SC: what does "the" modify in "the more than 50 plants..."

[jellyfisher]

SC: 4th ed. Chapter 2 Q4 (p.25)

4. She is the most dedicated gardener on the block, every day watering the more than 50 plants in her yard.

every day watering more than the 50 plants in her yard.

The official answer is (A) - takes the original sentence. I found the original sentence a bit odd b/c the word "the" is modifying "more than 50 plants". What exactly does it mean when there is a "the" in front of "more than"? Is it grammatically correct?

[tim]

It is grammatically correct. She has more than 50 plants, and that group of plants is what she is watering. The "the" makes it clear that it is that group she is watering. Replace the "more than 50 plants" with "group of plants" and it will make a lot more sense; the former is just a more specific description to give the group of plants..

[alicegmat]

I understand the difference between the meanings of A and B.

However, can A be reconstructed without the 'the' and without altering the meaning and grammatical correctness?

She is the most dedicated gardener on the block, every day watering more than 50 plants in her yard.

Does this sentence mean what (A) does and is correct grammatically?

[jnelson0612]

I understand the difference between the meanings of A and B.

However, can A be reconstructed without the 'the' and without altering the meaning and grammatical correctness?

She is the most dedicated gardener on the block, every day watering more than 50 plants in her yard.

Does this sentence mean what (A) does and is correct grammatically?

Your sentence is correct grammatically but has a different meaning.

Your sentence implies that there could be anywhere from 51 to an infinite number of plants in her yard and she waters more than 50 every day; thus, she could be watering some or all of the plants. If you said that sentence to me I would assume that she has a lot of plants and rotates which plants she is watering so she gets to 51 or more every day.

The original sentence (using "the more than") implies that she has at least 51 plants in her yard and she waters them all.

Let me know if you are still confused.

[alicegmat]

That absolutely clears my doubt.

Thanks for the explanation!

Regards.
Alisha.

[jnelson0612]

Great! Thanks Alisha!

[bolopaneer]

I understand the difference between the meanings of A and B.

However, can A be reconstructed without the 'the' and without altering the meaning and grammatical correctness?

She is the most dedicated gardener on the block, every day watering more than 50 plants in her yard.

Does this sentence mean what (A) does and is correct grammatically?

Your sentence is correct grammatically but has a different meaning.

Your sentence implies that there could be anywhere from 51 to an infinite number of plants in her yard and she waters more than 50 every day; thus, she could be watering some or all of the plants. If you said that sentence to me I would assume that she has a lot of plants and rotates which plants she is watering so she gets to 51 or more every day.

The original sentence (using "the more than") implies that she has at least 51 plants in her yard and she waters them all.

Let me know if you are still confused.

Awesome :)

[jnelson0612]

Thanks! :-)

[Chris99]

Awesome explanation. Thanks :).

One more thing to clarify:

Why using gerund "everyday watering" instead of "as everyday she waters the more than 50 plants in her yard"?

I do not understand why it is grammatical using gerund here. Can you please explain? Also, which section of the Manhattan SC book I can look up the grammar?

[jnelson0612]

Awesome explanation. Thanks :).

One more thing to clarify:

Why using gerund "everyday watering" instead of "as everyday she waters the more than 50 plants in her yard"?

I do not understand why it is grammatical using gerund here. Can you please explain? Also, which section of the Manhattan SC book I can look up the grammar?

Hi,
Your suggested replacement is just fine, but the "every day watering . . . " is another grammatical way to express the same idea. And the "watering" is not a gerund; it's actually a present participle acting as an adverbial modifier. Present participles are verb words that are being used as modifiers. You can see here that this "watering" phrase describes more fully what is going on. Check out the modifiers chapter to see more about this.