SAT grammar question

Test Preparation
1

<p>The word ceramics comes from the Greek keramos, meaning "potter's clay," where it refers to both the material and the product.</p>

<p>A. where it refers to
B. referring to
C. and refers to
D. to which it refers
E. to which is referred</p>

<p>The answer is C, but I feel it could also be B. Can anyone justify why B is not a grammatically correct? </p>

<p>Is B wrong because "refering to both the material and the product" acts as a adverbial clause, modifying how Greek keramos means potter's clay?</p>

2

<p>Also, are modifiers always right before or after the thing they are modifying?</p>

3

<p>The word ceramics comes from the Greek keramos, meaning "potter's clay," where it refers to both the material and the product.</p>

<p>A. where it refers to
B. referring to
C. and refers to
D. to which it refers
E. to which is referred</p>

<p>IF you delete "meaning 'potter's clay,'"...</p>

<p>The word ceramics <em>comes</em> from the Greek keramos [where it refers to] both the material and the product.</p>

<p>You have to have VERB AGREEMENT - therefore, referring is not correct, refers is the correct tense</p>

4

<p>What about sentences like: </p>

<p>While running in the park, the jogger tripped and fell.
I drew my breath when the murderer entered the room.</p>

<p>These sentences all change tense.</p>

5

<p>I believe those sentences do not change tense.</p>

<p>In the first sentence, running acts as a participle, not a verb. A participle is a verbal used as an adjective, thus no need for tense agreement.</p>

<p>I think the second one is all past tense.
I drew (past tense) my breath when the murderer entered (past tense) the room.</p>

<p>I could be wrong, someone please give advice if I am!</p>

6

<p>You answered the first question yourself--modifiers must be right next to the thing they are modifying. For 'referring' to work, the sentence would have to read: The word ceramics, referring to both the material and the product, comes from the Greek keramos, meaning "potter's clay."</p>

<p>And Izzy is right on the other two.</p>

7

<p>Thanks for clearing things up.</p>