Which of these sentences has its modifiers correctly placed?

Question

A. Officially opened to traffic on August 15, 1914, the Panama Canal has served world trade ever since.

 

B. Officially opened to traffic on August 15, 1914, world trade has been served ever since by the Panama Canal.

 

C. World trade, officially opened to traffic on August 15, 1914, has been served ever since by the Panama Canal.

Answer 1

"Officially opened to traffic on August 15, 1914,"  is an adjectival phrase modifying (telling us more) about the noun phrase "the Panama Canal"....NOT world trade.  In other words, world trade did not officially open to traffic on August 15, 1914.  B is wrong.  C is wrong because the adjectival, parenthetical phrase set off by commas "Officially...." does not give us accurate information about world trade. The adjectival phrase gives us more information about the Panama Canal, as noted above..

 

Notes:

"Ever since" is an adverbial phrase modifying the verb phrase "has been served" telling us when the Panama Canal "has served"

 

Additionally, there is the contrast between transitive and intransitive verbs in the options.  

In option A, the verb is transitive as it has "world trade" as the receiver of the action.

Opitns B and C reflect intransitive verbs since there is no receiver of the verb phrase "has been served"