Understanding Sentence Correction: Attributing vs. Attributed

The question asks us to find the most appropriate substitute for the underlined segment "attributing to" in the sentence:

"Genetic influx from Central Asia in the Bronze Age was strongly male-driven, consistent with the patriarchal social structure attributing to the Indo-European pastoralist society."

Let's break down the sentence and the underlined part. The sentence describes a patriarchal social structure and its relationship with the Indo-European pastoralist society. The phrase "attributing to" here is intended to describe this structure as something characteristic of or linked to the society.

Analyzing the Original Phrase: "Attributing to"

The verb 'attribute' means to regard something as being caused by or possessed by. When used as a participle ("attributing"), it usually implies that the subject is performing the action of attributing something else. For example:

• She is attributing her success to luck. (She is performing the action of attributing)
• The report attributing the failure to management errors was controversial. (The report is performing the action of attributing)

In our sentence, the "patriarchal social structure" is the subject performing the action in the underlined phrase. Does a structure "attribute" something *to* a society? No, that doesn't make sense grammatically or logically. The structure itself is something that is characteristic *of* or is *linked to* the society. The structure is being described or linked, not performing an attributing action.

Therefore, "attributing to" is incorrect in this context.

Evaluating the Substitution Options

Let's look at the given options to find the correct phrase that accurately describes the relationship between the patriarchal social structure and the Indo-European pastoralist society.

• Option 1: to be attributed to the Indo-European

  This uses the passive infinitive "to be attributed". While "attributed to" is correct, the "to be" makes it sound like the structure is *going* to be attributed in the future, or it describes a purpose ("the structure *exists* to be attributed..."). This meaning doesn't fit the context, which describes an existing structure consistent *with* the society.

• Option 2: No improvement

  As discussed, the original phrase "attributing to" is incorrect in this context. So, this option is not correct.

• Option 3: attributed to the Indo-European

  This option uses the past participle "attributed" as part of a reduced relative clause (originally something like "which was attributed to..."). "Attributed to" is commonly used to mean 'regarded as characteristic of', 'caused by', or 'linked to'. For example, "This custom is attributed to ancient Roman traditions." In our sentence, the patriarchal social structure is being described as something that is characteristic of or linked to the Indo-European pastoralist society. This usage of "attributed to" is grammatically correct and makes perfect sense in the context.

• Option 4: attributed by the Indo-European

  This option suggests that the Indo-European society is doing the attributing. It implies the society is attributing the social structure *to* something else. For example, "The Indo-European society attributed their strength by divine favour." This is not the intended meaning. The sentence means the structure is characteristic *of* the society, not that the society is attributing something *by* it.

Conclusion: Selecting the Correct Option

Comparing the options, "attributed to the Indo-European" is the only grammatically correct and contextually appropriate phrase to describe the patriarchal social structure as being characteristic of or linked to the Indo-European pastoralist society.

Revision Table: Comparing Options

Additional Information: Using Participles in Sentence Structure

Participles (present -ing, past -ed) can be used to form participle phrases that function like adjectives, modifying a noun or pronoun. In the original sentence, "attributing to the Indo-European pastoralist society" functions as a phrase modifying "patriarchal social structure".

When using a participle phrase, the noun it modifies should be the one performing the action (for present participle) or receiving the action (for past participle) implied by the participle.

• Present participle (active): The dog, barking loudly, woke the neighbours. (The dog is performing the barking action)
• Past participle (passive/state): The car, damaged in the crash, was towed away. (The car received the damage)

In our sentence, the social structure is not performing the action of "attributing". Instead, it is the structure that is "attributed" or linked to the society. Therefore, the past participle "attributed" is needed to form a phrase that correctly describes the structure.

The phrase "attributed to the Indo-European pastoralist society" acts as an adjective phrase modifying "patriarchal social structure," indicating its connection to that society.