<p>The opponents of the bill (were few) but (influential enough) to prevent (its) (being passed) in the House.</p>
<p>Shouldn't it be passing instead of being passed?</p>
<p>In his new book, Quest for Adventure, the (renowned) British mountaineer Chris Bonington examines the (past century's) most remarkable expeditions, (profiling) such explorers (including) Neil Armstrong, Thor Heyerdahl, and Maurice Herzog.</p>
<p>What should including become?</p>
<p>First Question:
I cannot really explain why it is right, but the gerund being correctly follows “its” and passed correctly follows that gerund. Therefore, there is no error.
Second question:
“including” should become as. I think it always follows this format “such…as.”</p>
<p>1) “being [participle]” is not the same as the corresponding gerund; “I am eating” is not the same as “I am being eaten.”</p>
<p>The bill doesn’t pass [something else]. Something else passes it; the bill is passed by something else.</p>
<p>You would only say “its passing” if you are referring to something that can actually pass, or go by. “The days passed quickly” -> “The days’ passing”</p>
<p>You would only say “its being passed” if you are referring to something that can actually be passed, or be approved. “The bill was approved.” -> “The bill’s being approved.”</p>
<p>Basically, the definition of “pass” in this context is “to approve.” Bills can’t approve, they are approved. </p>
<p>PASSIVE: The legislature approved/passed the bill -> The bill was approved/passed by the legislature -> The bill’s being approved/passed by the legislature shocked the public</p>
<p>ACTIVE: The legislature approved/passed the bill -> The legislature’s passing of the bill shocked the public</p>
<p>2) “such” is used to compare. it means “of a kind” or “of a type.” We don’t know what kind or what type, so we have to specify by saying “as…”</p>
<p>“A boy such as yourself.” -> “A boy of a kind like yourself” -> “The boy is just like you.”</p>
<p>25<br>
Last summer, when Mary’s aunt and uncle flew from Turkey to visit their relatives and tour the United States, Mary invited Sandhya and I to her house to meet them. No error</p>
<p>Why is “to” not needed before tour?</p>
<p>Parallel structure:</p>
<p>Mary likes to hike, to swim, and to ride a bicycle.
OR
Mary likes to hike, swim, and ride a bicycle.</p>
<p>[Purdue</a> OWL](<a href=“Purdue OWL® - Purdue OWL® - Purdue University”>Purdue OWL® - Purdue OWL® - Purdue University)</p>
<p>It is not necessary but it is fine to include it.</p>
<p>It was fortunate that the police officer arrived quickly because she was the only person at the scene who was able to investigate the accident calm and dispassionately. No error</p>
<p>Wouldn’t the “she” have to be the “police officer”?</p>
<p>The error is in “calm” because it is modifying the verb “investigate” and must therefore be the adverb “calmly.”</p>
<p>“she” is correctly in the nominative case and does the verb “to be” (in the form "was). She could be the police officer, but both work.</p>
<p>Sorry to pester you again…</p>
<p>26<br>
Opposite to most people I know, Annie, a good photographer herself, actually enjoys seeing the photographs that her friends take on their vacations. No error</p>
<p>What is the idiom used for opposite?</p>
<p>“Opposite” is being used as an adjective here. “Opposite” cannot describe a human in terms of his or her personality. One human cannot be opposite to another in that sense. The structure “opposite to” is correct; it is just being used wrong. Two people can be opposite to each other if they are sitting on opposite ends of a room. The only idiom involving the word is “opposite” as a noun – “They are twins but seem to be the complete opposites of each other.”</p>