Choose the correct verbal construction following the complex preposition 'In spite of':
In spite of ________ extensive clinical data supporting the efficacy of the vaccine, some regional health clinics remained reluctant to distribute it.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. possessing
Answer: possessing. Why not the others: 'possess' is a base verb form that cannot follow a preposition; 'possessed' is a past participle or finite past verb; 'having been possessed' is a passive perfect participle that would imply the clinics were possessed by the data.
- Step 1: Identify the prepositional governor: 'In spite of' is a prepositional phrase that must take a noun phrase or a gerund ('-ing' form) as its object complement.
- Step 2: The clinics possessed the data (active voice), requiring the active gerund form: 'possessing'.
Practise more Participle Clauses, Non-Finite Verb Forms, and Modifier Placement.
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