Quote:
Not until the Enlightenment, some 200 years ago, had society seriously questioned the right of the state that it could execute its citizens.
Hi folks,
Below is how I read the original sentence. Bold things are trigger points.
Not until the Enlightenment, some 200 years ago,
had society seriously questioned the right of the state that it could execute its citizens.
Sentence begins with a modifier and it should trigger one to find the entity its modifying.
"Not until the enlightenment"...ok, but whose enlightenment? Whatever follows, must be the subject of the sentence.
Had society....Ok. So its society. Makes sense. "seriously questioned the right of the state that IT could..." What does IT refer to? Society? State?
we have got a pronoun ambiguity here.
Lets choose the best among five.
Quote:
(A) had society seriously questioned the right of the state that it could execute
Incorrect for the reasons stated above.
Quote:
(B) did society seriously questioned the right of the state that it could execute
Use of "Did" demands first form of verb. Second, pronoun ambiguity still exists.
Quote:
(C) had society seriously questioned the right of the state for the executing of
Wrong preposition. For means, society is doing something for where as here its something doe to someone.
Quote:
(D) did society seriously question the right of the state to execute
Correct usage of did and first form of verb. No pronoun ambiguity.
Quote:
(E) had society seriously questioned whether the state had a right that it could execute
Too long sentence. I could not find any grammatical error though.
I find D & E both grammatical correct. D is just better than E.