2 Grammar Questions

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<li>One result of the fire department’s new contract is that they can no longer offer overtime pay on weekends</li>
</ol>

<p>fire department is singular right? so it should be “…it can no longer offer overtime pay” ?</p>

<li>Crossing and recrossing the stream, stepping on or over slipper rocks, and following a trail that grew steeper and steeper, the hikers soon realized how challenging their day would be. </li>
</ol>

<p>The answer is no error, can someone explain why? In particular, I don’t understand why it’s “that grew” rather than “that was growing”</p>

2

<p>you're correct on 1
as for 2
the sentence is based on present participles
the three actions the hikers are taking part in are: crossing and recrossing, stepping, following
it's not "that was growing" because grew is simply modifying the already active "following"
hope that made sense</p>

3

<p>I don't know.</p>