Often billed as "The Genius,"

by **ivonnecy** Wed Oct 23, 2013 12:52 pm

Often billed as "The Genius," American pianist, singer, composer, and bandleader Ray Charles is credited with soul music's early development, a genre based on melding gospel, rhythm and blues, and jazz.

(A) Charles is credited with soul music's early development, a genre based on melding
(B) Charles is credited with the early development of soul music, being a genre based on melding
(C) Charles is credited with the early development of soul music, a genre based on a melding of
(D) Charles, credited with soul music's early development, a genre that was based on a melding of
(E) Charles, who is credited with the early development of soul music, a genre based on melding

It begins with an opening modifier "Often billed as *****" , so we need the subject---Charles to appear right way, with his action. So D&E are gone.

My intuition helps me to eliminate choice B since I just think that being a genre modifies Charles and it is not right. Can anyone justify this ?

I just find one mistake in choice A: a genre serves as the appositive phrase of the musicï¼Œ so it will be better if the former clause ends up with soul music. choice C is better. But I am not 100% sure abt this split, so I skip this and focus on melding part.
Unfortunately, I don't know how to do with melding! =0=

by **RonPurewal** Thu Oct 24, 2013 11:31 am

ivonnecy Wrote:My intuition helps me to eliminate choice B since I just think that being a genre modifies Charles and it is not right. Can anyone justify this ?

"Comma + __ing" should describe the subject+action that comes before it.
I dropped the groceries onto the floor, scaring the dog.
--> I scared the dog by dropping the groceries.
If you try the same thing here, it doesn't work. Choice B suggests that Ray Charles is a "genre". Oops.

by **RonPurewal** Thu Oct 24, 2013 11:32 am

I just find one mistake in choice A: a genre serves as the appositive phrase of the musicï¼Œ so it will be better if the former clause ends up with soul music.

I don't remember the terminology, but, yes, "a genre" should be placed as close as possible to "soul music".
Choice C puts it closer than choice A, so you can eliminate choice A.

When the issue is placement of a modifier, just pick the choice(s) in which the modifier is CLOSEST to the stuff it's supposed to describe.
There's no need to hypothesize an "ideal" placement -- that's why the problems are multiple-choice.

by **ivonnecy** Thu Oct 24, 2013 11:47 am

When the issue is placement of a modifier, just pick the choice(s) in which the modifier is CLOSEST to the stuff it's supposed to describe.
There's no need to hypothesize an "ideal" placement -- that's why the problems are multiple-choice.

nice tip, thanks!

by **jnelson0612** Thu Oct 24, 2013 4:18 pm

Great!

by **ShriramC110** Sun Nov 22, 2015 5:02 pm

Hi Ron,

A comma+Abstract Noun should modify the entire idea of preceding clause right?
So is genre modifying the idea of credited with....?

Thanks

by **RonPurewal** Wed Nov 25, 2015 12:58 am

you should just know that this kind of modifier can describe either the preceding noun or the whole idea of the preceding sentence. if it works either way, it's fine.

here the 'genre' is soul music. so it's fine.

Often billed as "The Genius,"

Often billed as "The Genius,"

Re: Often billed as "The Genius,"

Re: Often billed as "The Genius,"

Re: Often billed as "The Genius,"

Re: Often billed as "The Genius,"

Re: Often billed as "The Genius,"

Re: Often billed as "The Genius,"