mangomangodolly wrote:
The TGV, France's high-speed train, set a record in 2007 to become the fastest nonmagnetic train, which shuttles passengers from Lorraine to Champagne-Ardenne and averages over 293 kilometers per hour (173 miles per hour).
A. set a record in 2007 to become the fastest nonmagnetic train, which shuttles
B. set a record in 2007 to become the fastest nonmagnetic train, shuttling
C. set a record in 2007 to become the fastest nonmagnetic train, it shuttles
D. which set a record in 2007 to become the fastest nonmagnetic train, shuttles
E. setting a record in 2007 to become the fastest nonmagnetic train; it shuttled
Responding to a pm:
Break down the sentence:
The TGV, - subject
France's high-speed train, - An Appositive - renames the noun right before it. We might as well ignore it
set a record in 2007 to become the fastest nonmagnetic train, - rest of the main clause
which shuttles passengers from Lorraine to Champagne-Ardenne and averages over 293 kilometers per hour (173 miles per hour) - a modifier modifying the fastest non magnetic train.
Isn't there a problem here? Obviously, the last modifier is talking about TGV and not the generic 'fastest non magnetic train'. TGV is the one which shuttles passengers from Lorraine to Champagne-Ardenne and averages over 293 kilometers per hour (173 miles per hour)
Let's look at the sentence structure of (D) now.
The TGV, which set a record in 2007 to become the fastest nonmagnetic train, shuttles passengers from Lorraine to Champagne-Ardenne and averages over 293 kilometers per hour (173 miles per hour).
Here, the main clause is 'The TGV shuttles passengers from Lorraine to Champagne-Ardenne and averages over 293 kilometers per hour (173 miles per hour).' which makes perfect sense.
'which set a record in 2007 to become the fastest nonmagnetic train,' is a modifier modifying TGV which again makes perfect sense.
As for the issue of 'which' modifying 'France's high-speed train', there is no problem here. 'which' is modifying 'train'. The possessive 'France's' just modifies the train too. The structure is absolutely fine. Take an example:
Abby's car, which is red in color, is working fine.
The sentence is correct. 'which is red in color' modifies the car.
Take another example:
This car belongs to Abby, my best friend. - Correct
This car is Abby's, my best friend. - Incorrect. This is where we are trying to modify the possessive and that is a problem.