A professor at the university has taken a sabbatical to research on

A professor at the university has taken a sabbatical to research on James Baldwin's books that Baldwin wrote in France while he was living there.

(A) on James Baldwin's books that Baldwin wrote in France while he was living there
(B) about the books James Baldwin wrote in France
(C) into James Baldwin's books written while in France
(D) on the books of James Baldwin, written while he lived in France
(E) the books James Baldwin wrote while he lived in France

Hey StrugglingGmat2910 ,

Problem with A is that we have two nouns to which "he" can refer to.

It could be either the professor or Baldwin. Therefore, the meaning is ambiguous here. Who was living in france?

Does that make sense?

hey AndrewN its me again

abnimahna mentions that there are two nouns in option A but doesnt option E have the two nouns " the professor or Baldwin" so "He" could refer to the professor or Baldwin in option E as well

A professor at the university has taken a sabbatical to research on James Baldwin’s books that Baldwin wrote in France while he was living there.

A professor at the university has taken a sabbatical to research
(A) on James Baldwin’s books that Baldwin wrote in France while he was living there.
(E) the books James Baldwin wrote while he lived in France

Q1: What does 'James Baldwin wrote' play role in choice E? Is it modifier or anything else?

the books James Baldwin wrote while he lived in France.

Is "HE" not ambiguous?

A professor at the university has taken a sabbatical to research the books James Baldwin wrote while he lived in France.

It can mean...
1) A professor at the university has taken a sabbatical to research the books James Baldwin wrote while the professor lived in France.
or
2) A professorat the university has taken a sabbatical to research the books James Baldwin wrote while James Baldwin lived in France.

so why is [E] correct ?

Very nice explanation egmat.

I have a query. Let's consider another example:

I like the pizza that is prepared in the microwave.
"that is prepared in the microwave" - is a dependent clause.
"that" - subject; referring to "pizza".

As mentioned by egmat: If that does not act as the subject of the dependent clause it starts, it can be omitted.

This implies: "that" in the above example cannot be omitted, as it acts as the subject of the dependent clause.

BUT:
I like the pizza that prepared in the microwave.
This sentence is definitely not wrong, as "prepared in the microwave" is correctly modifying the pizza.

Furthermore, my understanding is:

I like the pizza that is prepared in the microwave.
In the above example, "prepared" is not the action done by "pizza". Who prepared the pizza? (Answer: Not "pizza")

I like the pizza that contains only vegetables.
Unlike the example mentioned by egmat, wherein, the verb "contains" is the action done by "pizza". Who/What contains vegetables? (Answer: "Pizza")


AndrewN - Request your views. Is my understanding correct? Not sure if I am missing something- I was a bit confused with the examples shared by egmat when I applied the same theory to my examples.

A professor at the university has taken a sabbatical to research on James Baldwin's books that Baldwin wrote in France while he was living there.

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that the professor has taken a sabbatical to research the books James Baldwin wrote during the period of time in which he lived in France.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Idioms + Awkwardness/Redundancy

• When “research” is used as a verb, it requires no helping word and is followed directly by a noun.

A: This answer choice incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “research (verb) + on”; please remember, when “research” is used as a verb, it requires no helping word and is followed directly by a noun. Further, Option A uses the needlessly wordy phrase “James Baldwin's books...was living there”, leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

B: Trap. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “books James Baldwin wrote in France”; the omission of the word “lived” incorrectly implies that the professor has taken a sabbatical to research the books James Baldwin wrote while located in France; the intended meaning is that the professor has taken a sabbatical to research the books James Baldwin wrote during the period of time in which he lived in France. Further, Option B incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “research (verb) + about”; please remember, when “research” is used as a verb, it requires no helping word and is followed directly by a noun.

C: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “James Baldwin's books written while in France”; the construction of this phrase and the omission of the word “lived” incorrectly imply that the professor has taken a sabbatical to research James Baldwin's books that were written while the books were in France; the intended meaning is that the professor has taken a sabbatical to research the books James Baldwin wrote during the period of time in which he lived in France. Further, Option C incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “research (verb) + into”; please remember, when “research” is used as a verb, it requires no helping word and is followed directly by a noun.

D: This answer choice incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “research (verb) + on”; please remember, when “research” is used as a verb, it requires no helping word and is followed directly by a noun. Further, Option D uses the passive voice construction “books of James Baldwin”, rendering it awkward and needlessly indirect.

E: Correct. This answer choice uses the phrase “books James Baldwin wrote while he lived in France”, conveying the intended meaning – that the professor has taken a sabbatical to research the books James Baldwin wrote during the period of time in which he lived in France. Further, Option E correctly uses the idiomatic construction “research (verb) + noun”. Besides, Option E is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

Hence, E is the best answer choice.

All the best!
Experts' Global Team

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that the professor has taken a sabbatical to research the books James Baldwin wrote during the period of time in which he lived in France.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Idioms + Awkwardness/Redundancy

• When “research” is used as a verb, it requires no helping word and is followed directly by a noun.

A: This answer choice incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “research (verb) + on”; please remember, when “research” is used as a verb, it requires no helping word and is followed directly by a noun. Further, Option A uses the needlessly wordy phrase “James Baldwin's books...was living there”, leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

B: Trap. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “books James Baldwin wrote in France”; the omission of the word “lived” incorrectly implies that the professor has taken a sabbatical to research the books James Baldwin wrote while located in France; the intended meaning is that the professor has taken a sabbatical to research the books James Baldwin wrote during the period of time in which he lived in France. Further, Option B incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “research (verb) + about”; please remember, when “research” is used as a verb, it requires no helping word and is followed directly by a noun.

C: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “James Baldwin's books written while in France”; the construction of this phrase and the omission of the word “lived” incorrectly imply that the professor has taken a sabbatical to research James Baldwin's books that were written while the books were in France; the intended meaning is that the professor has taken a sabbatical to research the books James Baldwin wrote during the period of time in which he lived in France. Further, Option C incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “research (verb) + into”; please remember, when “research” is used as a verb, it requires no helping word and is followed directly by a noun.

D: This answer choice incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “research (verb) + on”; please remember, when “research” is used as a verb, it requires no helping word and is followed directly by a noun. Further, Option D uses the passive voice construction “books of James Baldwin”, rendering it awkward and needlessly indirect.

E: Correct. This answer choice uses the phrase “books James Baldwin wrote while he lived in France”, conveying the intended meaning – that the professor has taken a sabbatical to research the books James Baldwin wrote during the period of time in which he lived in France. Further, Option E correctly uses the idiomatic construction “research (verb) + noun”. Besides, Option E is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

Hence, E is the best answer choice.

All the best!
Experts' Global Team

Can someone explain what "he" refers to? the professor or J.Brown?


Either in choice A or E?

and does "he" can be used as a split?