Please help me with this difficult (lev 5) writing SAT problem!

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1

<p>Despite (watering it) daily, the plant continued to (shed) its leaves, probably because it (had been placed) in such a (dimly lit) corner of the room. No error.</p>

<p>The error is: watering it</p>

<p>Is it wrong because you can't say "despite watering it..." because that is the same as "despite (to water) it daily, the plant ... Which doesn't work.</p>

<p>Also the sentence question be simple past but the gerund suggests that the modifying phrase at the start is in present tense.</p>

<p>Please clarify! : ) Cheerios!</p>

2

<p>The fix would be “Despite being watered daily” as the plant is being watered, and is not watering something.</p>

3

<p>It’s wrong because it’s a misplaced modifier. The subject of the sentence is “the plant”. The way it’s phrased in the question (“despite watering it daily, the plant…”) makes it sound like the plant is doing the watering. That is obviously not the case in the this situation.</p>