sleepysnowy wrote:
Though now eaten in large quantities around the world and harmless, the tomato is a member of the generally toxic nightshade family, including belladonna, and was once thought to be poisonous itself as a result.(A) Though now eaten in large quantities around the world and harmless, the tomato is a member of the generally toxic nightshade family, including belladonna, and was once thought to be poisonous itself as a result.
(B) The tomato, though now eaten in large quantities around the world and harmless, is a member of the generally toxic nightshade family, which includes belladonna, and it was therefore once thought to be poisonous itself.
(C) Once thought to be poisonous itself, the tomato is harmless and now eaten in large quantities around the world, and is a member of the generally toxic nightshade family, including belladonna.
(D) Though now eaten in large quantities around the world and known to be harmless, the tomato was once considered poisonous because it is a member of the generally toxic nightshade family, which includes belladonna.
(E) A member of the generally toxic nightshade family, including belladonna, the tomato was once considered poisonous even though it is harmless and now eaten in large quantities around the world.
what I don't understand is the explanation for the "including belladonna"
(C) The phrase "including belladonna" does not properly modify anything.
(A) Moreover, "including belladonna" is incorrect left dangling. It should be "which includes belladonna."
(E)The phrase "including belladonna" does not properly modify anything.
Why is it dangling? Is it a verb-modifier or noun modifier?
If it's a noun modifier, then "including belladonna" directly modifies the noun next to it which is the"nightshade family" ---makes perfect sense.
I'm having trouble trying to distinguish btw verb modifiers & noun modifiers, can anyone help me on that?
Hi
DmitryFarber mike egmatAfter shortlisting choices , I dropped to C and D. However , I took long to eliminate C
The point of confusion was .
In Choice C, when I tried to make sense with the modifier - "
Once thought to be poisonous itself, the tomato" I thought
1. Tomato was once thought to be poisonous to itself .i.e people believed that tomato was poisonous to itself. ( passive version)
Another version of above, which I read in comments
2.
Tomato thought to be poisonous - as if tomato gave a thought. ( active version)
Can you please help me understand how one should think in such construction ( Modifier, subject) - i.e either in active form or passive form?