Before the climax of the dispute between King Henry and Archbishop Thomas of Canterbury was reached at Clarendon, the archbishop had resisted the king in a matter of arbitrary taxation and had fallen further in the king’s disfavor.

A – was reached at Clarendon, the archbishop had resisted

B – was reached at Clarendon, the archbishop resisted

C – had reached at Clarendon, the archbishop had resisted

D – had reached at Clarendon, the archbishop resisted

E – reached at Clarendon, the archbishop had resisted

Right Answer: A

Error Identification

IdentifierFix
Was reached, reached, had reachedTense
Had resisted, resistedTense

Explanation: 

The shifting verb forms across the options identifies verb tense issues. Exploring the underlying meaning of the sentence, we notice that the sequence of events are such : the archbishop had resisted, fallen further in favor; then, the situation reached climax. Therefore past perfect tense should be used and the had + past participle form must be applied on the verb ‘resisted’. 

A – This uses the correct verb forms. 

B – ‘resisted’ is incorrect, since the use of past perfect tense is required. 

C – The use of ‘had reached’ is illogical since this is not grammatically correct. The chronologically earlier action is the one that must use the had + past participle form. 

D – The use of ‘had reached’ is illogical since this is not grammatically correct. The chronologically earlier action is the one that must use the had + past participle form; ‘resisted’ is incorrect, since the use of past perfect tense is required. 

E – ‘Before the climax …. reacher…” since ‘climax’ cannot be a logical ‘doer’ or the action. Passive voice is required for the sentence to be  logical. 

X

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