Question

"When about 16 Years of Age, I happen'd to meet with a Book written by one Tryon, recommending a Vegetable Diet." (from Franklin's The Autobiography) Which sentence BEST rephrases this in modern-day syntax? A) When I was 16 years of age I met a book written by one Tryon about vegetable diets. B) When I was 16 I read a book, by a man named Tryon, which recommended a vegetable diet. C) When I reached 16 years, I did find Tryon's book, which did recommend a vegetable diet. D) When I was 16 years old, I happened upon a book, recommending to dine upon a diet of vegetables, by the man Tryon.

Answer 1

The answer is:

B) When I was 16 I read a book, by a man named Tryon, which recommended a vegetable diet.

Syntax is the arrangement of words and phrases to produce correct sentences in a language. In modern-day syntax, the words and phrases of he original sentence are simplified, past simple regular verbs are formed with -ed, and clauses are linked by relative clauses.