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.

Its consequences will continue greatly to influence the early decades of the coming century.

  1. greatly to influence the early decades of the coming century

  2. to influence the early decades of coming century

  3. to greatly influence the early decades of the coming century

  4. to influence greatly the early decades of coming century

  5. influencing greatly the early decades of coming century
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for (1): The sentence bears the error of modifier. A modifier is usually placed before the word it modifies, without using the preposition in between. The usage should be 'to greatly influence'.

Explanation for (2): This option introduces other errors (by deleting 'greatly and 'the' from 'the coming century').

Justification for (3): The sentence bears the error of modifier. A modifier is usually placed before the word it modifies. The usage here should be 'to greatly influence'. This option rectifies this error.
Explanation for (4): This option does not rectify the error of modifier and also introduces another error (by deleting 'the' from 'the coming century'). Explanation for (5): This option does not rectify the error of modifier and also introduces another error (by deleting 'the' from 'the coming century').

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