Essay

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Essay

by kanha81 » Mon Jun 08, 2009 2:24 pm
After working for two hours, the essay started to take shape, and he began to hope that he might finish before the deadline.

A. After working for two hours, the essay started to take shape, and he began to hope
B. When the essay started to take shape after he had worked on it for two hours, he began to hope
C. When the essay started to take shape after he had worked on it for two hours, he begun to hope
D. When the essay started to take shape after working on it for two hours, he began to hope
E. After working for two hours, the student's essay started to take shape, and he began to hope

No clue! :shock:
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by Domnu » Mon Jun 08, 2009 2:54 pm
I think the answer is B.

Here's why:

[spoiler]In choices A, D, and E, the sentence implies that the essay is doing something that the student should be doing, which doesn't make sense. This leaves us with B and C. In choice C, the word 'begun' is used, which doesn't make sense here.[/spoiler]
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by cramya » Mon Jun 08, 2009 2:58 pm
B


The 2 hours he worked was before he started to hope We need past perfect(had worked). We need simple past to express the hope which is began.

A couple of choices have modifier errors.

A. After working for two hours, the essay started to take shape, and he began to hope

Did the essay work for 2 hours?

B. When the essay started to take shape after he had worked on it for two hours, he began to hope

Correct

C. When the essay started to take shape after he had worked on it for two hours, he begun to hope

begun is wrong(past participle)
Also "it" does have a clear referrant(is it shape or essay)


D. When the essay started to take shape after working on it for two hours, he began to hope

Again "it" is ambigous

E. After working for two hours, the student's essay started to take shape, and he began to hope

Modifier error.Did the student's essay work for 2 hours by itself??

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