Viking-Age Scandinavia

[tim]

the point i make is that i'm suspicious of the problem as you have transcribed it. if you want us to address it in this thread, post a screen shot in this thread..

[duyng9989]

The question is genuine. It is discussed in here
prep-q-because-of-wireless-service-costs-plummeting-t6871.html


I have a question:

According to this post: sc-the-results-of-the-company-s-cost-cutting-measures-are-t8497.html

Ron said that "in general, "COMMA + prep phrase modifier" is an adverbial modifier, meaning that it modifies the entirety of the preceding clause."

It seems to me that the rule partially apply for WITH prepositional phrase??? With can modify the subject, the whole clause, causal relationship. Right?

Thanks

[jlucero]

The question is genuine. It is discussed in here
prep-q-because-of-wireless-service-costs-plummeting-t6871.html


I have a question:

According to this post: sc-the-results-of-the-company-s-cost-cutting-measures-are-t8497.html

Ron said that "in general, "COMMA + prep phrase modifier" is an adverbial modifier, meaning that it modifies the entirety of the preceding clause."

It seems to me that the rule partially apply for WITH prepositional phrase??? With can modify the subject, the whole clause, causal relationship. Right?

Thanks

I'm not sure I understand your question. With is a preposition, so Ron's point in that post was that beginning a sentence with "with..." would modify the entire clause. I think the same point is being made on this topic- starting the sentence with "with", would have to modify the subject of the main clause (or the subject and its main verb)- evidence (shows). Wrong.

[aditya8062]

Hi Ron
note 1: i guess the best way to accept E and reject C is to contend that the logic of the sentence demands a "contrast" ,which is provided by "although" and not by "with"

C says :With shipbuilding traditions in Viking-Age Scandinavia not fundamentally different from those

D says :With the shipbuilding traditions in Viking-Age Scandinavia having no fundamental difference from the ones

note2: i also feel that construction in C and D are grammatically OK but just because they don't provide a much needed contrast so they are wrong

note3: also "the ones" (plural) can stand for "the shipbuilding traditions" (plural) in option D

kindly confirm my reasoning
thanks and regards

[RonPurewal]

That all seems accurate.

[sri balaji143]

Ron,

Thanks for the great explanation.

I chose the correct answer but ,in the exam stress, I had a tough time eliminating B. I know that despite is a preposition and thus it needs to be followed by a noun. In B, despite modifies no fundamental difference (which is a noun, right?). I remember one example- despite his age, he fought like a guy man-and I used this but I still didn't have a solid reason to eliminate B. Is it that despite cannot be used to show contrast?

Could you please explain why B is wrong?

Thanks in advance.

(BTW last week you told me not to write correct GMAT sentences and hence I started writing your examples in my flash cards, I was able to use 'with' modifiers in the right way and consequently eliminate C and D. I think every 5th sum on the GMAT uses 'with' but now I can confidently use the construction to my advantage, all thanks to you . Seriously you are a life saver.)

[RonPurewal]

choice B contains "between X from Y". it's supposed to be "between X and Y".

this construction is so basic that there's no point in even considering the more subtle aspects of the sentence. (remember—if you're thinking about subtle things... you're probably missing fundamental things.)