(A) has not only captured customers from other phone companies but also forced them
(B) has not only captured customers from other phone companies, but it also forced them
(C) has not only captured customers from other phone companies but also forced these companies
(D) not only has captured customers from other phone companies but also these companies have been forced
(E) not only captured customers from other phone companies, but it also has forced them
Solution:
Parallelism + Pronoun
The correct structure is “not only…but also”.
Hence, B and E can be eliminated for the awkward use of ‘it’.
D is wordy in the use of “but also these companies have”.
A is incorrect as ‘them’ can refer to ‘customers’ as well as ‘other phone companies’.
Hence, C is the best choice.
OG Solution:
C, the best choice, correctly uses the parallel construction has not only x 'd but also y 'd and avoids ambiguity of reference by using these companies rather than them. In A, B, and E, the referent of the pronoun them is ambiguous; because them appears to be parallel to customers, the illogical suggestion is that the new telecommunications company has forced customers to offer competitive prices. Choices B and E may also be faulted for the improper insertion of it to refer redundantly to the new company. Finally, E is not parallel in verb tense with captured... has forced. Choice D does not maintain parallelism, unnecessarily shifting from active (company not only has captured) to passive (but also these companies have been forced).
Sentence Correction - 1000 Questions with Solution:
