losing or lost

Question

17.——What made her so upset?

——___ _the necklace_____ yesterday.

A. Lost, bought B. Lost, buying

C. Losing, having bought D. Losing, bought

The answer is A, I selected C, can anyone explain why? Thanks!

Gencebay90 · Accepted Answer

I disagree with the answer key. In order for the right choice to be A a subject is needed:

"S/he lost the necklace"

For the second blank, the right structure must be the "bought". Here a reduction of relative clause is used. The structure not reduced is like this:

"She lost the necklace that was bought yesterday"

If the "having bought" were true, then the necklace would have bought itself, which is illogical. Here in this question we understand that the necklace was bought by someone else

To me the most suitable answer is D. The answer key must be wrong

Huevos · Answer

"D" is the only answer that makes any sense. Who writes these tests?

Philip · Answer

I agree with others....it's a lousy test item. The only way Answer A can be correct would be in extremely casual conversation:
(she) lost the necklace bought [past participle used as an adjective] yesterday. And it's a lousy sentence as well as a choice on a lousy question.

losing or lost

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