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JJDouglas Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Confusion over participle phrases.
I have become confused over the use of participle phrases, specifically on how to avoid ambiguity when there are two nouns in the sentence that the phrase could potentially apply to.
For instance, would you say the following is ambiguous?
"The Army retreated when they saw the enormity of the opposition approaching, forcing them to rethink their tactics. "
There are two nouns in the sentence: the army and the opposition. I mean for the participle phrase to apply to the opposition as they are the ones doing the "forcing". However, is it possible for this construction to be read as the army being the ones doing the "forcing"? If so, how should I change it to make the meaning clearer? Would taking out the comma help?
Here is another example I could think of. The participle phrase is meant to apply to "computer-generated imagery", not "the studio".
"The studio abandoned its techniques of stop-motion animation and puppetry when computer-generated imagery hit the industry, prompting them to make the switch to a more modern form of special effects."
Thank you for any help.
For instance, would you say the following is ambiguous?
"The Army retreated when they saw the enormity of the opposition approaching, forcing them to rethink their tactics. "
There are two nouns in the sentence: the army and the opposition. I mean for the participle phrase to apply to the opposition as they are the ones doing the "forcing". However, is it possible for this construction to be read as the army being the ones doing the "forcing"? If so, how should I change it to make the meaning clearer? Would taking out the comma help?
Here is another example I could think of. The participle phrase is meant to apply to "computer-generated imagery", not "the studio".
"The studio abandoned its techniques of stop-motion animation and puppetry when computer-generated imagery hit the industry, prompting them to make the switch to a more modern form of special effects."
Thank you for any help.
Top answer
A dollop of common sense will usually give the correct association. JJDouglas For instance, would you say the following is ambiguous? Not to me.
- A dollop of common sense will usually give the correct association.
- JJDouglas For instance, would you say the following is ambiguous?
- Not to me.
- Sometimes it helps to rewrite using a full clause: "The Army retreated when they saw the enormity of the opposition approaching, which forced them ( the Army) to rethink their tactics.
- " The only antecedent of " them " that makes sense is the army.
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1 Answers
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A dollop of common sense will usually give the correct association.
"The Army retreated when they saw the enormity of the opposition approaching, which forced them (the Army) to rethink their tactics. "
Th
JJDouglasFor instance, would you say the following is ambiguous?Not to me. Sometimes it helps to rewrite using a full clause:
"The Army retreated when they saw the enormity of the opposition approaching, which forced them (the Army) to rethink their tactics. "
Th
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