A questions about a problem in Manhattan SC book.

[YANFEIG811]

Hi, I have a question about a problem In Manhattan SC guide 8. For the problem 4 on page 174:

'After many years of difficult negotiations, A DEAL HAS BEEN REACHED that will lower tariffs and end many subsidies, potentially changing the lives of millions of people in both the developed and the developing world. '

I think there is a issue with the capital part. How come 'A DEAL' can has the previous action 'negotiations'? The solution for that problem does not mention that part is wrong.

Can you please help?

Thanks,
Yanfei

[StaceyKoprince]

Please remember to read (and follow!) the forum guidelines before posting.

This folder is only for general strategy questions, not content or specific test problems. Check out the content / problem folders and post in the relevant folder depending upon the source of the problem you want to post (and make sure to follow the rules about banned sources).

I will give you a short answer here, but if you would like to discuss further, please post in the appropriate folder.

That part of the sentence is correct. The word negotiations is a noun; it is not in verb form. In order for the action of negotiating to be applied to the main noun after the comma, the word would have to be in verb or participle form.

Negotiating hard for 3 weeks, the team finally sealed the deal. (Correct)
Negotiating hard for 3 weeks, a deal was finally reached. (Incorrect)

Here, the team is the one doing the action (negotiating), so the team has to come after the comma, not the deal.

The structure in the sentence you asked about is not the same. It does not contain a verb or participle and does not require an action to have been performed by the subject / main noun after the comma. You can have that structure. For example:

After many years of preparation, she won a gold medal at the Olympics

She prepared. But you don't have to have that structure. For example:
After many days of rain, the river overflowed and washed out the bridge.

The river didn't rain, or cause the rain, or have anything to do with the rain. Rather the stuff after the comma is a consequence of the many days of rain.

[YANFEIG811]

Please remember to read (and follow!) the forum guidelines before posting.

This folder is only for general strategy questions, not content or specific test problems. Check out the content / problem folders and post in the relevant folder depending upon the source of the problem you want to post (and make sure to follow the rules about banned sources).

I will give you a short answer here, but if you would like to discuss further, please post in the appropriate folder.

That part of the sentence is correct. The word negotiations is a noun; it is not in verb form. In order for the action of negotiating to be applied to the main noun after the comma, the word would have to be in verb or participle form.

Negotiating hard for 3 weeks, the team finally sealed the deal. (Correct)
Negotiating hard for 3 weeks, a deal was finally reached. (Incorrect)

Here, the team is the one doing the action (negotiating), so the team has to come after the comma, not the deal.

The structure in the sentence you asked about is not the same. It does not contain a verb or participle and does not require an action to have been performed by the subject / main noun after the comma. You can have that structure. For example:

After many years of preparation, she won a gold medal at the Olympics

She prepared. But you don't have to have that structure. For example:
After many days of rain, the river overflowed and washed out the bridge.

The river didn't rain, or cause the rain, or have anything to do with the rain. Rather the stuff after the comma is a consequence of the many days of rain.

Hi Stacey - thanks a lot! I will make sure to post text content question to a different folder.

So based on your answer, the rule really is 'In order for the action of negotiating to be applied to the main noun after the comma, the word would have to be in verb or participle form.'. I think I got it!
'

[StaceyKoprince]

Yes, you've got it!