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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
An old but inextricable controversy
I have examined most famous English dictionaries, "when" and "while" cannot be the preposition in any circumstances. Therefore, they are conjunctions in both the sentences.
1. pls turn off the lights when leaving the room.
2. I sprained my ankle while playing tennis.
A conjunction can be followed by a participle but not a preposition, so "leaving" and "playing" are both participles above.
The same analogy applies to "before entering...", " after winning ...." and "since having been .... ".
Therefore, they are not the combinations of the preposition and the gerund.
However, for "with" and "by", since they are only the preposition. Because only the nominal is allowed to follow a preposition, so the "-ing form" after "with" and "by" must be a gerund.
I had been believing the above correct until yesterday I was told that before/after/since, but not while and when, can be the preposition and followed by the gerund as well. After a second thought, I realized he was correct too.
At long last, it has become an old but inextricable controversay.
Is there any conclusive answer to this problem?
1. pls turn off the lights when leaving the room.
2. I sprained my ankle while playing tennis.
A conjunction can be followed by a participle but not a preposition, so "leaving" and "playing" are both participles above.
The same analogy applies to "before entering...", " after winning ...." and "since having been .... ".
Therefore, they are not the combinations of the preposition and the gerund.
However, for "with" and "by", since they are only the preposition. Because only the nominal is allowed to follow a preposition, so the "-ing form" after "with" and "by" must be a gerund.
I had been believing the above correct until yesterday I was told that before/after/since, but not while and when, can be the preposition and followed by the gerund as well. After a second thought, I realized he was correct too.
At long last, it has become an old but inextricable controversay.
Is there any conclusive answer to this problem?
Top answer
Anon: Each case has to be analyzed. I don't see any controversies. Sometimes you will use a gerund, sometimes a participle, and sometimes a verb.
- Anon: Each case has to be analyzed.
- I don't see any controversies.
- Sometimes you will use a gerund, sometimes a participle, and sometimes a verb.
- Here are some examples: By raising your hand, you are voting for the motion.
- , gerund) Compare with: If/When you raise your hand, you are voting for the motion.
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2 Answers
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Anon:
Each case has to be analyzed. I don't see any controversies.
Sometimes you will use a gerund, sometimes a participle, and sometimes a verb. Here are some examples:
By raising your hand, you are voting for the motion. (prep., gerund)
Compare with:
If/When you raise your hand, you are voting for the motion. (conj., verb)
Please turn out the ligh
Each case has to be analyzed. I don't see any controversies.
Sometimes you will use a gerund, sometimes a participle, and sometimes a verb. Here are some examples:
By raising your hand, you are voting for the motion. (prep., gerund)
Compare with:
If/When you raise your hand, you are voting for the motion. (conj., verb)
Please turn out the ligh
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AlpheccaStarsSince having been appointed to the post, he has been doing very well.
(prep., gerund)
Compare with:
Since he was appointed to the post, he has been doing very well. (Conj., verb)
Thank you for your examples.
for your last example, shouldn't it be like this:
Since being appointed to the post, he has been doing v
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