Prepositions as modifiers

[kiranck007]

Hi,
I have a question regarding prepositions as modifiers. Please clarify ,

In the following sentence,

They are subject to the applicability of rules.
"of rules" is modifying_____ ? noun or adverb modifier?
to the applicability is modifying_____ ? noun or adverb modifier?

are these prepositions are modifiers in the first places? or they are performing some other function here? How do we arrive at what the prepositional phrase is modifying? Is it on the basis of meaning or is there any rule?

One more similar query,

The hypothesis ABOUT the COMPOSITION OF the universe AS largely dark energy seems strange.
What are the following prepositional phrases functioning as?
ABOUT the COMPOSITION is modifying____?
OF the universe___?
AS largely dark energy seems strange is modifying____?

[RonPurewal]

Hi,
This is the GMAT PREP folder. This is the wrong folder for this query, so we've locked it (and will delete it soon).

Please post your question in the correct folder(s).
For the first question, that's most likely the General Verbal folder.
The second appears to be something you've gotten from a source. If that's the case, then you must cite the original source. If the original source is MGMAT materials, please post that question in a separate folder.

thanks.