Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[leslie]

Hi,

which is incorrect?

The mailroom together with the copy center (A)is being renovated
so that production (B) is increased, lighting (C) is made better, and general working conditions (D)are improved.
It is said that A is incorrect. I'd like to know the reason why? Is 'being' in (A) should be removed? If so, why? What's the difference when there's a 'being' or not?

Thank you very much for your help!

Leslie
_________________
Less Is Blessed

[asterix]

The mailroom, together with the copy center, is being renovated so that production is increased, lighting is made better and general working conditions are improved.

There's nothing wrong with that.

[leslie]

Yes, that's why it puzzled me. This is from a TOEIC Test Book edited by native English speakers. It said that the answer A is incorrect. But as you have stated, there's nothing wrong with it. I shared the same opinion. But why it said it is incorrect?

Thanks!

Leslie
_________________
Less Is Blessed

[lotus]

Hi Leslie,

That's because they think the mailroom is together with the copy room. But, "together with the copy room" is actually an appositive phrase to mailroom, and is not essential to the meaning of the sentence:

The mailroom... is being renovated so that production is increased, lighting is made better and general working conditions are improved.

Therefore, the singular "is" should be used:

The mailroom, together with the copy center, is being renovated so that production is increased, lighting is made better and general working conditions are improved.

If they had used "and", then the plural "are" should be used:

The mailroom and the copy center are being renovated so that production is increased, lighting is made better and general working conditions are improved.


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda

[leslie]

Thank you for your help! Before you answered my question, I had googled and found someone had asked the same question. The answer was: has been renovated. Here I'll post its answer and I'd like to hear your opnions about its verity. Thank you very much once again for your reading and explaning my question.

Quoted from the link: http://experts.about.com/q/General-Writing-Grammar-680/staff.htm

[lotus]

Hmm,

I see the point, but I'm not sure if I agree with it. Tense consistency is not always adhered to when speaking of the temporal nature of events (projects). It is not uncommon to shift tense mid-sentence and project into the future for events which change in time-frame or have certain expected results.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_tensec.html

However, in this case, changing the tense of the main verb changes the sentence completely.

I suppose the sentence below is better if you want to retain the original intent of the sentence:

The mailroom, together with the copy center, is being renovated so that production will be increased, lighting will be made better and general working conditions will be improved.

However, if exactly one of the four selections must be incorrect, then Becky G's analysis is correct.


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda