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Park sang joon Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Can we omit any non-finite verb?
I have made up the following clumsy examples for myself to find out the clue about the phrases without non-finite.
1) (Being) a foreigner, I can't speak English.
2) I have lived in the country, boys (being) guerrillas, in a state of civil war for three months.
3) I heard something, someone (saying) in whisper, that I couldn't understand.
I'd like to know which sentences are ungrammatical and what the reasons are.
Thank you in advance for your help.
1) (Being) a foreigner, I can't speak English.
2) I have lived in the country, boys (being) guerrillas, in a state of civil war for three months.
3) I heard something, someone (saying) in whisper, that I couldn't understand.
I'd like to know which sentences are ungrammatical and what the reasons are.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Top answer
Only #1 is possible. The others are not possible because the main subject and the subject of the non-finites are not the same, among other problems. You need to stop experimenting with textbook patterns and start paying attention to English as it is used: 1) I'm a foreigner, so I can't speak English.
- Only #1 is possible.
- The others are not possible because the main subject and the subject of the non-finites are not the same, among other problems.
- You need to stop experimenting with textbook patterns and start paying attention to English as it is used: 1) I'm a foreigner, so I can't speak English.
- 2) I have lived in the country, where the boys are guerrillas in a state of civil war, for three months.
- 3) I heard someone say something in a whisper that I couldn't understand.
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5 Answers
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Only #1 is possible. The others are not possible because the main subject and the subject of the non-finites are not the same, among other problems. You need to stop experimenting with textbook patterns and start paying attention to English as it is used:
1) I'm a foreigner, so I can't speak English.
2) I have lived in the country, where the boys are guerrillas in a state
1) I'm a foreigner, so I can't speak English.
2) I have lived in the country, where the boys are guerrillas in a state
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Thank you, Mr.Micawber, for your accounts and advice.
You need to stop experimenting with textbook patterns
I couldn't suppress my curiosity until now but I will from now on.
I admit to #3 being balderdash, without a general verb even though it is a non-finite verb form.
But in #2, I have put down 'the boys' as the subject of 'guerrillas', so the phrase isn't a da
You need to stop experimenting with textbook patterns
I couldn't suppress my curiosity until now but I will from now on.
I admit to #3 being balderdash, without a general verb even though it is a non-finite verb form.
But in #2, I have put down 'the boys' as the subject of 'guerrillas', so the phrase isn't a da
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park sang joonWhy is #2 ungrammatical?It is not ungrammatical—it is nonsensical.
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You're welcome. You must admit that I do have patience... of a sort.
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