Multiple choice

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

Sir Derek Jacobi, an English actor and director, has courted controversy again by saying that the novels attributed to Shakespeare have not been written by him.

  1. has courted controversy again by saying that the novels attributed to Shakespeare have not been written by him

  2. courted controversy again by saying that the novels attributed to Shakespeare have not been written by him

  3. has courted controversy again by saying that the novels attributed to Shakespeare have not been written by Shakespeare

  4. by saying that the novels attributed to Shakespeare were not actually written by him, has courted controversy again

  5. by saying that the novels attributed to Shakespeare had not actually written by him, has courted controversy again
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Correct. The option removes Tense Usage Error by using Past Perfect (had been written) as antecedent to Present Perfect (has courted controversy). Also, the option removes the Error of Dangling Modifier by emphasizing that it is Shakespeare who did not write the novels.

Keep practicing — related questions