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Since the 1930's aircraft manufacturers have tried


Nil

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Since the 1930's aircraft manufacturers have tried to build airplanes with frictionless wings, shaped so smoothly and perfectly that the air passing over them would not become turbulent.

 

(A) wings, shaped so smoothly and perfectly

(B) wings, wings so smooth and so perfectly shaped

© wings that are shaped so smooth and perfect

(D) wings, shaped in such a smooth and perfect manner

(E) wings, having been shaped smoothly and perfectly so

 

Why C not A?

 

I am repeating this question in hope of a answer from Erin or from other experts out there.....

 

Does the modifier "Shaped" automatically refers to the first nown (wings) it follows ? If not, then probably "shaped" modifies "aircraft manufacturer". What is the rule here? ( I realize that for introductory modifier, rule is clear that introductory modifier modifies first nown that follows it. For instance : Having said that, I have a question concerning 'ending' modifer)

 

But how to apply the rule with ending modifier as is the case above)

 

 

 

Underlines added for clarity by Erin

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I think that 'shaped so smoothly and perfectly' modifies the 'wing'. The only thing that is missing is a subordinating conjunction.

 

Since 'shaped so smoothly and perfectly..' is a noun clause, it should be linked with the rest of the sentence using a relative pronoun (that, which, whom, who etc.).

 

(A) does not link modifier to the wing. i.e. no relative pronoun

© uses a relative pronoun and by doing so, the modifier needs to be reconstructed. From 'shaped so smoothly..' to 'that are shaped so smooth and perfect'.

 

I hope this helps.

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The best, and really only, answer to this question is B:

 

wings, wings so smooth and so perfectly shaped

 

Using smoothly as an adverb to modify shaped is illogical--you can't "shape" something "smoothly;" you can shape something quickly, easily, lazily, but not smoothly.

 

That gets rid of A and E. D is wordy and and essentially commits the same error (shaped in a smooth manner = shaped smoothly).

 

C is wrong because it is ungrammatical to say "shaped so smooth;" "smooth" is an adjective that rightly modifies the noun "wings." We cannot use "shaped" as a linking verb between "wings" and "smooth."

 

But we can use a be-verb as a linking verb between "wings" and "smooth." B, the only possible answer, uses a reduced form to join "wings" and "smooth:"

 

wings that are so smooth and so perfectly shaped

 

=

 

wings so smooth and so perfectly shaped

 

Many people ask about the repetition of the word "wings." Again, by the process of reduction our original sentence:

 

wings, which are wings that are so smooth and so perfectly shaped

 

gets reduced to

 

wings, wings so smooth and so perfectly shaped

 

Hope that's clear. :)

 

 

 

Nil also asked about whether modifiers "automatically" modify the closest nouns. No, they do not. If they did, SC would be much, much easier and we could choose answers mechanically.

 

Here's a famous example of a modifier that has no good place in the sentence:

 

The cop shot the man with the gun.

 

At some point, we have to have an "ear" for what's right and what's not right, what is understandable and what is not.

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  • 9 years later...
The best, and really only, answer to this question is B:

 

wings, wings so smooth and so perfectly shaped

 

Using smoothly as an adverb to modify shaped is illogical--you can't "shape" something "smoothly;" you can shape something quickly, easily, lazily, but not smoothly.

 

That gets rid of A and E. D is wordy and and essentially commits the same error (shaped in a smooth manner = shaped smoothly).

 

C is wrong because it is ungrammatical to say "shaped so smooth;" "smooth" is an adjective that rightly modifies the noun "wings." We cannot use "shaped" as a linking verb between "wings" and "smooth."

 

But we can use a be-verb as a linking verb between "wings" and "smooth." B, the only possible answer, uses a reduced form to join "wings" and "smooth:"

 

wings that are so smooth and so perfectly shaped

 

=

 

wings so smooth and so perfectly shaped

 

Many people ask about the repetition of the word "wings." Again, by the process of reduction our original sentence:

 

wings, which are wings that are so smooth and so perfectly shaped

 

gets reduced to

 

wings, wings so smooth and so perfectly shaped

 

Hope that's clear. :)

 

 

HI Erin,

can you shed some light onto when I can use smooth and when I can use smoothly?

 

For example,

Erin danced in a smooth manner.

can I say the following?

Erin danced smoothly.

 

Thank you!

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  • 1 month later...
  • 1 year later...
HI Erin,

can you shed some light onto when I can use smooth and when I can use smoothly?

 

For example,

 

WORDY: Erin danced in a smooth manner.

 

can I say the following?

 

PREFERABLE: Erin danced smoothly.

 

Thank you!

I know it's a year late, but basically it's generally better to use fewer words when you can. In this case, opt for the shorter version, as the longer version doesn't carry its weight.

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