as if

Question

The lad started, as if awakened from some dream. Is the above a complete setence?Shouldn't it be:The lad started, as if HE WAS awakened from some dream.Thank you

Zerox · Accepted Answer

Hmm.. I don't know, looks fine to me, although, I'm not totally sure. To me it just looks like a normal past participle, and since the lad is the subject in both, "he was" is just omitted, avoiding repetition.

Cool Breeze · Answer

The sentence is correct. It could also be:
The lad started, as if he had been awakened from some dream. (In fact, I would prefer that.)

The structure you are asking about is a good example of a clause equivalent. They are plentiful in English.

Cheers
CB

BW2/3 · Answer

May I ask what is 'clause equivalent'?

Would you give me a few examples?

Thank you Cool Breeze

Cool Breeze · Answer

In a clause there is usually a subject and a main verb In this example, the main clause is in purple and the subordinate clause (this time a relative clause) is embedded in it:
The man who is walking down the street is John Brown.

The relative clause can be shortened by omitting the subject (who) and part of the main verb (is). The resultant structure is a clause equivalent:
The man walking down the street is John Brown.

More examples of different kinds of clauses that can be shortened:

When John was asked, he said nothing.
When asked, John said nothing.

Although / Even though Jane lived in Portugal for years, she didn't learn the language very well.
Though living in Portugal for years, Jane didn't learn the language very well.

The cards that were written yesterday have been mailed.
The cards written yesterday have been mailed.

As / Since / Because I was tired, I only wanted to rest.
Being tired, I only wanted to rest.

Clause equivalents can be very illogical; e.g. you can't use being in a relative clause equivalent:
The book which is on the table is mine.
The book being on the table is mine. (WRONG!)

English wouldn't be English if it weren't sometimes possible to have even a subject in a clause equivalent:
If the weather permits, we'll take a morning walk.
Weather permitting, we'll take a morning walk.

Don't ask me why the article (the) must be left out before weather!

I didn't invent the English langauge.

Cheers
CB

BW2/3 · Answer

Thank you very much Cool Breeze for your very helpful explanations

Yoong Liat · Answer

The lad started, (Shouldn't be 'startled'?) as if awakened from some dream.

Nona the brit · Answer

No. To start - when your body makes a little jump/motion when surprised

Marius Hancu · Answer

Shouldn't this be started up? Guess not, if he remains seated.
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start up

to sit up or stand up suddenly because you are surprised
When he saw me, he started up and looked highly embarrassed.

(from http://www.cambridge.org/elt/elt_projectpage.asp?id=2500248)
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Nona the brit · Answer

No, just 'started'. It isn't a literal jump to your feet, just when your body involuntarily tenses and jerks a bit. It's what you would do if someone crept up behind you and shouted 'Boo!'.

Common uses are :

he gave a start

she started

Inchoateknowledge · Answer

1. The book being on the table is mine. (WRONG!)

Why?

2. The book which is on the table is mine.

If we perform whiz deletion in 2. (which/who + any inflections of to be can be deleted from a relative clause), we get 1.

as if

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