Coffee prices rose sharply Monday, posting their biggest one-day gain in almost three years, after a weekend cold snap in Brazil raised concern that there could be damage to the world’s largest crop when at a time with supplies already tight. A. that there could be damage to the world’s largest crop when at a time with supplies B. that the world’s largest crop could be damaged at a time such as when supplies are C. that the world’s largest crop could be damaged at a time when supplies are D. of the world’s largest crop possibly being damaged at a time with supplies E. of possibly damaging the world’s largest crop at a time that supplies were

Quick questions (#1) even though not underlined - is the verb " raised " only or is the verb " Raised concern " ? Remember - verbs can be two words (Bolded parts are the verbs - am tall | I feel bad | I should eat | John could die | They could die ] So i thought "" Raised concern " is the verb ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (#2) In (c) - if " were " was used instead of " Are " -- would (c-variant) be wrong then ? --------------------------------------------

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Coffee prices rose sharply Monday, posting their biggest one-day gain

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jabhatta2

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Updated on: 16 Oct 2022, 08:54

Originally posted by jabhatta2 on 15 Oct 2022, 08:26.
Last edited by jabhatta2 on 16 Oct 2022, 08:54, edited 2 times in total.

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(#1) even though not underlined - is the verb "raised" only or is the verb "Raised concern" ?

Remember - verbs can be two words (Bolded parts are the verbs - [ I am tall | I feel bad | I should eat | John could die | They could die]

So i thought ""Raised concern" is the verb
----------------------------------------------------------------------

(#2) In (c) - if "were" was used instead of "Are" -- would (c-variant) be wrong then ?

--------------------------------------------

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15 Oct 2022, 09:38

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jabhatta2

(#2) In (c) - if "were" was used instead of "Are" -- would (c-variant) be wrong then ?

The sentence says that 'coffee prices rose sharply Monday', so the rise was within the last week and chances are that the prices are still high. So 'ARE' makes sense.

'C' would be the best of the five answers even if had 'WERE' instead of 'ARE', but 'ARE' is better for this sentence. The concern has been raised recently, in the present time. The sentence isn't talking of some historical event.

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jabhatta2

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15 Oct 2022, 09:49

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vv65

jabhatta2

(#2) In (c) - if "were" was used instead of "Are" -- would (c-variant) be wrong then ?

hmm vv65 - i dont understand why we are looking at "Coffee prices rose sharply" what-soever.

The "When" clause, circled in red, is embedded with the THAT clause (please see arrow in screenshot)

I didnt think the verb in the "When" clause depended on ""Coffee prices rose sharply"

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15 Oct 2022, 10:36

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jabhatta2

i dont understand why we are looking at "Coffee prices rose sharply" what-soever.

The "When" clause, circled in red, is embedded with the THAT clause (please see arrow in screenshot)

I didnt think the verb in the "When" clause depended on ""Coffee prices rose sharply"

You asked about why the sentence uses ARE and not WERE. To understand that, you need to pay attention to "Coffee prices rose sharply Monday". All parts of the sentence are related!

This is the sentence we get with (C):

Quote:

Coffee prices rose sharply Monday, posting their biggest one-day gain in almost three years, after a weekend cold snap in Brazil raised concern that the world’s largest crop could be damaged at a time when supplies are already tight.

The sentence tell us the following story:
- Brazil had a weekend cold snap
- This cold snap raised concerns that the world's largest coffee crop could be damaged
- (Inference: Brazil has the world's largest coffee crop)
- Supplies of coffee are already tight
- On Monday the prices of coffee rose sharply
- This was the biggest one-day gain in three years

Meaning-wise, 'WERE' would not fit in this sentence.

Note:
One could have chosen (C) without thinking so much about meaning. Because (C) is the only answer choice that produces a grammatically acceptable sentence. The phrasing in the other answers is unacceptable.

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Updated on: 16 Oct 2022, 08:53

Originally posted by jabhatta2 on 15 Oct 2022, 15:41.
Last edited by jabhatta2 on 16 Oct 2022, 08:53, edited 7 times in total.

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Quick questions on (C)

(#1) in (C) - drew a quick timeline. Could you help mark where would "at a time when supplies are already tight" fall on this timeline ?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

(#2) In (c) - if "were" was used instead of "Are" -- where would "at a time when supplies ~~are~~ were already tight" be marked on this timeline ?

--------------------------------------------
(#3) in (c) - the phrase [when supplies are already tight]..whether the when phrase uses were / are / will be - is based on which part of the sentence :
(i) Coffee prices rose sharply Monday
(ii) after a weekend cold snap in Brazil raised concern
(iii) the world’s largest crop could be damaged
(iv) none of the above
(v) we cant say

i thought (iii) but now i am thinking perhaps (v)

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15 Oct 2022, 17:59

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jabhatta2

(#3) in (c) - the phrase [when supplies are already tight]..whether the when phrase should be present / past / future - is based on which part of the sentence

It's based on the whole sentence. All parts of the sentence are related.

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16 Oct 2022, 07:33

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16 Oct 2022, 08:16

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Theory on multiple uses of "Could" :

https://www.englishpage.com/modals/coul ... %22can.%22

Quote:

Possibility
1. John could be the one who stole the money.
2. John could have been the one who stole the money.
3. John could go to jail for stealing the money.

Quote:

could - conditional of can
1. If I had more time, I could travel around the world.
2. If I had had more time, I could have traveled around the world.
3. If I had more time this winter, I could travel around the world.

Quote:

could - suggestionn
1. NO PRESENT FORM
2. You could have spent your vacation in Hawaii.
3. You could spend your vacation in Hawaii.

Quote:

could - past ability
1. I could run ten miles in my twenties.
2. I could speak Chinese when I was a kid.
"Could" cannot be used in positive sentences in which you describe a momentary or one-time ability.
Yesterday, I could lift the couch by myself. Not Correct

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