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Trunks Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Problem with distinguishing possesive noun
Okay here is the question:
Part of the following sentence is underlined; beneath the sentence are five ways of phrasing the underlined material. Select the option that produces the best sentence. If you think the original phrasing produces a better sentence than any of the alternatives, select choice A.
Unlike her sister Heather, who would always put spiders safely outside if she found them in the house, Joanne's fear kept her from going anywhere near the creatures.
Answer Choices
Choice (D) is correct. It avoids the error of the original by logically comparing a person, “Heather,” to another person, “Joanne,” instead of to a possessive noun, “Joanne’s fear.”
Can you explain to me the explanation in detail? Does this concern anything with the subject of the sentences? Like e.g. "Joannes's fear" is the subject in the first answer choice while only "Joanne" is the subject in the 4th answer choice.
Part of the following sentence is underlined; beneath the sentence are five ways of phrasing the underlined material. Select the option that produces the best sentence. If you think the original phrasing produces a better sentence than any of the alternatives, select choice A.
Unlike her sister Heather, who would always put spiders safely outside if she found them in the house, Joanne's fear kept her from going anywhere near the creatures.
Answer Choices
- (A) Joanne’s fear kept her from going anywhere near the creatures
- (B) Joanne’s fear is what kept her from going anywhere near the creatures
- (C) fear is why Joanne had not gone anywhere near them
- (D) Joanne was too afraid to go anywhere near the creatures
- (E) they scared Joanne too much to go anywhere near them
Explanation
Choice (D) is correct. It avoids the error of the original by logically comparing a person, “Heather,” to another person, “Joanne,” instead of to a possessive noun, “Joanne’s fear.”
Can you explain to me the explanation in detail? Does this concern anything with the subject of the sentences? Like e.g. "Joannes's fear" is the subject in the first answer choice while only "Joanne" is the subject in the 4th answer choice.
Top answer
Yes, that's right. The subject of the clause to be inserted should be something that can logically be compared to Heather: something that can be like her or unlike her. "Joanne's fear" cannot logically be like or unlike Heather -- it's a comparison of two incomparable things.
- Yes, that's right.
- The subject of the clause to be inserted should be something that can logically be compared to Heather: something that can be like her or unlike her.
- "Joanne's fear" cannot logically be like or unlike Heather -- it's a comparison of two incomparable things.
- However, Joanne herself can be like or unlike Heather.
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1 Answers
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Yes, that's right. The subject of the clause to be inserted should be something that can logically be compared to Heather: something that can be like her or unlike her. "Joanne's fear" cannot logically be like or unlike Heather -- it's a comparison of two incomparable things. However, Joanne herself can be like or unlike Heather.
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