SAT writing section- grammar

<p>This is a SAT Writing question, and I don't know why (A) is suitable for the sentence. </p>

<ol>
<li>[Although]- (A) familiar to us [from representations] - (B) in ancient art, war chariots are rare museum artifacts [because by] - (C) the sixth century B.C. they were [no longer] - (D) used in battle.</li>
</ol>

<p>I thought subject and verb always follows after although, but in this case, after although adjective just follows. Can you tell me how it could be correct?</p>

<p>I’m not 100% sure but i think the wrong answer is C. “They” should be replaced with “it” because war chariots are not people.</p>

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<p>The conjunction “although” may subordinate a clause, as in</p>

<p>Although he was exceptionally tall, he managed to avoid hitting his head.</p>

<p>That is the condition you had in mind when you recalled that a subject and verb ought to follow “Although.” It can also link a contradictory phrase:</p>

<p>Though nice, she can come across as an angry zebra.</p>

<p>I want a soft, though not soggy, sandwich.</p>

<p>“Although familiar to us” employs the conjunction to link a participial phrase: “familiar” is a participle modifying “war chariots.”</p>

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<p>“it” is singular, but “war chariots” is plural. “they” can refer to any plural entity, not just people; it’s fine in the original sentence.</p>

<p>This sentence is correct, isn’t it silverturtle? I felt incompetent because I thought he said that the answer is A, and I was like “hmm…”</p>

<p>I supposed Choice C (“because by”) was incorrect because it is not followed by the past perfect.
From Silverturtle’s guide: “by often signals the past perfect tense (e.g., By the time we arrived, Bob had left).” Probably, I overlooked the word “often”.
So, “by” could be followed by past perfect or simple past??</p>

<p>Also, a coordinating conjunction can be followed by a complete sentence, by a participial phrase, and by a contradictory adjective (e.g "although nice, …) ???</p>

<p>No error in this sentence, this is exactly the same question that I came across on SAT Blue book lol. Silverturtle explained in details as well.</p>

<p>Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk</p>

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<p>Yes, the sentence looks fine.</p>

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<p>“by” may signal the past perfect, but it’s not a surefire tell. The past perfect is associated with “by” simply because that is often when the semantic condition for the past perfect arises: when one past action occurs prior to another past action. In the example sentence</p>

<p>By the time we arrived, Bob had left.</p>

<p>“By the time we arrived” expressed a past action and is linked by “by” to another past action, the leaving. “by” lets us know which came first. The earlier action, the leaving, is here expressed by the past perfect: “had left.” </p>

<p>That consideration differs for the clause in the OP:</p>

<p>By the sixth century B.C. they were no longer used in battle.</p>

<p>“They were no longer used” expressed a state characterized by the negation of the verb “use”; precisely, the clause doesn’t express an action that occurred prior to the oncoming of the sixth century B.C. but rather states what wasn’t occurring at the time of the sixth century B.C. It’s a subtle distinction. The past perfect would be used if the clause were written thus:</p>

<p>By the sixth century B.C. commanders had stopped using them in battle.</p>

<p>The cessation of the chariots’ use occurred before the sixth century B.C., but the state of disuse occurred and occurs forever thereafter. I hope this clears it up. Let me know if not.</p>

<p>Silverturtle, if you could please answer my second question on coordinating conjunctions:</p>

<p>"Also, a coordinating conjunction can be followed by a complete sentence, by a participial phrase, and by a contradictory adjective (e.g “although nice, …) ???”</p>

<p>^ “Although” is a subordinating rather than coordinating conjunction. The three scenarios you describe seem to cover the possible uses of “although.” Note that “though” can also be used as a conjunctive adverb, as in</p>

<p>I went to the store. It had been overrun by monkeys, though.</p>

<p>Silverturtle, what is the error in this sentence:</p>

<p>“Their race will have at least 10 Nobel Prize winners in the field of Literature by 2100.”</p>