The Hindu religious and moral law called dhrama, like the Jewish laws,

Question

The Hindu religious and moral law called dhrama,  like the Jewish laws, are an everlasting source of guidance, since they are both time-tested and comprehensive .

(A) like the Jewish laws, are an everlasting source of guidance, since they are both time-tested and comprehensive

(B) like the Jewish laws, is an everlasting source of guidance, since it is both time-tested and comprehensive

(C) like the Jewish laws, is a source of guidance forever, being both time-tested and comprehensive

(D) since they are both time-tested and comprehensive, like the Jewish laws, are a source of guidance for life

(E) both time-tested and comprehensive, are like the Jewish laws, an everlasting source of guidance

saarthakkhanna04 · Answer

B is correct, C to E and A don't make sense. I C source of guidance does not make sense. In E "are" is misplaced.

PyjamaScientist · Answer

Experts pls opine.

The Hindu religious and moral law called dhrama,  like the Jewish laws, are an everlasting source of guidance, since they are both time-tested and comprehensive.

(A) like the Jewish laws, are an everlasting source of guidance, since they are both time-tested and comprehensive  S-V Error. The Hindu religious and moral law is singular so the usage of "are" is incorrect.

(B) like the Jewish laws, is an everlasting source of guidance, since it is both time-tested and comprehensive  "it" here correctly refers to singular noun "The Hindu religious and moral law". And usage of comma + since phrase correctly presents the reason behind the author's belief in the dhrama's everlasting effect.
 
(C) like the Jewish laws, is a source of guidance forever, being both time-tested and comprehensive  Two errors: 1. " source of guidance forever " is not as precise as " everlasting source of guidance ". 2. Usage of "being phrase" incorrectly modifies the previous clause. It is an action modifier. What is the "Action" that it is seemingly modifying?  The Hindu religious and moral law, is X, being Y  is just wrong. 
  Eg. The Rock is handsome, being the coolest Hollywood actor. I don't think this structure makes any sense. Need expert to opine on this.

(D) since they are both time-tested and comprehensive, like the Jewish laws, are a source of guidance for life  Pronoun Error. What is first  they  referring to?

(E) both time-tested and comprehensive, are like the Jewish laws, an everlasting source of guidance  What is  both  referring to here?

Aswin12 · Answer

Hi  nikhilongc ,
Brilliant explanation but I believe "The Hindu religious and moral  law " is the subject here and not "dharma"
Option E also has a S-V number agreement error. " are  like the Jewish laws"

Regards
Aswin Dinesh

abelka · Answer

I think "E" should be the correct answer. We cannot compare singular with plural, so "The Hindu religious and moral law called dhrama" must be plural, to be able to compare with "the Jewish laws".

Aswin12 · Answer

Hi  AjiteshArun  or  AndrewN ,

Is the usage of the term  "being"  correct in Option C . Does  "being"  modify the previous clause or the subject of the previous clause?

AndrewN · Answer

Hello,  Aswin12 . I will refrain from commenting on the correctness of "being" in (C), since we are discussing a question whose OA is yet to be revealed. Generally speaking, an -ing modifier is more flexible in its application if it precedes the main clause rather than follows it. When the modifier follows the main clause and a comma precedes it, it should comment on the entire clause. There are sentences in which the verb  to be  may be used as a modifier to comment on the previous clause:

Mr. Jones retired after a 30-year career,  having been  on the board for the past 10 years.

Note that the modifier can jump over the prepositional phrase ( after a 30-year career ). Yes, it was Mr. Jones who retired, so  having been  must in some way refer to him. However, in the context of the sentence, his act of retiring might also be understood to mark the end of his board tenure, so  Mr. Jones retired, having been...  seems appropriate, perhaps more fitting than delaying the main clause by inserting the modifier right after the name:

Mr. Jones, having been on the board for the past 10 years, retired after a 30-year career.

In this new sentence, you are left to wonder whether Mr. Jones retired because of his board duties. Neither sentence is grammatically incorrect, but I prefer the former.

Let us see what Friday brings.

- Andrew

PyjamaScientist · Answer

OA is out now.

The Hindu religious and moral law called dhrama, like the Jewish laws,

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The Hindu religious and moral law called dhrama, like the Jewish laws,

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