D is correct , there is no need to use present perfect .

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Historians argue that calculus, attributed to English mathematician Issac Newton, may have been an invention of Gottfried Leibniz, a German mathematician who was Newton's contemporary.

A.calculus, attributed to English mathematician Issac Newton, may have been an invention of Gottfried Leibniz, a German mathematician who was Newton's contemporary
(may have been invention of - incorrect use. We are talking about past event and are not sure about the second event. it is ok to use simple past)
B.calculus, English mathematician Issac Newton's attribution, may have been an invention of Gottfried Leibniz, a German mathematician who was Newton's contemporary
(may have been invention of - incorrect use. We are talking about past event and are not sure about the second event. it is ok to use simple past)
C.calculus that was attributed to English mathematician Issac Newton may have been an invention of Gottfried Leibniz, a German mathematician who was Newton's contemporary - (use of "that" fills the possible gap but still have error -may have been an invention
D.calculus that was once attributed to English mathematician Issac Newton might be an invention of Gottfried Leibniz, a German mathematician who was Newton's contemporary - correct. Short and best answer. Removes the error and doesn't introduce any new one.
E.English mathematician Issac Newton's calculus, attributed to him may have been an invention of Gottfried Leibniz, a German mathematician who was Newton's contemporary. - (attributed to him may have been an invention - incorrect use of sentence, changes the meaning of the sentence.

The correct answer is A SudhanshuSingh & Play4Ever

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Hi pushpitkc,

I am still confused if A is the right answer. Bcz I think all Choice have some flaw.
I do agree that in D - use of "that" is incorrect. But in A - we are using (may have been an invention of Gottfried Leibniz).
Is this correct. Can you please elaborate?
Also can you please let us know the source of the question.

Choice A is correct.

A.calculus, attributed to English mathematician Issac Newton, may have been an invention of Gottfried Leibniz, a German mathematician who was Newton's contemporary
Present perfect tense "may have been" works well with "Historians argue". And "attributed to English mathematician Issac Newton" correctly modifies "calculus".

Historians argue that calculus, attributed to English mathematician Issac Newton, may have been an invention of Gottfried Leibniz, a German mathematician who was Newton's contemporary.

A.calculus, attributed to English mathematician Issac Newton, may have been an invention of Gottfried Leibniz, a German mathematician who was Newton's contemporary - seems correct
B.calculus, English mathematician Issac Newton's attribution, may have been an invention of Gottfried Leibniz, a German mathematician who was Newton's contemporary - that modifier seems a bit wordy and causes some confusion on modifying calculus
C.calculus that was attributed to English mathematician Issac Newton may have been an invention of Gottfried Leibniz, a German mathematician who was Newton's contemporary - not sure but it seems it changes the meaning by implying that there's more calculus besides that on attributed to english mathematician
D.calculus that was once attributed to English mathematician Issac Newton might be an invention of Gottfried Leibniz, a German mathematician who was Newton's contemporary - don't think theres need to use the once, and besides it changes the meaning a little bit
E.English mathematician Issac Newton's calculus, attributed to him may have been an invention of Gottfried Leibniz, a German mathematician who was Newton's contemporary.- same as B

A. Good.
B. Strange construction. Verbal form is preferable over noun (attributed vs attribution). Attribute + to - idiom. But these are stupid reasons we can say. The most important that calculus is not an attribution, it is calculus. Out.
C. The main point for me here: "that was attributed". The historians argue. And calculus is still attributed ti Newton. Not "was attributed". Otherwise there is no sense. Out.
D. Same as in C.
E. So we say twice that calculus is attributed to Newton - it is not right. It is redundancy we can say. Out.

The sentence in no way implies that calculus is now attributed to someone else. Historians are arguing the present condition. So use of " was once attributed to " is wrong. We do not know if it still attributed or was .

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My answer is A.
B. A verb form is always better than a noun form of an action.
C. " That calculus that was " redundant. + We do not know if the attribution is still made to Newton or someone else so use of " was " is wrong.
D. Use of past tense for attribution is wrong.
E. The possession at the beginning is awkward


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I think I begin to understand why D is wrong: at the moment the historians argue, calculus is still believed to be invented by Newton, "was" indicates that at that moment, people think someone else develop calculus. it changes the intended meaning. Correct me if you think I/m wrong

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