According to X, about 60 percent of voters voted in 2008, twice the number reported in 2004
If yes, what is twice the number reported in 2004 modifying?
According to grammar rules, it should modify the last word or noun phrase. But it doesn't seem like a case here
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- tryingFor750p
- JonathanSchneider
- ManhattanGMAT Staff
- Posts: 370
- Joined: Sun Oct 26, 2008 3:40 pm
That type of modifier is called an absolute phrase. The structure is: ", noun + description of that noun." These modifiers are very free. In fact, what is being modified is actually the noun that starts off the absolute phrase, in this case "the number." An absolute phrase can refer back to any portion of or idea in the sentence. Oftentimes an absolute phrase will begin with a synonym for something previously described in the sentence. The words following that synonym will describe it. As a result, the whole phrase gives an added description to something that was already discussed.
An example: "She wanted to go to the movies, a desire that we all shared." Here the absolute phrase begins with the comma and extends to the end of the sentence. "A desire" indicates an idea already expressed, but notice that the modifier "that we all shared" modifies the word "desire." By using this construction, we can modify something that has not yet been explicitly stated.
The only thing that might concern me in that example is the mismatch between 60% and "the number." I'd prefer to see "the amount," since 60% does not give us an actual number.
An example: "She wanted to go to the movies, a desire that we all shared." Here the absolute phrase begins with the comma and extends to the end of the sentence. "A desire" indicates an idea already expressed, but notice that the modifier "that we all shared" modifies the word "desire." By using this construction, we can modify something that has not yet been explicitly stated.
The only thing that might concern me in that example is the mismatch between 60% and "the number." I'd prefer to see "the amount," since 60% does not give us an actual number.
- tryingFor750p
John thanks for the explanation
I have another question related to sentence structure. But it's not related to absolute phrase.
came across this couple of days back
X continued playing, in spite of reverent injuries, always trying to break the world record
Is in spite of reverent injuries adverbial modifier?
And I have no clue how always trying to break the world record is connected to the main sentence.
I have another question related to sentence structure. But it's not related to absolute phrase.
came across this couple of days back
X continued playing, in spite of reverent injuries, always trying to break the world record
Is in spite of reverent injuries adverbial modifier?
And I have no clue how always trying to break the world record is connected to the main sentence.
- JonathanSchneider
- ManhattanGMAT Staff
- Posts: 370
- Joined: Sun Oct 26, 2008 3:40 pm
Both "in spite of..." and "always trying..." are adverbial modifiers. This is an okay sentence structure. It might be preferable to rewrite as: "In spite of..., (main core), always trying..." However, this is not strictly necessary.
Note that "always trying..." is similar to starting a modifier with just the word "trying..." The only difference is the word "always," which itself modifies "trying." When we begin a modifier after a comma with an -ing form, we are using an adverbial modifier, related to the preceding clause (and in this case, although the words immediately before this modifier are not the clause we want to modify, notice that the nearest - and only - preceding clause is the main core; thus, the meaning is unambiguous).
Note that "always trying..." is similar to starting a modifier with just the word "trying..." The only difference is the word "always," which itself modifies "trying." When we begin a modifier after a comma with an -ing form, we are using an adverbial modifier, related to the preceding clause (and in this case, although the words immediately before this modifier are not the clause we want to modify, notice that the nearest - and only - preceding clause is the main core; thus, the meaning is unambiguous).
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