Appositive or participle phrase

Question

The scientist working on the experiment, are taking great care to ensure that the experiment doesn't go wrong.

I'm confused if that (working on the experiment) is a participle phrase modifying the noun phrase ( the scientist) or is it an appositive.

But if it is an appostive wouldn't the sentence be like this

A sicentist ,working on the experiment, Robbie is taking great care to ensure that the experiment doesn't go wrong.

Also if it is an participle phrase would that make ( the scientist working on the experiment) a noun phrase.

correct me if im wrong thank you!

Swizzkickz · Accepted Answer

And also the second part of the senctence ( are taking great care
to ensure that the experiment doesn't go wrong)

what is (care) function as in this sentence. Is it a verb or a noun?

and what is (to ensure)(infinitive) function as, a noun, adverb or an adjective?

Grammarfreak · Answer

Swizzkickz The scientist working on the experiment, are taking great care to ensure that the experiment doesn't go wrong.

I would approach your sentence this way: First of all, "are " is incorrect as there was only one scientist. One may call " working on the experiment .." a reduced clause ( who is working on the ecperiment ...) but it is in fact a " participle phrase"

SwizzkickzAlso if it is an participle phrase would that make ( the scientist working on the experiment) a noun phrase.

No, it is not a noun phrase. "The scientist..." is a subject and " is " ( not are) is the linking verb pertained to he act of "taking great care to insure...." followed by a "that " clause.

Swizzkickz · Answer

correct me if im wrong

but ( the scientist working on the experiment)

working on the experiment ( participle phrase ) which is modifying ( the scientist)

so the COMPLETE SUBJECT IS ( the scientist working on the experiment) am i right?

and the simple subject is ( scientist) ?

and the subjects are always nouns,noun phrase or pronoun so ( the scientist working on the experiment) is a noun phrase am i not correct?

do you get where im coming from?

Grammarfreak · Answer

Swizzkickzand the subjects are always nouns,noun phrase or pronoun so ( the scientist working on the experiment) is a noun phrase am i not correct?

I don't follow your thought process. You said " subjects" but only one subject in the sentence, "scientist" was mentioned.
Again, "the scientist (working on the experiement) " is not a complete sentence because there isn't a fully functional verb in that structure. " Working on the experiement ..." is indeed a present participle phrase ( also known as adverbial) modifying "scientist". If you are not able to visualize it, maybe this sentence and web link can help:

The couple moving in next door is working for Apple.
subject participle phrase linking verb prep- phrase.

http://wp.stockton.edu/grammar/linking-verbs-and-participles/

Swizzkickz · Answer

i know there is only one subject in the sentence.

Im just saying that every subject is always a noun, pronoun or noun phrase ( or Whatever else functions as nouns e.g Gerund) yes?

And in this sentence!!!

The scientist working on the experiment is taking great care to insure that the experiment doesn't go wrong.

The sicentist (subject)

Working on the experiment (Present participle phrase) which is modifying the subject (the scientist) yes?

together ( The subject "the scientist") + (Present participle phrase "working on the experiment")

together they are a noun phrase are they not? which makes the complete subject. Following the subject is a verb phrase
"is taking" then predicate. yes?

RandomGuy · Answer

The scientist working on the experiment is taking great care to ensure that the experiment doesn't go wrong.

SwizzkickzI'm confused if that (working on the experiment) is a participle phrase modifying the noun phrase ( the scientist) or is it an appositive.

The gerund-participle clause working on the experiment modifies the noun scientist. It’s not an appositive because it doesn’t restate the noun, as Bill does in My friend Bill is in town.

Swizzkickzwould that make (the scientist working on the experiment) a noun phrase.

Yes, and it is the subject of the sentence.

SwizzkickzWhat does (care) function as in this sentence? Is it a verb or a noun?

It’s a noun, but noun isn’t a function; it’s a category like adjective, adverb, preposition, etc. Care functions as head of the noun phrase great care, which functions as object of the verb taking.

SwizzkickzAnd what does "to insure" function as

It functions as predicator in the clause to ensure that the experiment doesn't go wrong.

CalifJim · Answer

SwizzkickzThe scientists working on the experiment [no comma, please!] are taking great care to ensure that the experiment doesn't go wrong.

Take a look at this sentence:

Elizabeth II, the current queen of England, is the mother of Prince Charles.

Here, if we say "Elizabeth II", we refer to a specific woman in the world and no other; if we say "the current queen of England", we also refer to a specific woman in the world and no other; and both descriptions of this woman lead us to think of the same woman in the world. This is apposition.
__________________

To be in the relationship of apposition you need two noun phrases (like Elizabeth II and the current queen of England, above). Both noun phrases have to refer to the same thing in the real world. But scientists are people, and working on the experiment is an activity. People and activities are two completely different things, so there is no way that those two noun phrases (the scientists; working on the experiment) could refer to the same thing in the real world. This can't be apposition, and 'working on the experiment' can't be a noun phrase. Therefore, it's a participial construction, and it modifies 'scientists'. The scientists are not just any scientists; they are the scientists who are engaged in the activity of working on the experiment.

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

Swizzkickzthe COMPLETE SUBJECT IS ( the scientist working on the experiment) am i right?

Yes.

Swizzkickzthe simple subject is ( scientist) ?

Yes.

Swizzkickzthe subjects are always nouns,noun phrase or pronoun

Yes, but all those things are subsumed under the description 'noun phrase' (or NP), so you can just say that subjects are always NPs.

Swizzkickz( the scientist working on the experiment) is a noun phrase

Yes.

CJ

RandomGuy · Answer

I think it would be safer to say that subjects are usually NPs. Clauses can also function as subject, but they aren’t headed by nouns.

CalifJim · Answer

Swizzkickzthe second part of the senctence

Swizzkickz~~what is (care) function as in this sentence.~~ What word class does "care" belong to? Is it a verb or a noun?

It is a noun.

(Note the correct way to formulate your question. Use quotes "...", not parentheses (...) to mention the word you're talking about.)

Swizzkickz~~what is (to ensure)(infinitive) function as, a noun, adverb or an adjective?~~ What word class does "to ensure" belong to? Is it a noun, an adverb, or an adjective?

All infinitives are verbs. It is a verb. From the point of view of the meaning, this is an infinitive of purpose. Together with the rest of the sentence, it tells us why the scientists are taking great care.

CJ

Appositive or participle phrase

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