sub6ect diabetes. /o if 3e sa# that 4iabetes is G" surpassing onl# b# * and H" it 3ill be 3rong because it is
not the correct grammatical structure. +se of 1b#2 is ungrammatical in this construction. 7f 3e remove
1b#2 from here" then the intended meaning of the sentence 3ill change. !he sentence 3ill then mean
that 4iabetes surpasses 1heart diseases and cancer2 but it is actuall# the other 3a# round and that is
3h# diabetes is 1the nationDs third leading cause of death2.


1. ;hen verb-ing modifier is separated from the clause using a comma" then this modifier modifies the
preceding clause.
&. ;hen verb-ing modifier is not separated from the clause using a comma" then it modifies the
preceding noun.
I. ;hen verb-ing modifier is placed in the beginning of the sentence follo3ed b# a comma" then it ma#
modif# either the sub6ect of the clause or the entire clause" depending upon the contet of the
sentence.
J. 'erb-ed modifier modifies the preceding noun or the noun phrase.
@. ;hen verb-ed modifier is placed in the beginning of the clause follo3ed b# a comma" then it modifies
the sub6ect of the clause.