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Eddie88 Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Hard question on ing phrase, free modifiers
Recently, I've been trying to add variety to my writing, so I learned about summative modifiers, resumptive modifiers and the 17 types of free modifiers. They are all straight foward, but I have a question regarding the relationship between ing phrases and relative clauses. Ing phrases and relative clause are both types of free modifiers, and they both function adjectivally. So I wondered when- if ever- one but not the other can be used.
Below, it appears that the two ing phrases are simply reduced relative clauses, proving the two free modifiers can be used interchangeably.
The restaurant serves excellent sushi, providing flavor you can’t get anywhere else and making you want to come back for more.
The adviser urged us to be sensitive to our neighbours, implying that we might offend someone verbally.
Here however, the verb phrase (ing phrase) acting as a free modifier doesn't appear to be a reduced relative clause, so I assume that sometimes they are interchangeable, and sometimes they are not. Is this true?
Here is another sentence, and this one is interchangeable:
Julia was standing on the corner, stroking her pet monkey.
Could be turned into a relative clause:
Julia, who was stroking her pet monkey, stood on the corner.
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Thanks in advance.
Below, it appears that the two ing phrases are simply reduced relative clauses, proving the two free modifiers can be used interchangeably.
The restaurant serves excellent sushi, providing flavor you can’t get anywhere else and making you want to come back for more.
The adviser urged us to be sensitive to our neighbours, implying that we might offend someone verbally.
Here however, the verb phrase (ing phrase) acting as a free modifier doesn't appear to be a reduced relative clause, so I assume that sometimes they are interchangeable, and sometimes they are not. Is this true?
Here is another sentence, and this one is interchangeable:
Julia was standing on the corner, stroking her pet monkey.
Could be turned into a relative clause:
Julia, who was stroking her pet monkey, stood on the corner.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks in advance.
Top answer
Hi Eddie: I am neither a professional linguist, nor a grammarian. But I can think about your question on modifiers. The most important clue you have to ask yourself is.
- Hi Eddie: I am neither a professional linguist, nor a grammarian.
- But I can think about your question on modifiers.
- The most important clue you have to ask yourself is.
- "What is being modified".
- Once you have identified what is being modified, then you can contemplate the conversion from phrase to clause (main clause or relative clause) and vice versa.
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2 Answers
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Hi Eddie:
I am neither a professional linguist, nor a grammarian.
But I can think about your question on modifiers.
The most important clue you have to ask yourself is. "What is being modified". Once you have identified what is being modified, then you can contemplate the conversion from phrase to clause (main clause or relative clause) and vice versa. Relative clauses always
I am neither a professional linguist, nor a grammarian.
But I can think about your question on modifiers.
The most important clue you have to ask yourself is. "What is being modified". Once you have identified what is being modified, then you can contemplate the conversion from phrase to clause (main clause or relative clause) and vice versa. Relative clauses always
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Hi, again.
Ing phrases function as adjectives, like relative clauses, so they always modify/describe a noun, like relative clauses.
So in the sentence, which you asked about, the ing phrases modify the restaurant.
In this sentence, the ing phrases can be converted into relative clauses. Also, you will notice that these phrases are the same as reduced relative clauses. B
Ing phrases function as adjectives, like relative clauses, so they always modify/describe a noun, like relative clauses.
So in the sentence, which you asked about, the ing phrases modify the restaurant.
In this sentence, the ing phrases can be converted into relative clauses. Also, you will notice that these phrases are the same as reduced relative clauses. B
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