<p>Inflation in the United States (has not and, we hope, never will reach) a rate of 20 percent a year.</p>
<p>Options:
A. has not and, we hope, never will reach
D. has not reached and, we hope, never will reach</p>
<p>D is the correct answer.</p>
<p>Why? I thought A is better because you dont need to restate the word “reach”</p>
<p>You have to avoid improper ellipses. The verb in the 2nd part of the sentence is conjugated differently. Since the two separate conjugations of the verbs are “reached” and “will reach” you have to state both of them. If you just say “has not and, we hope, never will reach,” you are saying “has not reach” (wrong) and “never will reach.”</p>
<p>Hope that answers it.</p>