Need Some Grammatical Help TK

[Sufficient]

What sounds the best ....

"Given a choice of 3 different types of seeds, rock pigeons consumed almost exclusively sunflower seeds."

"Given a choice of 3 different types of seeds, rock pigeons consumed nearly exclusively sunflower seeds."

"Given a choice of 3 different types of seeds, rock pigeons consumed sunflower seeds almost exclusively."

This is for a research paper ... and I'm guessing I should change that '3' to 'three'. Other suggestions?

[dchao]

This is like an SAT question. (PS Hi Ilyar) I'd say #3.

[bloodzombie]

I like choice #1 the best, however, I don't think you need to say that they're "different" types of seeds. they're given the choice of 3 types of seeds. If they were the same type, it wouldn't be much of a choice, would it?

[scumbag]

Id go along with number 3, its the only one that makes any sense to me

[Sufficient]

I like choice #1 the best, however, I don't think you need to say that they're "different" types of seeds. they're given the choice of 3 types of seeds. If they were the same type, it wouldn't be much of a choice, would it?

good point bz

[Ilya]

if you just get rid of that line altogether you dont have to worry about it

[Superted]

Given the choice I'd personally go with 3, but then again I did fail English, lol.

[Liquid Blue]

I'm thinking number 3. Don't you have to have a subject before a proposition? The subject is the sunflower seeds, and the proposition is the part (almost exclusively) affirming that specific type of seeds were eaten.

[Troll King]

I would say: "Given a choice of three types of seeds, rock pigeons almost exclusively consumed sunflower seeds."

In truth though, I find the phrase "almost exclusively" a bit awkward, but if you do want to use it, I would suggest putting it before either "consumed" and "sunflower seeds". If you replaced "almost exclusively" with "usually", you'll see how it might sound more natural before "consumed".

The third version is probably the best of the choices you suggested, but it might be better to end the sentence with "sunflower seeds" as it seems to be the most important part of the sentence.

EDIT for LB: Sunflower seeds is the object, not the subject. The subject is the one doing the consuming, the object is what is being consumed. And when you say "proposition" I think you meant "preposition", in which case there is no preposition. "Almost exclusively" is an adverb phrase, a prepositional phrase describes positions or placements, as in "beside the desk", "under the rainbow" or "after dinner". There is no rule about the subject needing to come before a preposition either. You're probably thinking of the rule about never ending a sentence with a preposition, which means you shouldn't end with words like "to", "before" or "with".

[Fit of Rage]

TK's suggestion is right on target. Sunflower seeds being the object, it should fall as close to the verb "consumed" as possible. Other elements of the sentence (almost exclusively) placed before the verb do not lose their emphasis and the connection between consumed and seeds is not lost.

[Sufficient]

I need more help ... is the phrase "blatantly obvious" repetitive?

[DoTheFandango]

Yeah it is, but it's accepted as long as it is not in a formal essay. (Critique, Comparison, Analysis)

[Expunge]

could someone delete this? I meant to quote, but hit the big reply button instead of the ittle one button

[Expunge]

I would say: "Given a choice of three types of seeds, rock pigeons almost exclusively consumed sunflower seeds."

In truth though, I find the phrase "almost exclusively" a bit awkward, but if you do want to use it, I would suggest putting it before either "consumed" and "sunflower seeds". If you replaced "almost exclusively" with "usually", you'll see how it might sound more natural before "consumed".

The third version is probably the best of the choices you suggested, but it might be better to end the sentence with "sunflower seeds" as it seems to be the most important part of the sentence.

EDIT for LB: Sunflower seeds is the object, not the subject. The subject is the one doing the consuming, the object is what is being consumed. And when you say "proposition" I think you meant "preposition", in which case there is no preposition. "Almost exclusively" is an adverb phrase, a prepositional phrase describes positions or placements, as in "beside the desk", "under the rainbow" or "after dinner". There is no rule about the subject needing to come before a preposition either. You're probably thinking of the rule about never ending a sentence with a preposition, which means you shouldn't end with words like "to", "before" or "with".

I agree. "almost exclusively" is a contradiction in terms, so I might recommend changing it.