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Attila the Hun

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by adilka » Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:00 pm
In the mid-fifth century, Rome was threatened by Hunnish troops who, led by Attila the Hun, demonstrated his military superiority over the weakened, recently conquered city.

A)
B)which, led by Attila the hun, demonstrated their military superiority
C)that attila the hun led, who demonstrated his military superiority
D)that Attila the hun led in demonstration of their military superiority
E)that were led by Attila the Hun, who demonstrated his military superiority.

OA: B
My question: seems to me E is grammatically correct. So why not it? (except for the fact that OA alters the meaning less than E)

Source: Kaplan 800
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Source: — Sentence Correction |

Re: Attila the Hun

by logitech » Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:34 pm
adilka wrote:In the mid-fifth century, Rome was threatened by Hunnish troops who, led by Attila the Hun, demonstrated his military superiority over the weakened, recently conquered city.

A)
B)which, led by Attila the hun, demonstrated their military superiority
C)that attila the hun led, who demonstrated his military superiority
D)that Attila the hun led in demonstration of their military superiority
E)that were led by Attila the Hun, who demonstrated his military superiority.

OA: B
My question: seems to me E is grammatically correct. So why not it? (except for the fact that OA alters the meaning less than E)

Source: Kaplan 800
E uses HIS , but we need THEIR for the troops. So it down to B and D actually.

And you tell me why D is wrong ?
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Re: Attila the Hun

by adilka » Sun Jan 11, 2009 3:00 pm
logitech wrote:And you tell me why D is wrong ?
D alters the meaning. Attila did not lead the troops so as to demonstrate their superiority (as D would suggest). The fact that they were led by AtH is used just as a non-essential modifier.

Now, as to my question.
logitech wrote:E uses HIS , but we need THEIR for the troops. So it down to B and D actually.
Sure, but what I meant is in E, his would refer to Attila, not the troops. As in troops demonstrated Attila's military superiority. I guess i've answered my own question. Attila himself can't really have a military superiority. Only an army as whole can.
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by piyush_nitt » Mon Jan 12, 2009 1:56 am
But guys don't you think Choice B uses which as a restrictive clause?
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by logitech » Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:02 am
piyush_nitt wrote:But guys don't you think Choice B uses which as a restrictive clause?
It does but there is no such a rule that we can not use WHICH in this form..
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"DON'T LET ANYONE STEAL YOUR DREAM!"
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by pbanavara » Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:59 pm
This doesn't sound right :

Can someone please explain if the usage of which is right for troops. it's like saying "soldiers which.. " - I don't think that's right.

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by pandeyvineet24 » Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:43 pm
original sentence uses " led by Attila the Hun", which is a non essential clause and is not important to sentence.

Sentence tends to focus on "troops..... ... demonstrated their military superiority" and since the subject is troops it should use "their" and not "his".

For me it should be B.
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