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BW2/3 Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
error analysis
I was thinking a cat with its marble eyes holding a dead bird looked like a devil while it was running right across me at the sidewalk.
Is this sentence ok? Is it grammatical?
Thank you
Is this sentence ok? Is it grammatical?
Thank you
Top answer
Hello BW I wouldn't say it was ungrammatical, exactly; but there are some strange aspects to it. For instance, it might be better to say "holding a dead bird in its mouth". Is it part of an exercise in which you have to use several clauses in one sentence?
- Hello BW I wouldn't say it was ungrammatical, exactly; but there are some strange aspects to it.
- For instance, it might be better to say "holding a dead bird in its mouth".
- Is it part of an exercise in which you have to use several clauses in one sentence?
- MrP
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11 Answers
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Hello BW
I wouldn't say it was ungrammatical, exactly; but there are some strange aspects to it. For instance, it might be better to say "holding a dead bird in its mouth".
Is it part of an exercise in which you have to use several clauses in one sentence?
MrP
I wouldn't say it was ungrammatical, exactly; but there are some strange aspects to it. For instance, it might be better to say "holding a dead bird in its mouth".
Is it part of an exercise in which you have to use several clauses in one sentence?
MrP
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Hello MrP,
No, it was not an exercise. I really saw the cat about ten mintues ago. It was scarey when we looked at each other,especially its holding the dead bird in its mouth.
No, it was not an exercise. I really saw the cat about ten mintues ago. It was scarey when we looked at each other,especially its holding the dead bird in its mouth.
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Oh, I see!
Yours is certainly a vivid version. If I try to put it into everyday English, it doesn't express the same degree of strangeness:
MrP
Yours is certainly a vivid version. If I try to put it into everyday English, it doesn't express the same degree of strangeness:
Very lame. So perhaps you should stick with your version.
"When the cat with its marble eyes and a dead bird in its mouth ran in front of me on the sidewalk, I thought it looked like a devil."
MrP
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Hi guys,
Isn't the Internet a strange and wonderful thing, to permit this odd event to be told to people all around the world? Now we can all share your thought about this cat with its marble eyes.
Thanks, Clive
Isn't the Internet a strange and wonderful thing, to permit this odd event to be told to people all around the world? Now we can all share your thought about this cat with its marble eyes.
Thanks, Clive
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Perhaps:
I was/am still thinking about that cat with its marble eyes holding a dead bird; it looked like a devil, running right across my way, on the sidewalk.
I was/am still thinking about that cat with its marble eyes holding a dead bird; it looked like a devil, running right across my way, on the sidewalk.
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Hi BW,
I asked my cat here in Canada about this incident. He didn't want to talk, but I think he knows about it.
Best wishes, Clive
I asked my cat here in Canada about this incident. He didn't want to talk, but I think he knows about it.
Best wishes, Clive
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Funny, I asked my cats about it, and basically they told me that it had been several hours since they had last gotten a treat, and oh, by the way, the box needs to be cleaned. Clearly, Clive, your cat is in on it, and mine are oblivious.
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Last night I dreamt about the cat with eyes like marble.
When I awoke, there was a dead bird on the pillow.
(I have no cat.)
MrP
When I awoke, there was a dead bird on the pillow.
(I have no cat.)
MrP
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