In the seventh century B.C., the Roman alphabet was adapted from the

Roman Alphabet


First glance

The underline starts with the word which, which is a modifier marker. The other choices change but also use various modifier forms, so modifiers are an issue in this problem.

Issues

(1) Modifier / Meaning: adapting; being; having

The original sentence contains a nested modifier: the first which marker describes the noun Etruscan alphabet (just before the comma). The second which modifier is underlined. What had been adapted earlier from [another] alphabet?

Logically, the Greek alphabet had been adapted from another, even earlier alphabet. The modifier, then, should be in the form of a noun modifier, as it refers to the noun just before the comma (Greek alphabet).

Which signals a noun modifier, so the form in answer (A) is fine. An –ing word, such as adapting in answer (B), creates a comma –ing modifier, which modifies the main subject and verb of the clause (sentence) to which it is attached. In this case, the main clause is the Roman alphabet was adapted. The second modifier is not talking about the Roman alphabet; it should be referring to the Greek alphabet. Answers (C), (D), and (E) repeat this error (using the –ing words being and having, respectively). Eliminate (B), (C), (D), and (E).

Note that these four choices also contain a tense error. Comma –ing modifiers take on the tense of the verb in the main clause. In this case, the main verb is was adapted, the simple past tense. The sequence of the various events is as follows: In the past, the Roman alphabet was adapted; prior to that, the Etruscan alphabet had been adapted; prior even to that, the Greek alphabet had been adapted. Because the Etruscan adaptation is described using the past perfect, the Greek adaptation also must take the past perfect; if the Greek adaptation is described in simple past, then it would have to have occurred after the Etruscan adaptation.

(2) Modifier: earlier

In the different answer choices, the word earlier moves around. Earlier is an adverb: a modifier that modifies something other than a straight noun. What happened earlier?

The adaptation took place earlier in the same century. The most clear placement is right before that prepositional phrase in the same century. Answer (D) places earlier in the middle of the verb form and answer (E) places it before the verb entirely. The placement in (E) is definitely too far from in the same century; the placement in (D) might arguably be acceptable if a more clear version were not available; even then, the placement in (D) is shaky.

The Correct Answer

Correct answer (A) properly uses a noun modifier form (which) to refer to the noun Greek alphabet. It also correctly places earlier next to in the same century.