Guide 8 SC Chap. 4 Ques. 9

[mcgovryan]

Chapter 4 Question 9

Original Sentence: The blizzard deposited more than a foot of snow on the train tracks, prompted the transit authority to shut down service temporarily, and causing discontent among commuters who were left stranded for hours.

Corrected Sentence: The blizzard deposited more than a foot of snow on the train tracks, prompting the transit authority to shut down service temporarily and causing discontent among commuters who were left stranded for hours.

In the correct version, which I disagree with, the -ing modifiers prompting and causing are a result of the foot of snow that has fallen onto the tracks. I would argue that the discontent among the commuters is not a result of the snow, but rather a result of the transit authority shutting down service.

I would like to propose this alternate sentence: The blizzard deposited more than a foot of snow on the train tracks and prompted the transit authority to shut down service temporarily, causing discontent among commuters who were left stranded for hours.

The blizzard did two things: deposited snow and prompted a shutdown; And, as a result, caused discontent among commuters.

Does my argument hold water?

[tim]

no, your argument does not hold water, because after disagreeing that the snow could cause discontent in the corrected version, you propose another version where the snow also causes discontent..