Dear Instructor,

Following is the question I faced during my test.

With her archaeologist husband, travels inspired several mystery novels by Agatha Christie; travelers to Egypt can still stay at the Old Cataract Hotel, the model for the hotel in one of Christie's most famous books.
(A) With her archaeologist husband, travels inspired several mystery novels by Agatha Christie
(B) Agatha Christie used her travels with her archaeologist husband to inspire several mystery novels
(C) Because her husband was an archaeologist, Agatha Christie was able to use their travels as inspiration for several of her mystery novels
(D) Together with her archaeologist husband, Agatha Christie was inspired to incorporate their travel into several of her mystery novels
(E) Agatha Christie's travels with her archaeologist husband served as inspiration for several of her mystery novels.

The answer according to analysis is (E). My question is in (E) what is the antecedent for "her". Agatha Christie's is in possessive so it can not be the antecedent.
I have rejected this option just because of this.

Please explain if I am going wrong.

Thanks & Regards,
Shrikant

It's okay to use a possessive noun as the antecedent of a possessive pronoun, just not as the antecedent of a regular pronoun.

Correct: Mike's managerial skills are more developed than his singing skills.

Incorrect: Mike's singing does not make him many friends.

Remember that this rule (possessive poison) is pretty much never tested, so don't worry too much either way.

_________________
Dmitry Farber
Manhattan GMAT Instructor

Thanks Dmitry,

This has given me new light.

Regards,
Shrikant

"They gave me candy and called me their light."
-Michelle Pfeiffer, Dangerous Minds (1995)

:)

_________________
Tim Sanders
Manhattan GMAT Instructor