If the controversial labor reform bill is passed and approved by the national assembly, employers are granted more leeway in negotiating changes to workers’ schedules.
(A) employers are granted more leeway in negotiating
(B) employers are granted more leeway to negotiate
(C) employers will be granted more leeway in the negotiating of
(D) employers will be granted more leeway to negotiate
(E) employers granted more leeway to negotiate
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Answer: D
Verb Tense, To vs. -ING
Notice that the first clause is an “if” clause in the present tense. Grammatically, this type of clause can be followed by a clause in either the present or future tense; however, only the latter makes sense here. The sentence is describing a future consequence of the bill’s passage. (C) and (D) contain future constructions (will be granted), so they are the only possible answers. In (C), the gerund phrase in the negotiating of is wordy and awkward, whereas the infinitive to negotiate in (D) is clear and concise. (D) is thus correct.
