Sentence Correction

For almost a hundred years after having its beginning in 1788, England exiled some 160,000 criminals to
Australia.

(A) For almost a hundred years after having its beginning in 1788,
(B) Beginning in 1788 for a period of a hundred years,
(C) Beginning a period of almost a hundred years, in 1788
(D) During a hundred years, a period beginning in 1788,
(E) Over a period of a hundred years beginning in 1788,

I was able to narrow down choices b/w D and E, but somehow thought D is correct. But the solution says that D is illogical. Can someone explain why this is so? The reason mentioned was the following:

Choice D is awkward and unidiomatic, and nonsensically suggests that a hundred years is defined as a period beginning in 1788

I really could not understand this logic..maybe it's very simple and i am missing something here. :

yes choice E is right as D uses a modifier phrase. So the noun here is described by the modifier phrase which does not make sense. But choice E is clear and makes sense. I hope that clears your doubt

Good question. I also was able to narrow down the options to D and E. However, got confused between them. Finally, I select E, simply, because placing "a period beginning in 1788" between commas makes it non-essential information. Hence, select E.

However, I couldn't able to figure out what is "unidiomatic" and "nonsensically" in option D.

Someone plz explain...

D) During a hundred years, a period beginning in 1788, England exiled some 160,000 criminals to Australia.


The information within commas "a period beginning in 1788" modifies "a 100 years"= this seems like a hundred years is a period begining in 1788 only or any set of years begining in 1788 is called a hundred years. this makes it nonsensical.

Also, when we use "during" we need a definite time frame. the use of "a hundred years" makes it very general and not meaningful. "period begining 1788 is made non essential to the sentence by setting it off within commas.
so "during a hundred years" is not idiomatic. "During the last 100 years would have been better'

Sorry to make you "go back". But why is that you discarded choice B?

It seemed OK for to say that England exiled many people beginning in X year for a period of time.
I ´m missing something, no doubt about it

Thank you.

I think B changes the meaning of the sentence

Beginning in 1788 for a period of a hundred years, England exiled some 160,000 criminals to Australia.

=> Eng exiled criminals to Aus at the beginning of 1788

while the actually meaning is around 1888 ( 1788 + 100 )

uymba wrote:Sorry to make you "go back". But why is that you discarded choice B?

It seemed OK for to say that England exiled many people beginning in X year for a period of time.
I ´m missing something, no doubt about it

Thank you.

option B: begining in 1788 modifies England. it seems to say begining in 1788, England exiled....which is awkward. it seems as if England began in 1788.

Understood. You are saying then that the clause (beginning ...) modifies the noun (England), not the verb (exiled).
Is it always like that? or the rule applies just to this particular case? how can i be aware?
Thanks!

B: "begining in 1788 for a period of 100 years" is participial phrase. a partciple is a verbal adjective. "begining" is a verb form here which does the work of an adjective. an adjective always modifies the noun, never a verb.
so begining in 1788 modifies the noun "England"

ok. Sorry to insist. Just to get it really straight.
The purpose of the modifier is to modify the verb, but the construction (that begins with a verb in ing (begining) is that of a modifier that modifies nouns.

Is that a correct paraphrasing of your answer?

Thanks a lot!

in this case the "ing" modifier is modifying the wrong noun- England.
would have been better if it said " Begining in 1788, deportation of criminals from E to A continued for ....years". ing form would have modified the noun" deportation"

ing modifiers can modify an action also
eg. I walked, whistling away merrily. here "whistling away..." ing phrase modifies the action: how i walked. it modifies the clause "I walked"

depends on the meaning of the sentences.
not aware of a rule about "ing modifiers in the begining".. will have to checkup.

I see... I´ll be thinking that next time.
good explanation though
thank you very much!