According to the traditional RYB (red-yellow-blue) color model, yellow is a complementary color to purple. However, yellow ________ considered complem...

Sentence Structure

• According to the traditional RYB (red-yellow-blue) color model,
  • yellow
    • is a complementary color to purple.

• However,
  • yellow
    • [?] considered complementary to blue
      • in modern color theory.

Understanding the Meaning

The first sentence tells us about traditional color theory:

• 'According to the traditional RYB (red-yellow-blue) color model'
  • Sets up that we're talking about an older way of thinking about colors
• 'yellow is a complementary color to purple'
  • In this traditional model, yellow and purple are opposites/complements

Now the second sentence starts with a contrast:

• 'However, yellow...'
  • This signals we're about to hear something different

This is where we have the blank. Let's look at the choices:

• is
• having been
• to be
• being

To see what works here, let's read the rest of the sentence:

• 'yellow ______ considered complementary to blue in modern color theory'

What do we notice about the structure here?

• The word 'considered' is sitting right after our blank
  • 'Considered' needs a helping verb before it to make a complete verb phrase
• This is describing what happens to yellow - yellow receives the action of being considered
  • So we need: helping verb + 'considered'
• In the present tense, when something receives an action, we use: 'is' + past participle
  • Here: 'is' + 'considered' = 'is considered'

The correct answer is Choice A: is

This creates: 'yellow is considered complementary to blue in modern color theory'

• A complete verb phrase
• Shows the contrast: traditional model says yellow complements purple, but modern theory says yellow complements blue

GRAMMAR CONCEPT APPLIED

Completing Passive Voice Verb Phrases

When the subject of a sentence receives an action rather than performing it (called passive voice in grammar terms), you need a complete verb phrase made of two parts:

Form of "to be" + Past Participle

Examples:

• The report is written by the team (present tense)
• The results were analyzed carefully (past tense)
• The theory is considered valid (present tense)

In our question:

• Subject: "yellow"
• Past participle waiting for help: "considered"
• Present tense form of "to be": "is"
• Complete phrase: "yellow is considered complementary to blue"

Why only "is" works:

• "is" + "considered" = complete passive voice verb phrase ✓
• "having been considered" = incomplete participle phrase ✗
• "to be considered" = infinitive, not a complete verb ✗
• "being considered" = incomplete participle phrase ✗

A sentence needs a complete verb phrase as its backbone. In passive voice constructions with a past participle like "considered," you must include a form of "to be" to create that complete phrase.