Unclear object modification

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1

<p>After the Soviet Union blockaded all access to West Berlin in June 1948, three nations sent (( airplanes to the city, which were loaded with much-needed food and supplies.))</p>

<p>A. airplanes to the city, which were loaded with much-needed food and supplies
B. airplanes loaded with much-needed food and supplies to the city<br>
C. airplanes, they were loaded for the city with much-needed food and supplies
D. to the city food and supplies that were much needed and it was loaded in airplanes
E. food and supplies, this was much needed and loaded in airplanes to the city</p>

<p>The correct answer is (B).</p>

<p>My question is, can the modifier (which were loaded...) modify the object of a preposition like in choice A?<br>
I heard somewhere that a modifier can NOT modify the object of a prep, so I'm confused as to why (A) is incorrect.</p>

2

<p>I’m not an expert on grammar, but I think B is much less ambiguous and flows better. Since “were” indicates the noun is plural, you could run into problems if I changed “city” to “cities.” What’s the meaning of the next sentence?</p>

<p>Three nations sent airplanes to the cities which were loaded with much-needed food and supplies.</p>

3

<p>

Either someone told you nonsense or they gave you a very poor explanation of something else. Here’s a very simple example:</p>

<p>Susan gave money to the man dressed in black.</p>

<p>dressed in black modifies the man, and the man is the object of to. Clearly that sentence is fine. Changing the modifier to a relative clause would not change the principle.</p>