This is the question.
Municipal governments are beginning to confront the growing pension liabilities; this leads local politicians throughout the country to become increasingly vocal about restraining costs and limiting services.
A) the growing pension liabilities; this leads
B) their growing pension liabilities; leading
C) the growth in their pension liabilities, which leads
D) their growing pension liabilities, leading
E) their growing pension liabilities, that leads
The correct answer is D.
The solution indicates that for A), 'this' is ambiguous. (This test has its own level of grammar.)
my problem is C) I don't know why this is incorrect. I read the solution and it seems so confused.
'"Which" is used improperly in this choice. The intention of the author is to have the entire action of the first clause act as the subject of "leads," not just the "pension liabilities." "Which" cannot refer to the entire action prior. Moreover, the verbs are not parallel (“beginning . . . leads”). As a result, the second part of the sentence is awkward and incorrect, as the use of a comma instead of a semicolon means that both verbs now appear in the same sentence. '
The 'parallel' part is what I disagree. I suppose that there are so many sentences in which the verb after which can be another verb which is not parallel to the main verb.
More question, the word which is so confusing. Is it any difference if I put ',' before the word 'which'.
i.e. , The color contains 6 shades, which is colorful. / The color contains 6 shades which is colorful.
Thank you very much for your time.
Please help me. I am confused about modifiers.
Municipal governments are beginning to confront the growing pension liabilities; this leads local politicians throughout the country to become increasingly vocal about restraining costs and limiting services.
A) the growing pension liabilities; this leads
B) their growing pension liabilities; leading
C) the growth in their pension liabilities, which leads
D) their growing pension liabilities, leading
E) their growing pension liabilities, that leads
The correct answer is D.
The solution indicates that for A), 'this' is ambiguous. (This test has its own level of grammar.)
my problem is C) I don't know why this is incorrect. I read the solution and it seems so confused.
'"Which" is used improperly in this choice. The intention of the author is to have the entire action of the first clause act as the subject of "leads," not just the "pension liabilities." "Which" cannot refer to the entire action prior. Moreover, the verbs are not parallel (“beginning . . . leads”). As a result, the second part of the sentence is awkward and incorrect, as the use of a comma instead of a semicolon means that both verbs now appear in the same sentence. '
The 'parallel' part is what I disagree. I suppose that there are so many sentences in which the verb after which can be another verb which is not parallel to the main verb.
More question, the word which is so confusing. Is it any difference if I put ',' before the word 'which'.
i.e. , The color contains 6 shades, which is colorful. / The color contains 6 shades which is colorful.
Thank you very much for your time.