Experts, your generous opinion please...

An attempt to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, begun almost two decades ago, has been unsuccessful despite efforts by many important groups, including the National Organization for Women.
(A) to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, begun almost two decades ago,
(B) begun almost two decades ago, for ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment
(C) begun for ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment almost two decades ago
(D) at ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment, begun almost two decades ago,
(E) that has begun almost two decades ago to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment

Idiom: is it attempt to, attempt for, or attempt at? Attempt to, so eliminate B, C, and D.

In E, present perfect is the wrong verb tense to use, despite its apparent consistency with "has been unsuccessful". Present perfect is typically used for actions that began in the past and continue into the present. It can also be used to specify a past event at an indefinite point in the past. Here, the "two decades ago" makes present perfect an incorrect tense. Consider "I have lived in New York five years ago." -- doesn't sound right and it isn't right.

The correct answer is A.

Rey

Thanks Rey got it...

I agree with the idiom "attempt to xyz".

Prior to looking at the idiom, I was most concerned with the placement of "begun almost two decades ago." Placement-wise, it seemed to refer to the ERA, rather than the "attempt."

There was no good alternative for this though and I went ahead with the idiom for "attempt to ratify"

Comments? Am I lost because of a clause that I should not assume it could refer to?

Sorry to resurrect this old thread. Why is it ok to use "begun" in A? Since it is a past participle, shouldn't it be "began"?

I agree with blueray. I strongly feel that begun is a past participle and hence should be used with has/have/had. has seems to be correct. Please explain.

IMO:A

i agree with the rest of the people: Begun is what turned me off, though i did realise that has begun was the wrong usage but because begun made no sense I choose E. Rey could you please explain your answer from this perpective.