Verb modifier placement

[HemantR606]

Hi Ron,

SC120, OG12 inspired this doubt.

Here is the modified version of the question:

A connoisseur claims from a one painting sample that he can assess all the influences of the artist.
OA: to be able, from a one page writing sample, to asses

The only issue I can see with the original sentence is the position of the verb modifier. 'from a one painting sample' is closer to the verb 'claims' than the verb 'assess' which is meant to be modified and hence nonsensically modifies 'claims'.

Is the issue I mentioned really an issue with the original sentence? If yes, is it the only issue?


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Thanks,
Hemant

[RonPurewal]

okay, so let's talk about the point of this folder for a sec.

this is the general verbal folder.
i.e., if you have a question of a general nature, for which an OG item provides a useful illustration, then that is the sort of thing that belongs here.

if your question is explicitly about the OG item itself, and is difficult or impossible to generalize beyond that one item, then the question doesn't belong here.

i'll allow a little latitude on this issue... but only a little.

[RonPurewal]

in terms of your original question--

• yes, it's an issue

• yes, it's basically the only issue with that choice

• however, because the location of "from a sample..." is clearly shifted from one answer choice to another, it should be plain that you need to think about this aspect of the sentence.
in the most basic torms possible-- "if they move stuff, you need to think about where that stuff goes."

[RonPurewal]

... and this thread is now locked, for the reason explained in post #2.