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H M Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
absolute participial construction??
Could you tell me if my understanding is correct regarding the sentence below?
#1
Subjects were given a questionnaire with a set of situation, asking them whether they would go ahead and make a decision, or wait for a later time to make that decision.
My reference book says that “asking them whether…” is absolute participial construction. Also, “asking” can be replaced as “which asked” (I can understand this)
But in my understanding, when using absolute participial construction, its subject should be the same with the sentence subject, which is “Subjects” in this sentence. Otherwise, the subject should be placed before absolute participial construction.
So, I feel like, “asking” works as adjective which qualifies “a questionnaire”.
Could you tell me if my understanding is correct?
If not, could you explain how absolute participial construction works in the sentence above?
I can understand “asking” can be replaced with “which asked” though…
Thank you very much!
#1
Subjects were given a questionnaire with a set of situation, asking them whether they would go ahead and make a decision, or wait for a later time to make that decision.
My reference book says that “asking them whether…” is absolute participial construction. Also, “asking” can be replaced as “which asked” (I can understand this)
But in my understanding, when using absolute participial construction, its subject should be the same with the sentence subject, which is “Subjects” in this sentence. Otherwise, the subject should be placed before absolute participial construction.
So, I feel like, “asking” works as adjective which qualifies “a questionnaire”.
Could you tell me if my understanding is correct?
If not, could you explain how absolute participial construction works in the sentence above?
I can understand “asking” can be replaced with “which asked” though…
Thank you very much!
Top answer
H M My reference book says that “asking them whether…” is absolute participial construction. Your reference book is in conflict with the information I have read on the absolute construction. I have always seen it defined as a participial construction that has its own explicit subject .
- H M My reference book says that “asking them whether…” is absolute participial construction.
- Your reference book is in conflict with the information I have read on the absolute construction.
- I have always seen it defined as a participial construction that has its own explicit subject .
- The keys having been lost, it was impossible to open the shop that day.
- The bridge being in disrepair, the citizens voted to raise taxes to repair it.
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4 Answers
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H MMy reference book says that “asking them whether…” is absolute participial construction.Your reference book is in conflict with the information I have read on the absolute construction. I have always seen it defined as a participial construction that has its own explicit subject.
The keys having been lost, it was impossible to op
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Thank you for your prompt reply! Yes, I also understand the absolute construction the same way.
I seemed that my words were short... I should have said that the reference book belongs to the text book (in which, there is #1 sentence) says that "asking..." is participial construction. Then, judging from its English-Japanese translation, the subject of "asking..." is "a questionnaire" ....
I seemed that my words were short... I should have said that the reference book belongs to the text book (in which, there is #1 sentence) says that "asking..." is participial construction. Then, judging from its English-Japanese translation, the subject of "asking..." is "a questionnaire" ....
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H Mcould you tell me how "asking..." works in the sentence #1 grammatically?It's a participial clause that modifies questionnaire.
A participial clause is sometimes an alternative to a relative clause.
I filled out a questionnaire asking my age. / I filled out a questionnaire that asked my age.
The man standing in t
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CalifJimIt's a participial clause that modifies questionnaire.I got it!
Thank you very much!! :-)
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