SC: Online Question Bank - Nightshades

[s.aamershah]

The SC 4th edition Strategy Guide states that for modifiers "another way to correct the sentence is to use a present participle, the -ING verb form" rather than "which."

In E, Is "including" a present participle ING verb form?

Also, other than "including" what else is incorrect about E?


Though now eaten in large quantities around the world and harmless, the tomato is a member of the generally toxic nightshade family, including belladonna, and was once thought to be poisonous itself as a result.


A. Though now eaten in large quantities around the world and harmless, the tomato is a member of the generally toxic nightshade family, including belladonna, and was once thought to be poisonous itself as a result.
B. The tomato, though now eaten in large quantities around the world and harmless, is a member of the generally toxic nightshade family, which includes belladonna, and it was therefore once thought to be poisonous itself.
C. Once thought to be poisonous itself, the tomato is harmless and now eaten in large quantities around the world, and is a member of the generally toxic nightshade family, including belladonna.
D. Though now eaten in large quantities around the world and known to be harmless, the tomato was once considered poisonous because it is a member of the generally toxic nightshade family, which includes belladonna.
E. A member of the generally toxic nightshade family, including belladonna, the tomato was once considered poisonous even though it is harmless and now eaten in large quantities around the world.

Thank you!

[chunyang.yu]

I go with D, what is the OA?

in E, the error is the including can not only mordify the noun "toxic nightshade family", but also can go afterward to modify the tomato, so there is logical problems

[s.aamershah]

D is the answer. Thanks for your help!

[StaceyKoprince]

"including" is a special -ing word. It can be used just to indicate some members of a larger class. When used in this sense, it should come after the general class or category.

When you have this setup:

"A member of the generally toxic nightshade family, including belladonna"

Then the "including belladonna" part should refer to the MAIN noun in the preceding phrase. The main noun here is not "nightshade family." The main noun is "a member" (the rest of the stuff before the comma is a modifier). Does the member include belladonna? No.

Here's a simpler sentence:

A member of our senior class, including me, Jamie was very tall and blond.

The senior class includes me. Does the "member" include me? (I hope not. That sounds weird.) Also, am I saying I'm tall and blond, like Jamie? To make the meaning clear, I'd want to say something like:

Tall and blond, Jamie was a member of our senior class, which included me.