modifiers with noun phrases

[Guest]

I just wanted to run this by the MGMAT instructors.

When a noun-phrase X of Y is followed by a modifier (Z), the modifer almost always modifies the phrase Y. The only
exception is when we have the word 'only' in front of X. Are there any other exceptions to the rule.


thanks.

[RonPurewal]

you're probably right about modifying 'Y' the majority of the time, but no, you can't propound this as an absolute rule. (there have been a few threads in the last couple of months containing contradictory examples.)

i don't think the presence of the word 'only' has any effect upon what the modifier is modifying. it does of course alter the meaning of the sentence, but that's a separate issue.

example:
the price of gold, which has decreased by five dollars per ounce in the last week, will most likely decrease again today.
in this sentence (which is ok in my experience), the modifier (set off by commas) clearly refers to the price of gold, and not to the gold itself.

here are two suggestions:
- if you ever see this pattern decided one way or the other in an official gmat problem - especially if you see X being modified - take note (and, ideally, post here to let us know).
- do process of elimination first by using your rule (i.e., assume that Y is being modified). if that process winds up eliminating all the answer choices, then go back and start over, but this time allow X to be modified and see if any answers make sense.

[Guest]

you're probably right about modifying 'Y' the majority of the time, but no, you can't propound this as an absolute rule. (there have been a few threads in the last couple of months containing contradictory examples.)

i don't think the presence of the word 'only' has any effect upon what the modifier is modifying. it does of course alter the meaning of the sentence, but that's a separate issue.

example:
the price of gold, which has decreased by five dollars per ounce in the last week, will most likely decrease again today.
in this sentence (which is ok in my experience), the modifier (set off by commas) clearly refers to the price of gold, and not to the gold itself.

here are two suggestions:
- if you ever see this pattern decided one way or the other in an official gmat problem - especially if you see X being modified - take note (and, ideally, post here to let us know).
- do process of elimination first by using your rule (i.e., assume that Y is being modified). if that process winds up eliminating all the answer choices, then go back and start over, but this time allow X to be modified and see if any answers make sense.

Thanks a lot. Something on the use of 'only'.

- Ron Paul is one of the republican candidates who support the right to bear arms.

- Ron Paul is the only one of the republican candidates who favors the use of marijuana as a medical option.

Is my second sentence correct?

thanks for all your help.

[RonPurewal]

Thanks a lot. Something on the use of 'only'.

- Ron Paul is one of the republican candidates who support the right to bear arms.

- Ron Paul is the only one of the republican candidates who favors the use of marijuana as a medical option.

Is my second sentence correct?

thanks for all your help.

yes, the second sentence is correct. however, you're more likely to see it written like this:
ron paul is the only one of the republican candidates to favor the use of medical marijuana.
in general, 'the only one of X' is normally found with infinitives (as in my example), although your wording is perfectly OK.

[Guest]

Hello Ron,

1) What about a sentence that has the phrase 'one of X, Y'?

Case a) Y -- modifiers with relative pronouns (which, who)
e.g. ....one of the factors, which affect(s) housing market....

Case b) Y -- modifiers with participial phrases
e.g. ....one% of the homes, where electricity.....

Case c) appositives
e.g. .......one of Newton's laws, an observation about.....

2) If the modifier Y was a restrictive modifier ('one of X Y')

Case a) Y -- essential modifiers with relative pronouns -- I guess in this case it has to be X
Case b) Y -- essential modifiers with participial phrases

thanks

Thanks a lot. Something on the use of 'only'.

- Ron Paul is one of the republican candidates who support the right to bear arms.

- Ron Paul is the only one of the republican candidates who favors the use of marijuana as a medical option.

Is my second sentence correct?

thanks for all your help.

yes, the second sentence is correct. however, you're more likely to see it written like this:
ron paul is the only one of the republican candidates to favor the use of medical marijuana.
in general, 'the only one of X' is normally found with infinitives (as in my example), although your wording is perfectly OK.

[guest]

Sorry,
My example in 1(b) is wrong.

1-Case b) ...one of the factors, affecting....

Hello Ron,

1) What about a sentence that has the phrase 'one of X, Y'?

Case a) Y -- modifiers with relative pronouns (which, who)
e.g. ....one of the factors, which affect(s) housing market....

Case b) Y -- modifiers with participial phrases
e.g. ....one% of the homes, where electricity.....

Case c) appositives
e.g. .......one of Newton's laws, an observation about.....

2) If the modifier Y was a restrictive modifier ('one of X Y')

Case a) Y -- essential modifiers with relative pronouns -- I guess in this case it has to be X
Case b) Y -- essential modifiers with participial phrases

thanks

Thanks a lot. Something on the use of 'only'.

- Ron Paul is one of the republican candidates who support the right to bear arms.

- Ron Paul is the only one of the republican candidates who favors the use of marijuana as a medical option.

Is my second sentence correct?

thanks for all your help.

yes, the second sentence is correct. however, you're more likely to see it written like this:
ron paul is the only one of the republican candidates to favor the use of medical marijuana.
in general, 'the only one of X' is normally found with infinitives (as in my example), although your wording is perfectly OK.

[StaceyKoprince]

Generally, relative pronouns modify nouns while participial phrases modify either verbs or clauses (phrases that include a verb).

When you have something like "one of the factors, which affect(s) housing market" that could actually go either way. Most of the time, it will modify factors, but you can have a set-up in which "of the factors" is considered an essential descriptor, in which case it's okay to have it between "one" and the "which" phrase modifying "one." In the relatively rare instances when something like that happens, the test makes clear that this is what it wants (that is, it doesn't make you choose between two grammatically correct options, one of which modifies "one," the other of which modifies "factors").

If you have a participial phrase, that's modifying the whole preceding clause, typically, so it includes the whole phrase "one of the factors."

The appositive typically functions in the same was a relative pronoun does - mostly "factors," but could be "one" in some circumstances.

For your second question
Yes, if you have an essential modifier such as "one of the factors that..." you'll typically be modifying "that." If you're using an -ing (participial phrase), if you've got a comma, then it's modifying the preceding clause. If you don't have a comma, then you're typically modifying the noun placed next to it.