Turkish wrote:
mikemcgarry,
sayantanc2k,
Also can someone explain the difference between detractors was common knowledge (in A) and detractors common knowledge (in B)
In C, what I am failing to understand is
His predilection (linking) for initiating legal proceedings against his detractors common knowledge. Doesn't this mean he will initiate legal proceeding against his critics common knowledge rather than against his detractors ?
Dear
Turkish,
I'm happy to respond.
My friend, you can't take 3-4 words out of context and ask about their meaning. The context of the whole sentence is always important. From context, we get meaning, and meaning is the very point of all language and communication.
(A) Even though =
subordinate conjunction his predilection = subject of clause
for initiating legal proceedings against his detractors = noun-modifying phrase, modifying the subject
was = main verb of the clause
//
common knowledge = description of subject, first branch of parallelism
and //
unlikely to upset his supporters = description of subject, second branch of parallelism
This is 100% grammatically correct, but logically flawed.
Choice (B) has a completely different grammatically structure
(B) Notwithstanding = preposition
his commonly known predilection = object of preposition
for initiating legal proceedings against his detractors, = noun-modifying phrase, modifies "
predilection"
which was unlikely to upset his supporters= noun-modifying clause, attempting to modify the gerund "
initiating"
The modification of the "
which" clause is iffy, not clearly wrong, but this choice is logically wrong.
Choice (C) has yet another grammatical structure. The wide grammatical variation is one of the features I like about this question. In (C), the entire underlined portion is replaced by an
absolute phrase. This sophisticated grammatical structure is 100% correct and it typically is quite befuddling for non-native speakers.
an absolute phrase =
[noun] + [noun modifier]In (C)
[noun] = "
His predilection for initiating legal proceedings against his detractors"
Here, the noun comes attached to a series of modifying phrases--logically, these function as a unit.
This is a very complex absolute phrase, in that it has two noun modifiers in parallel for the second half:
//
common knowledge and //
unlikely to upset his supportersChoice (C) is a brilliantly elegant version of the question, the clear OA.
Read that linked blog about absolute phrases, and let me know if you still have questions after that.
Mike
_________________
Mike McGarry
Magoosh Test PrepEducation is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. — William Butler Yeats (1865 – 1939)