Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
inakihernandez wrote:
Financial analysts said they were surprised that despite higher inflation and shrinking profit margins, investors continue pouring money into the stock market, believing that the American economy was nicely balanced, with little inflation.
(A) continue pouring money into the stock market, believing that the American economy was
(B) continue pouring money into the stock market, believing in the American economy as
(C) still continue pouring money into the stock market in the belief that the American economy as
(D) still continued to pour money into the stock market, believing in the American economy as
(E) continued to pour money into the stock market in the belief that the American economy was
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended core meaning of this sentence is that investors continued to pour money into the stock market because they believed that the American economy was nicely balanced, with little inflation.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Tenses + Verb Forms + Awkwardness/Redundancy• The simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past.
• The simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature.
• The infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb") is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing”) for referring to the purpose or intent of an action.
A: This answer choice incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb "continue" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past, and the simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature. Further, Option A uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "pouring" in this sentence) to refer to the purpose of the action "continue"; please remember, the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb") is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing" - "pouring" in this sentence) for referring to the purpose or intent of an action.
B: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "believing in the American economy as"; the construction of this phrase leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that investors continued to pour money into the stock market because they believed that the American economy was nicely balanced, with little inflation. Further, Option B incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb "continue" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past, and the simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature. Additionally, Option B uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "pouring" in this sentence) to refer to the purpose of the action "continue"; please remember, the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb") is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing" - "pouring" in this sentence) for referring to the purpose or intent of an action.
C: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "in the belief that the American economy as"; the construction of this phrase leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that investors continued to pour money into the stock market because they believed that the American economy was nicely balanced, with little inflation. Further, Option C incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb "continue" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past, and the simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature. Additionally, Option C uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "pouring" in this sentence) to refer to the purpose of the action "continue"; please remember, the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb") is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing" - "pouring" in this sentence) for referring to the purpose or intent of an action. Besides, Option C uses the redundant phrase "still continue", leading to awkwardness and redundancy; this usage is redundant because "still" can be deleted without a loss of clarity.
D: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "believing in the American economy as"; the construction of this phrase leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that investors continued to pour money into the stock market because they believed that the American economy was nicely balanced, with little inflation. Further, Option D uses the redundant phrase "still continue", leading to awkwardness and redundancy; this usage is redundant because "still" can be deleted without a loss of clarity.
E: Correct. This answer choice uses the phrase "in the belief that the American economy was", conveying the intended meaning - that investors continued to pour money into the stock market because they believed that the American economy was nicely balanced, with little inflation. Further, Option E correctly uses the simple past tense verb "continued" to refer to an event that concluded in the past. Additionally, Option E uses the infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb" - "to + pour" to refer to the purpose of the action "continued". Besides, Option E is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
Hence, E is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "Infinitive" vs "Present Participle", you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses", you may want to watch the following video (~x1 minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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Updated on: 08 Jul 2021, 02:30
25%
(medium)
28%
(01:28)
wrong 
