Giving back

Question

Oxygen also joins with the trace elements, forming metal oxides and phosphates. It is these compounds that make up the solid ash, which is an excellent fertilizer, giving back nearly all the minerals originally taken from the soil.

Hi,
I have two questions:
1. Is "giving back" the equivalent of "which gives back" in the above context?

2. "giving back" modifies the fertilizer or the solid ash?

Thank you.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

sb700121. Is "giving back" the equivalent of "which gives back" in the above context?

Yes.

sb700122. "giving back" modifies the fertilizer or the solid ash?

fertilizer

Sb70012 · Answer

Thank you.

Is the sentence still acceptable if we remove "which is an excellent fertilizer"?

I mean: Oxygen also joins with the trace elements, forming metal oxides and phosphates. It is these compounds that make up the solid ash giving back nearly all the minerals originally taken from the soil.

Mister Micawber · Answer

sb70012Is the sentence still acceptable if we remove "which is an excellent fertilizer"?

Not really, because then we have no indication of how it is given back to the soil.

Sb70012 · Answer

One native English speaker in thefreedictionary forum gave me a different answer:

"giving back" is what the solid ash does as it breaks down. So giving back is related to the ash.

"which is an excellent fertilizer" is a parenthetical phrase that describes, or provides additional information about, the solid ash.

Don't you agree with him/her?

Thank you.

Mister Micawber · Answer

sb70012Don't you agree with him/her?

Obviously not...but then, it could also refer to 'compounds'. It is a trivial argument.

CalifJim · Answer

sb700121. Is "giving back" the equivalent of "which gives back" in the above context?

I prefer to say it's closer to "thus giving back" or "thereby giving back".

sb700122. "giving back" modifies the fertilizer or the solid ash?

I can't quite make myself see this as an adjectival modifying clause (i.e., as a reduced relative clause), which is suggested in your paraphrase "which gives back", but it does have associations with both 'fertilizer' and 'ash'.

The verb fertilize, though buried in the noun fertilizer, is the focal point. It is the first predicate of 'the solid ash'. The connection is oblique, so it makes for a somewhat inept construction. We almost think it should read ... these compounds make up... ash, which fertilizes the soil extremely well, (thus) giving back nearly all .... As is typical of these constructions, the participle clause provides a second predicate.

The solid ash fertilizes. The solid ash gives back the minerals.
>
The solid ash fertilizes, giving back the minerals.

More obscurely, i.e., as written,

The solid ash is a fertilizer, giving back the minerals.

Or, restoring the relative clause construction (which in my opinion obscures the relationships even more):

... the solid ash, which is an excellent fertilizer, giving back ....
______________

I realize that this analysis is somewhat unorthodox and that others may have different opinions.

CJ

Sb70012 · Answer

CalifJim I prefer to say it's closer to "thus giving back" or "thereby giving back".

Then, you mean option D (thereby giving back) can also be correct?

Oxygen also joins with the trace elements, forming metal oxides and phosphates. It is these compounds that make up the solid ash, which is an excellent fertilizer,……………. nearly all the minerals originally taken from the soil.

A. give back
B. giving back (Answer)
C. and gives back
D. thereby giving back

CalifJim · Answer

sb70012Then, you mean option D (thereby giving back) can also be correct?

Yes, I think it's possible. However, we don't usually make the relationship (thereby) explicit at the beginning of a participle clause. We leave it to the reader to work it out. Besides, thereby would be more appropriate if the sentence used the verb fertilize. For this reason, B may be just a little better as an answer. I find it hard to decide because I don't think the sentence is really as good as it could be. In my opinion those who wrote this exam item could have done a better job of it.

CJ

Giving back

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