Question #N1203
The first chapter of this novel is set in a rural village in 19th century England. The narrator is a young woman, and she is traveling with her brother. She is excited to be away from home and to explore the world. The narrator is surprised to find a vast array of wildlife in the village, and she and her brother enjoy observing the animals. When her brother, he tells her that he has seen a rare bird, a red kite, the narrator becomes excited.
Which choice best corrects the underlined portion of the passage?
A. When her brother tells her
B. When her brother, telling her
C. When her brother tells her,
D. When her brother telling her
Correct Answer is: A
The sentence needs a finite verb to indicate what the brother did. Of the choices, only "tells" is a finite verb. The other choices either use a non-finite verb or a non-finite phrase, which cannot perform the action of the subject in a main clause.