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Question

Difficulty: MediumSubject-Modifier Agreement

Complete the text by filling in the blank with the correct phrase from the options in parentheses: (Claude Monet painted / Claude Monet's paintings depicted). Which phrase conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

Answer:In the late nineteenth century, Impressionist artists sought to move away from traditional studio painting in order to study the natural world directly. Hoping to capture the fleeting effects of light and atmospheric conditions, 【Claude Monet painted】 the Rouen Cathedral at dozens of different times of day.

Answer

Claude Monet painted
The introductory phrase 'Hoping to capture the fleeting effects of light and atmospheric conditions' is a participial modifier. Under Standard English conventions, an introductory modifying phrase must logically describe the subject that immediately follows it. Because an artist (Claude Monet) is the one who can logically hope to capture light, the main clause must begin with 'Claude Monet'. The phrase 'Claude Monet painted' correctly places the logical subject immediately after the modifier.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the introductory modifying phrase at the start of the sentence.
The phrase is 'Hoping to capture the fleeting effects of light and atmospheric conditions,' which is a present participial phrase.
Recognizing the modifier is necessary to determine what noun it must logically describe.
2
Determine the logical subject of the modifying phrase.
The entity doing the 'hoping to capture' must be a person, specifically the artist Claude Monet, rather than his paintings.
Standard English requires that an introductory modifier logically describe the subject that immediately follows it.
3
Evaluate the parenthetical choices to see which one correctly begins with the logical subject.
The phrase 'Claude Monet painted' starts with the correct subject 'Claude Monet'. The phrase 'Claude Monet's paintings depicted' starts with 'paintings', causing a dangling modifier.
Matching the modifier to the correct noun ensures the sentence conforms to Standard English conventions.

Key Concept

Subject-Modifier Agreement
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Topics

Subject-Modifier Agreement

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