Absolute Phrase vs prepositional modifer

[duyng9989]

Hi.

This question from GMAT Prep question:

[redacted]

I do not post the full version of the question because it might have the copyright issue.

My question is what is the bold part function in the sentence?

I am not sure whether it is absolute phrase or prepositional modifier.

I want to hear your opinion.
Thanks

[RonPurewal]

i wouldn't worry about the terminology - that's not going to help anybody.

just ask yourself: what is it describing? is it describing a noun, or is it describing an action?
in this context, it should be clear that this modifier (from one shape to another shape) is describing the action "changed".

[duyng9989]

[redacted]

[messi10]

That modifier is a prepositional modifier. They are flexible i.e. they can be adjectival or adverbial.

Adjectival modifiers modify nouns. Adverbial modifiers modify verbs i.e. the action taking place.

In terms of adverbial modifiers, they do not have to touch or be close to the verb they modify.

Here is an example about the flexibility of prepositional modifiers:
http://beta.manhattangmat.com/forums/ma ... t3770.html

[tim]

Exactly. This is an adverbial modifier, so it doesn't have to touch the thing it's modifying.

[Shelley]

hi ，
In this sentence, Is it correct if I change "to hold" into "for holding"?
can you explain the difference between "to do" and "for doing" here.

Thank you very much.

[RichaChampion]

This is the Full question by the way.

[redacted]

[RichaChampion]

hi ，
In this sentence, Is it correct if I change "to hold" into "for holding"?
can you explain the difference between "to do" and "for doing" here.

Thank you very much.

From X to Y is the correct idiom. X and Y should be parallel.

[RonPurewal]

Among the split to hold vs For holding, which one is correct.

this difference is a non-issue; you can solve this problem by considering nothing other than parallelism and "it", both of which are very basic elements.

[RonPurewal]

also, gmat prep problems don't belong in this folder. so, if there are any other questions about this problem, they should be posted in the gmat prep folder.
thanks.

[RichaChampion]

[redacted]

[RonPurewal]

this question is from the paid question pack. we can't use paid GMAT PREP items here (just as we can't use OG items).