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Komountain Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
Dangling
Hi.
You cannot say:
(1) "After eating lunch, my bike was fixed."
Instead, you should say:
(2) "After eating lunch, I fixed my bike."
Here, the related rule is a dangling modification.
However, this rule doesn't seem to apply to the 'by -ing' patterns.
(3) "By inserting the word 'or,' the ambiguity can be removed from the sentence."
This sounds okay at least to my ears, even though the sentence represents a case of breach of the rule.
(4) "By sailing south, Australia can eventually be reached."
This sounds very awkward to me.
And how about the "in -ing" patterns?
(5) "In learning English, the most important thing is ...."
Can't we say this way?
I would rewrite this sentence as foolows:
(6) "The most important thing in learning English is ...."
With this, the problem of "dangling" has disappeared. If both (5) and[6]are correct, dangling seems to have something to do with the position of the phrase in question.
I'd appreciate your comments on this.
You cannot say:
(1) "After eating lunch, my bike was fixed."
Instead, you should say:
(2) "After eating lunch, I fixed my bike."
Here, the related rule is a dangling modification.
However, this rule doesn't seem to apply to the 'by -ing' patterns.
(3) "By inserting the word 'or,' the ambiguity can be removed from the sentence."
This sounds okay at least to my ears, even though the sentence represents a case of breach of the rule.
(4) "By sailing south, Australia can eventually be reached."
This sounds very awkward to me.
And how about the "in -ing" patterns?
(5) "In learning English, the most important thing is ...."
Can't we say this way?
I would rewrite this sentence as foolows:
(6) "The most important thing in learning English is ...."
With this, the problem of "dangling" has disappeared. If both (5) and[6]are correct, dangling seems to have something to do with the position of the phrase in question.
I'd appreciate your comments on this.
Top answer
Hi, Komountain san Very good questions! I too can't fix this problem. I am also waiting for Moderators to answer to your questions in detail.
- Hi, Komountain san Very good questions!
- I too can't fix this problem.
- I am also waiting for Moderators to answer to your questions in detail.
- paco
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57 Answers
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Hi, Komountain san
Very good questions! I too can't fix this problem.
I am also waiting for Moderators to answer to your questions in detail.
paco
Very good questions! I too can't fix this problem.
I am also waiting for Moderators to answer to your questions in detail.
paco
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Hello Komountain
1) "After eating lunch, my bike was fixed." - you're correct: this sentence is wrong, and suggests that the bike had eaten lunch, which only happens in Polish cartoons.
(2) "After eating lunch, I fixed my bike." - you're right: 'eating' relates to 'I'.
(3) "By inserting the word 'or,' the ambiguity can be removed from the sentence." -
I would s
1) "After eating lunch, my bike was fixed." - you're correct: this sentence is wrong, and suggests that the bike had eaten lunch, which only happens in Polish cartoons.
(2) "After eating lunch, I fixed my bike." - you're right: 'eating' relates to 'I'.
(3) "By inserting the word 'or,' the ambiguity can be removed from the sentence." -
I would s
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Uh uh, MP.
I understand 'eating' in (1) is also a gerund. All the '-ing' forms in my examples share the same nature of a gerund. But, judging from your comments (for which I am thankful), they are treated differently.
You suggest reversing the positions proves the sentences are correct.
In case of (1), however, the reverse doesn't seem to work, does it?
I understand 'eating' in (1) is also a gerund. All the '-ing' forms in my examples share the same nature of a gerund. But, judging from your comments (for which I am thankful), they are treated differently.
You suggest reversing the positions proves the sentences are correct.
In case of (1), however, the reverse doesn't seem to work, does it?
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Komountain san
'After' works as a preposition but please remind 'after' also does work as a conjunctive.
I fixed my bike after I took lunch.
=After taking lunch, I fixed my bike.
Most native speakers seem to interpret this 'after' as a conjunctive rather than as a preposition.
paco
'After' works as a preposition but please remind 'after' also does work as a conjunctive.
I fixed my bike after I took lunch.
=After taking lunch, I fixed my bike.
Most native speakers seem to interpret this 'after' as a conjunctive rather than as a preposition.
paco
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Hi, paco.
Yes, 'after' has a double fuction.
But I'd like to focus on the "after -ing" patterns and here the word 'after' is a preposition, not a conjunctive. Your last line "Most .... preposition" sounds persuasive, but I still doubt its verity. Do you native speakers have such subconsciousness?
Yes, 'after' has a double fuction.
But I'd like to focus on the "after -ing" patterns and here the word 'after' is a preposition, not a conjunctive. Your last line "Most .... preposition" sounds persuasive, but I still doubt its verity. Do you native speakers have such subconsciousness?
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Hello Komountain, hello Paco
I'm sorry, I was a little unclear: I intended the 'reversing clauses' method to be taken simply as a trial by ear. So in sentence 1, for instance, reversing the clauses accentuates the absurdity of the sense.
Gerunds and participles are indeed slightly controversial. Some people say that 'after + -ing' = 'preposition + gerund'; some say that it = '
I'm sorry, I was a little unclear: I intended the 'reversing clauses' method to be taken simply as a trial by ear. So in sentence 1, for instance, reversing the clauses accentuates the absurdity of the sense.
Gerunds and participles are indeed slightly controversial. Some people say that 'after + -ing' = 'preposition + gerund'; some say that it = '
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MrP
Thank you for the very interesting discussion!
I was taught that "after + -ing" is a phrase similar to
"as + -ing",
"while + -ing" or
"when + -ing".
But sounds the interpretation differs from person to person.
I'd like to hear opinions of other native speakers.
paco
Thank you for the very interesting discussion!
I was taught that "after + -ing" is a
"as + -ing",
"while + -ing" or
"when + -ing".
But sounds the interpretation differs from person to person.
I'd like to hear opinions of other native speakers.
paco
00
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Well, yes, I agree that "while" and "when" are conjunctives, but as for "as -ing," I beg to differ. I believe "as" in the "as -ing" patterns in particular is regarded AS (beING) a preposition. My understanding is: when an "as + clause" is reconstructed into a participial construction, "as" should not be shown.
As I had met him before, I could recognize him.
->As having met him b
As I had met him before, I could recognize him.
->As having met him b
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Hello Komountain
I think an example of 'as + participle' would be:
'He was quoted as saying...'
MrP
I think an example of 'as + participle' would be:
'He was quoted as saying...'
MrP
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