Sentence Correction – 2 – Modifiers – Tense use

1. Reporting a 90 percent drop in net income during the second quarter, dragged down by restructuring charges and weak sales, the earnings guidance for the year was withdrawn by Best Buy Co. 
2. Best Buy Co. is reporting a 90 percent drop in net income during the second quarter, dragged down by restructuring charges and weak sales; the company also withdrew its earnings guidance for the year.
3. Reporting a 90 percent drop in net income during the second quarter dragged down by restructuring charges and weak sales, Best Buy Co. withdrew the earnings guidance for the year. 
4. Best Buy Co. has reported a 90 percent drop in net income during the second quarter, dragged down by restructuring charges and weak sales; the company has also withdrawn its earnings guidance for the year.
5. Best Buy Co. is reporting a 90 percent drop in net income during the second quarter, dragged down by restructuring charges and weak sales; the company has also withdrawn its earnings guidance for the year.

Correct Answer: Choice D

Explanation

1. Reporting…and dragged down… are modifiers that correspond to Best Buy Co. and not earnings guidance.
2. is reporting…would imply that the action is currently in progress. Different Tense (simple past) in the run-on sentence.
3. Two separate causes and hence there should be an and between 90 percent drop… and dragged down.
4. Correct. No modifier error. Has reported…indicates a concluded event in the recent past. The run-on sentence construction adds clarity. Tense uniformity in the run-on sentence.
5. is reporting…would imply that the action is currently in progress. Different Tense (present perfect) in the run-on sentence.