In the past several years, astronomers

[jlucero]

dave, that is a nice analysis.

Hi Ron

I am still confused about circling modifying the entire clause here.

I believe that -ing modifier can also be used when the action is simultaneious with the main action.

sc-crack-gmat-test-q-t704-15.html

Inlining your post to give a context:
the "comma + ing" modifier should only be used when:
(A)
it MODIFIES THE ENTIRE ACTION of the preceding clause, and it APPLIES TO THE SUBJECT of that clause;

AND

(B)
one of the following is true:
(1) the "ing" action is SIMULTANEOUS with the main action;
- i ran down the sidewalk, flapping my arms wildly
(2) the "ing" action is a DIRECT CONSEQUENCE of the main action.
- i got a 100 on the most recent exam, bringing my average up to 91


Reason I am asking is I eliminated the correct answer choice .

Is it just common sense that determines the role of the -ing modifier or is there a rule that I should revisit.

Cheers
Vinayak

Vinayak-

The problem here is that circling is NOT a comma + ing modifier. It looks like it, but it's a rare exception to the rule because it is preceded by an aside:

Astronomers have detected more than 80 massive planets, most of them at least as large as Jupiter, circling other stars.

Taking this out:

Astronomers have detected more than 80 massive planets circling other stars.

"circling other stars" is an -ing modifier that should not have a comma in front of it b/c it is describing the 80 massive planets.

[vinny4nyc]

dave, that is a nice analysis.

Hi Ron

I am still confused about circling modifying the entire clause here.

I believe that -ing modifier can also be used when the action is simultaneious with the main action.

sc-crack-gmat-test-q-t704-15.html

Inlining your post to give a context:
the "comma + ing" modifier should only be used when:
(A)
it MODIFIES THE ENTIRE ACTION of the preceding clause, and it APPLIES TO THE SUBJECT of that clause;

AND

(B)
one of the following is true:
(1) the "ing" action is SIMULTANEOUS with the main action;
- i ran down the sidewalk, flapping my arms wildly
(2) the "ing" action is a DIRECT CONSEQUENCE of the main action.
- i got a 100 on the most recent exam, bringing my average up to 91


Reason I am asking is I eliminated the correct answer choice .

Is it just common sense that determines the role of the -ing modifier or is there a rule that I should revisit.

Cheers
Vinayak

Vinayak-

The problem here is that circling is NOT a comma + ing modifier. It looks like it, but it's a rare exception to the rule because it is preceded by an aside:

Astronomers have detected more than 80 massive planets, most of them at least as large as Jupiter, circling other stars.

Taking this out:

Astronomers have detected more than 80 massive planets circling other stars.

"circling other stars" is an -ing modifier that should not have a comma in front of it b/c it is describing the 80 massive planets.

Thanks Joe...Thanks Everyone from the MGMAT team

I gave my exam on the 19th and got 720... Thanks to u guys

Cheers And best of luck to anyone else taking the GMAT.

[jlucero]

Congrats! Glad that all of your hard work paid off for you.

[divineacclivity]

Ron, would option B be correct if "as large" is replaced with "as large as" since ", as large ... ," is separated by commas on both sides. Please suggest. Thanks in advance.

In the past several years, astronomers have detected more than 80 massive planets, most of them as large as or larger than Jupiter, circling other stars.

[RonPurewal]

Yes, that would work.

It would also work (and be more efficient) without "of them", which doesn't add any value or specificity.

[divineacclivity]

Yes, that would work.

It would also work (and be more efficient) without "of them", which doesn't add any value or specificity.

Thank you very much.

In the past several years, astronomers have detected more than 80 massive planets, most of them as large or larger than Jupiter, and circling other stars.

This looks about right. Does it?

[tim]

No. You cannot say "most of them as large than Jupiter" or "80 massive planets and circling other stars". You have effectively said both of these things if you ignore the parenthetical information in your sentence. This is often a good strategy by the way: test each half of the parallelism separately, and remove modifiers. When you do that, everything should still work, or else you are dealing with an incorrect sentence.

[JIYUS618]

Ron,you mean,
In the past several years, astronomers have detected more than 80 massive planets, most of them at least as large as Jupiter, circling other stars.
the colored phrase is an appositive of planets, so it is non essential,and can be eliminated with two commas,then
In the past several years, astronomers have detected more than 80 massive planets circling other stars
As an adjective,"circling"modifies planets
Is it rht? if wrong,pls clarify the difference.
Thank you in advance.

[RonPurewal]

Ron,you mean,
In the past several years, astronomers have detected more than 80 massive planets, most of them at least as large as Jupiter, circling other stars.
the colored phrase is an appositive of planets, so it is non essential,and can be eliminated with two commas,then
In the past several years, astronomers have detected more than 80 massive planets circling other stars
As an adjective,"circling"modifies planets
Is it rht? if wrong,pls clarify the difference.
Thank you in advance.

Looks correct to me.

[JIYUS618]

[/quote]

Looks correct to me.[/quote]

Thanks a lot!

[RonPurewal]

Sure.

[healthy312]

Sorry, I still don't understand how to rule out D? Why "which " cannot refer to 80 massive planets ? Can any instructor help ...?

[healthy312]

dave, look at the stuff directly attached to the adverb. if the adverb is attached to things without an intervening comma, then its primary commitment is to describing those things.

Ron, sorry for bump again,

But I still cannot understand why mostly modifies the noun-planets ? Is it mostly modifying at least as large ?

[RonPurewal]

But I still cannot understand why mostly modifies the noun-planets ?

it doesn't.

[RonPurewal]

Is it mostly modifying at least as large ?

yes.

this is exactly the point of the text you've already quoted: "mostly" is attached directly (without a comma) to "at least as large", so "mostly" is qualifying "at least as large".