Interesting example from Cliff

[Luliya]

Whatever he aspired to achieve, they were thwarted by his jealous older brothers, who controlled the stock in the family companies.
A. Whatever he aspired to achieve, they
B. Whatever he had any aspirations to, they
C. Whatever aspirations he had
D. Whatever be his aspirations, they
E. Many of his aspirations and goals

OA after discussion

I would be grateful for your comments

OA D and I can't understand why...

[hardik.jadeja]

IMO C. Choice C best expresses the idea without changing the intent of the sentence as E does. The original and choices B and D are awkward.

[RumpelThickSkin]

E - the only one that seems clear and unambiguous to me. OA please

[andrey_tsi]

C - seems to be right
E - changing of meaning

[paes]

D CAN be the right choice.

A, B : they is ambiguous
C : awkward
E: changes the meaning

D : Whatever be his aspirations, they -> they is referring to aspirations. so correct

But my doubt is 'they can refer to people only or can refer to non-living things also.'

[martin.jonson007]

very gud ques indeed...

[hardik.jadeja]

D CAN be the right choice.

A, B : they is ambiguous
C : awkward
E: changes the meaning

D : Whatever be his aspirations, they -> they is referring to aspirations. so correct

But my doubt is 'they can refer to people only or can refer to non-living things also.'

Paes, have a look at the tense. The past tense in the non-underlined part of the sentence demands past perfect tense I believe.

[Luliya]

D CAN be the right choice.

A, B : they is ambiguous
C : awkward
E: changes the meaning

D : Whatever be his aspirations, they -> they is referring to aspirations. so correct

But my doubt is 'they can refer to people only or can refer to non-living things also.'

Agree, the same opinion about "they", thus I choose C

[paes]

D CAN be the right choice.

A, B : they is ambiguous
C : awkward
E: changes the meaning

D : Whatever be his aspirations, they -> they is referring to aspirations. so correct

But my doubt is 'they can refer to people only or can refer to non-living things also.'

Paes, have a look at the tense. The past tense in the non-underlined part of the sentence demands past perfect tense I believe.

No, you have a wrong understanding here.
Read some different posts on BTG to make a clear understanding of past perfect.

[hardik.jadeja]

No, you have a wrong understanding here.
Read some different posts on BTG to make a clear understanding of past perfect.

I have the book with me. The answer is indeed C.

But my doubt is 'they can refer to people only or can refer to non-living things also.'

Yes, 'they' can refer to non-living things.
Eg: Paintings at the art gallery were beautiful. They were all colorful and nicely drawn.

'They' here refers to paintings(non-living thing).

[paes]

No, you have a wrong understanding here.
Read some different posts on BTG to make a clear understanding of past perfect.

I have the book with me. The answer is indeed C.

But my doubt is 'they can refer to people only or can refer to non-living things also.'

Yes, 'they' can refer to non-living things.
Eg: Paintings at the art gallery were beautiful. They were all colorful and nicely drawn.

'They' here refers to paintings(non-living thing).

Hai,

The answer can be C.
But C is not a past perfect. It is simple past.

Whatever aspirations he had -> simple past.