two popular arthritis drugs

[tankobe]

Recent research indicates that two popular arthritis drugs are possibly not as safe as they initially believed.

(A) that two popular arthritis drugs are possibly not as safe as they initially believed
(B) that two popular arthritis drugs may not be as safe as they were initially believed to be
(C) two popular arthritis drugs to possibly not be as safe as it was initially believed
(D) the safety of two popular arthritis drugs may not be as great as it was initially believed
(E) the safety of two popular arthritis drugs not to be as great as they were initially believed to be

KEY:B
What is the differents between possibly and may/can/could? many times i find that the first is wrong and the latters right when both occurs.

BY the way, i will share my insight in three types of right comparison in this context.
(1)
1# ...than initially/previously believed/expected...
A one-million-year-old skull bearing traits associated both with Homo erectus and, in addition, Homo sapiens has been found in the Afar region of Eritrea, and indicates that modern humans developed much earlier than previously thought.

2# ...than had/have been believed/expected
The application of a new method for analyzing the chemistry of tooth enamel allows scientists to examine molars of prehuman ancestors and determining that their diets were more varied than had been supposed.

(2)
1# ...than they/it were initially/previously believed/expected to be
2# ...than they/it have/had been believed/expected to be

PS: when we repeat the suject with pronoun they/it, then we need add to be.

(3)
1#....than people initially/previously believed/expected
2#....than people had/have believed/expected

[RonPurewal]

i don't think "possibly" is incorrect in choice (a).

also, your analysis of "they initially believed" vs. "they were initially believed to be" is not the correct analysis for this problem.

if you say "they initially believed" (active voice - also "they believe/believed/etc"), then
* you DON'T use "to be"
* "they" stands for the people who hold some belief.
ex: the materials testers found that Metal X was much better at conducting than they had believed.
--> in this case, "they" = the materials testers. this sentence is fine, although it would probably be stronger if "...to be the case" were appended after "believed".

if you say "they were initially believed to be" (passive voice - also "they are believed to be / were believed to be / etc), then
* you DO use "to be"
* "they" stands for the people/objects to whom/which the beliefs pertain, NOT to the people who hold the beliefs.
ex: Metals X and Y is much better at conducting electricity than they were believed to be.
--> in this case, "they" = Metals X and Y. this sentence is also fine (although it's not the most beautiful thing in the world).

[tankobe]

i don't think "possibly" is incorrect in choice (a).

also, your analysis of "they initially believed" vs. "they were initially believed to be" is not the correct analysis for this problem.

if you say "they initially believed" (active voice - also "they believe/believed/etc"), then
* you DON'T use "to be"
* "they" stands for the people who hold some belief.
ex: the materials testers found that Metal X was much better at conducting than they had believed.
--> in this case, "they" = the materials testers. this sentence is fine, although it would probably be stronger if "...to be the case" were appended after "believed".

if you say "they were initially believed to be" (passive voice - also "they are believed to be / were believed to be / etc), then
* you DO use "to be"
* "they" stands for the people/objects to whom/which the beliefs pertain, NOT to the people who hold the beliefs.
ex: Metals X and Y is much better at conducting electricity than they were believed to be.
--> in this case, "they" = Metals X and Y. this sentence is also fine (although it's not the most beautiful thing in the world).

you review make me more clear about the issue. well, until now, i don't see any divarication in our opinion. in my post, they/it refer Object--using people to refer Subjuct.
for the red part:
2# The application of a new method for analyzing the chemistry of tooth enamel allows scientists to examine molars of prehuman ancestors and determining that their diets were more varied than had been supposed[yes, it is passive voice, but without to be following suppused].
so i think the repeat of object--always in they/it forms-- is as crucial as the passive vioce for the occurring of to be.

[saintjingjing]

en what is wrong with D. It refers to the safety of..
but I guess as great as is wrong, right?

[RonPurewal]

en what is wrong with D.

what is "en"?
i see this a lot in your posts; i have no idea what it means. please explain.

It refers to the safety of...
but I guess as great as is wrong, right?

these are not two separate issues; taken together, these make up an issue of wordy, clunky phrasing vs. better, more compact phrasing.
e.g.
the safety of X is not as great as ...
vs.
X is not as safe as ...
the latter of these is definitely better. (remember that comparisons like these are not absolute -- they are beauty contests. in other words, you have to be able to judge when one wording is clearly better than another one, even if you can't necessarily judge those wordings absolutely.{

[ivonnecy]

Ron, can you explain that why A is wrong?
I know that choice C, D,& E are not right but I am quite confused which one should I pick, possibly not as safe as in choice A or may not be as safe as in choice B. What is the difference?

Thx!

[ivonnecy]

I just find out a point.
Is it because they can only refer to "arthritis drugs" rather than "recent research" and drugs should be believed---> were believed to be.
Is that right?
How foolish was I!

[RonPurewal]

Ron, can you explain that why A is wrong?
I know that choice C, D,& E are not right but I am quite confused which one should I pick, possibly not as safe as in choice A or may not be as safe as in choice B. What is the difference?

Thx!

(A) says "they initially believed", but nowhere mentions who "they" might be.

[ivonnecy]

Ron, can you explain that why A is wrong?
I know that choice C, D,& E are not right but I am quite confused which one should I pick, possibly not as safe as in choice A or may not be as safe as in choice B. What is the difference?

Thx!

(A) says "they initially believed", but nowhere mentions who "they" might be.

so my new thought is right, i should have been aware that, an easy point.
Thanks , Ron.

[jnelson0612]

:-)