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ACT English 3.4 Sentence Structure 260 Views


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Description:

ACT English: Sentence Structure Drill 3, Problem 4. How should the sentence be changed to make it as clear as possible?

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:03

Here's your Shmoop du jour, brought to you by stalkers. Believe it or not, they don't

00:09

spend all that much time detasseling corn.

00:12

How should you change the below sentence, if at all?

00:15

He was staring at the girl, wearing dark glasses, by the vending machine.

00:26

So we've got a girl, some dark glasses, a vending machine, and some guy who can't keep

00:30

his eyes to himself. Could this be the beginning of Taken 3? Time will tell'

00:31

Anyway, let's take a look at choice (A) and see how the original sentence did with its modifying phrases.

00:36

We're not sure who the phrase, "wearing dark

00:39

glasses," is supposed be talking about. Is it the mysterious girl, or the creepy guy

00:44

who's staring at her?

00:45

The placement of the modifying phrase and the fact that commas separate it makes it

00:49

impossible to tell who plunked down some cash at the Sunglass Hut. So, we can nix choice

00:55

(A).

00:55

(B) makes it completely clear who's wearing the sunglasses with "at the girl wearing dark

01:01

glasses."

01:02

However, it is confusing who exactly is standing by the vending machine.

01:05

Choice (B) gets the boot.

01:07

Choice (C) is incorrect because "machine" should be secondary to the object of the action.

01:13

The vending machine isn't the important thing here; it's the girl who has caught this creeper's

01:18

attention. Therefore it's awkward to give the vending machine priority in the sentence.

01:22

Choice (D) paints a clear picture of this whole sinister scenario. By placing the phrase,

01:26

"who was wearing dark glasses," directly after "girl" we know for sure that she's the one

01:32

wearing sunglasses.

01:34

Because "by the vending machine" isn't separated by a comma, it's completely clear that it's

01:39

modifying girl by telling us where exactly she's standing.

01:42

Quick tip: if you're seriously interested in somebody, it's not the best idea to stare

01:47

at him or her creepily before approaching.

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