Grammar Question!

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>Inflation in the United States (has not and, we hope, never will reach) a rate of 20 percent a year.</p>

<p>A) has not and, we hope, never will reach
B) has not reached, and, we hope, never will
C) has not and hopefully never will reach
D) has not reached and, we hope,never will reach
E) has not reached and hopefully never will</p>

<p>Which choice best replaces the ()s?</p>

<p>The answer is D. Colloqiually, I’ve seen C) used and it sounds OK to my ear, although I see that “has not” does not work with “reach”. Is this actually grammatically incorrect?</p>

2

<p>Um. Toughie.</p>

<p>How about this one: “has not and, we hope, will never reach”</p>

<p>The trick is to cut out the parenthetical part for a moment and consider what would sound like the best, most natural continuation of the sentence. But this is just my opinion. If you like it, run with it.</p>

3

<p>it this a college board question?</p>

4

<p>“never will” sounds better than “will never” to me, but that might just be me.</p>

5

<p>It could be a matter of what inflection you place on it, in which case the discussion becomes entirely pointless since it’s a written essay :(</p>

<p>Where are the English profs when you need them?</p>

6

<p>Not from Collegeboard. This is from Barron’s, test 3.</p>

<p>SonofBhaal, that’s the strategy I use too, reading the sentence without the part between the commas to see if it still makes sense.Using that strategy ruled out A) and C). B) and E) have probs in ending with “never will”, so only D) is left. But while D) does seem grammatically correct, it strikes me as a bit wordy. Oh well…</p>

7

<p>amb3r, do not use non-CB questions when the test is less than a day away.</p>

8

<p>“Hopefully” is often misused. The inflation rate is not “hopeful”; it is we who hope. It is incorrect to say, “He’s not feeling well, but hopefully it’s nothing serious.” It is correct to say, “He’s not feeling well and we hope it’s nothing serious.”</p>

<p>On the other hand, this sentence is correct: “I hope it’s nothing serious”, he said hopefully. “Hopefully” modifies a verb; it is not a verb itself.</p>