the fruit fly

nafiul9090 wrote:Studying the fruit fly, a household nuisance but a time-honored experimental subject, has enabled
the secrets of how embryos develop to begin to be unraveled by scientists.
A. Studying the fruit fly, a household nuisance but a time-honored experimental subject, has enabled
the secrets of how embryos develop to begin to be unraveled by scientists.
B. By the study of the fruit fly, a household nuisance and also a time-honored experimental subject,
it was possible for the secrets of how embryos develo0p to begin to be unraveled by scientists.
C. By studying a household nuisance but a time-honored experimental subject, the fruit fly enabled
scientists to begin to unravel the secrets of how embryos develop.
D. By studying the fruit fly, a household nuisance and also a time-honored experimental subject, the
secrets of how embryos develop are beginning to be unraveled by scientists.
E. The study of the fruit fly, a household nuisance but a time-honored experimental subject, has
enabled scientists to begin to unravel the secrets of how embryos develop.


confused between opA and opE

VivianKerr wrote:Yup, this is Modification Error all the way.

Anytime you see an introductory descriptive clause (usually involving a participle), what comes after the comma must be the NOUN doing the action in the description.

"Studying the fruit fly,..." [Ask yourself: WHO is studying the fruit fly?]

Since "a nuisance" can't logically "study," A is incorrect. C and D are incorrect for the same reason. "Fruit flies" can't logically study "nuisances."

B is wordy and unclear. E nicely places a clear subject at the beginning of the sentence ("the study") and correctly uses two commas to set aside an appositive phrase, then follows it with a predicate verb ("has") and finishes the complete thought.