Examkin

Question

Difficulty: HardIdiomatic Prepositions

During the Renaissance, the guild of Florentine artists operated under regulations that were largely independent from the direct control of the ruling Medici family.

Which of the following options correctly replaces the underlined portion to maintain the idiomatic standards of English?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. independent ofAnswer
  3. C
    independent with
  4. D
    independent by

Answer

The correct answer is the option containing 'independent of', because the adjective 'independent' idiomatically requires the preposition 'of' in formal English.
The correct option is 'independent of'. In standard written English, the adjective 'independent' is idiomatically followed by the preposition 'of' when expressing that something is free from the influence, guidance, or control of another entity.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the underlined modifier and determine if it pairs correctly with its preposition.
The underlined phrase is 'independent from'.
The adjective 'independent' must be matched with the correct idiomatic preposition.
2
Recall the standard idiomatic rule for 'independent'.
Standard written English dictates that 'independent' pairs with 'of' rather than 'from', 'with', or 'by'.
Recognizing formal written idioms helps eliminate common colloquial errors like 'independent from'.

Key Concept

Idiomatic Prepositions
Estimated Time:45s
Rate this question

Topics

Idiomatic Prepositions

More questions from this topic