Long since

Question

this question is on the SAT OG book page 661 # 29 One of the brackets contains an error.
The dolls in the collection, [all] [more than] two hundred years old, had been [carefully] carved for children [long since] gone.

Why isn't [long since] wrong? And can you please explain the usage of [more than]? When can it be used and when is it wrong?

Thanks in advance"

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

this question is on the SAT OG book page 661 # 29 One of the brackets contains an error.
The dolls in the collection, [all] [more than] two hundred years old, had been [carefully] carved for children [long since] gone.

Why isn't [long since] wrong? And can you please explain the usage of [more than]? When can it be used and when is it wrong?

I don't see any error in this sentence at all.

all 200 years old - fine, describes the dolls.

more than 200 years old - fine. Just perhaps a little ambiguous as to whether it describes the collection or the dolls.

carefully - fine, just an adverb.

long since - this is a standard and accepted phrase that means roughly 'it has been a long time since'. The form is
'long since + past participle'

eg The school is long since closed. = The school is closed and it has been a long time since it closed.

Best wishes, Clive

Theooo · Answer

thanks!!!

Anonymous · Answer

Changing all to "EACH more than 200 years old" eliminates the ambiguity. Since there's no other error in the sentence, it much be [all]

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymousambiguity

I don't see the ambiguity in All of the dolls are more than 200 years old.
It means the same as Each of the dolls is more than 200 years old, doesn't it?

CJ

Long since

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