<p>Although the precise date and place of the origin of baseball are (hotly debated) , it is (beyond dispute) that the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn (play) an important role in (its) early development. </p>
<p>the answer key says "play" is wrong but that doesnt make sense to me....</p>
<p>Could it be played?</p>
<p>Yea, it's a tense error. Since early development is in the past, they can't presently "play" a role in the early development.</p>
<p>I think the early development would be the clue hinting that the action had already taken place. So play would have to be in past tense.</p>
<p>i have a different question for writing and I decided to hijack this thread.</p>
<p>Can the object of the preposition ever be the antecedent for a pronoun?</p>
<p>oooh i see it </p>
<p>cant believe i missed that O_O</p>