Do these sentences sound natural

Question

#1 Arriving late for an appointment with the doctor, I had to wait for hours.

#2 Having arrived late for an appointment with the doctor, I had to wait for hours.

Do these two sentences sound natural to native speakers? Besides, which is more natural?

Clive · Accepted Answer

These participial structures are not very natural in terms of everyday, spoken English.
Consider instead saying
eg I was late for my doctor's appointment, so I had to wait for hours.

CalifJim · Answer

seagull #1 Arriving late for an appointment with the doctor, I had to wait for hours. #2 Having arrived late for an appointment with the doctor, I had to wait for hours. Do these two sentences sound natural to native speakers? Besides, which is more natural?

In your sentences the implication of the participial construction runs contrary to what is expected. These are saying

Because I arrived late, I had to wait for hours.

I don't see the causal connection. When I arrive late, I usually have to wait less time, not more. When I arrive early, I wait more time, not less.

I would have said, I didn't have to wait so long because I arrived late.

Arriving late is used more in writing. So is Having arrived late, but less often.

CJ

Seagull · Answer

I understand.
Thank you so much, Clive.

Seagull · Answer

Many thanks, CalifJim.

Yes, I understand your point. I meant to say something like, "I was late for the doctor's appointment, so I had to wait for hours." Maybe, the verb 'arrive' was used in the original question, but I'm not so sure because the book is not at hand right now. I think I'll ask about this question again after I retrieve the original text. Thank you again.

CalifJim · Answer

seagullI meant to say something like, "I was late for the doctor's appointment, so I had to wait for hours."

Yes. This is precisely the idea that I think is illogical. It sounds like the doctor punishes people who are late by making them wait longer than usual.

CJ

Clive · Answer

I think of it this way.
If I am late and my doctor is fully booked for the next 3 hours, then I may have to wait for 3 hours. (Or make another appointment for another day.)

Fivejedjon · Answer

CalifJim seagullI meant to say something like, "I was late for the doctor's appointment, so I had to wait for hours."Yes. This is precisely the idea that I think is illogical. It sounds like the doctor punishes people who are late by making them wait longer than usual.CJ

It's not 'punishment'. If you miss your appointment, you may need to wait until the doctor has a free time later.

CalifJim · Answer

fivejedjonIt's not 'punishment'.

I know that. I was thinking "as if".

fivejedjonIf you miss your appointment, you may need to wait until the doctor has a free time later.

It doesn't work that way for me here in the U.S. If I miss an appointment, I have to reschedule and come back. It would be extremely rare to be lucky enough to be seen later the same day. Maybe the original sentence makes sense if you're talking about a system where doctors allow "walk-ins", but then that wouldn't be associated with an appointment so I don't know what kind of health system you're talking about.

So Arriving late for an appointment with the doctor, I had to wait for hours still sounds to me like it's missing some logic. More logical to me is Arriving late for an appointment with the doctor, I had to reschedule the appointment. Maybe it's a national difference.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Set up 'appointment with the doctor in an earlier sentence, then express your lapse in a terse brief, 'I was late, so I had to wait.'

Seagull · Answer

#1 Having arrived late without an appointment, I had to wait to see the doctor.
#2 Arriving late without an appointment, I had to wait to see the doctor.

Which do you think sounds more natural?

(Regarding this question, I'm sorry that my earlier posting was not exactly correct.)

Do these sentences sound natural

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