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Footballtom Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

How Will You Expand the sentence?

(this is not a MC question from an exercise book/homework/ exam papers. I create this sentence, simply wanting to know how the original sentence was devised. )

Original sentence: "I contacted Ms Jones, informing her that her son had been killed in a car accident."

which of the following sentences will be the most appropriate expansion retaining the meaning of original sentence?

a) I contacted Ms Jones in order to inform her that her son .........

b) I contacted Ms Jones while informed her that her son .........

c) I contacted Ms Jones. Ms Jone informed her that her son...........

d) I contacted Ms Jones, which informed her that her son...........

e) None of the above. the original sentence is grammatically incorrect.

I frequently see this sentence structure similar in my daily life but not sure whether it is correct.

=
According to my understanding, -ing participle usually give additional information about condition, reason, result or time not mentioned in main clause.

So answer a) and b) could be true.

Nevertheless, the -ing participle can also be devised from/shorten from relative clause

1) i contacted Ms Jone, which inform her that her son........ answer d)

2) i contacted Ms Jones who informed her that her son........ answer c)

Hence, answer c) and d) could be correct too!

In terms of meaning, answer d make more sense but it seems grammatical incorrect as well. In terms of grammar, answer a looks better but seems weird in terms of meaning.

  

Top answer

I see the relationship thus: I contacted Ms Jones and informed her that .... 'in order to' tells us the purpose of the call, but it doesn't mean that I actually informed Ms Jones of anything. Maybe the phone connection went dead before I said anything.

  • I see the relationship thus: I contacted Ms Jones and informed her that ....
  • 'in order to' tells us the purpose of the call, but it doesn't mean that I actually informed Ms Jones of anything.
  • Maybe the phone connection went dead before I said anything.
  • The original phrasing with 'informing' means I really did inform her, not just that I intended to inform her.
  • CJ
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1 Answers
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I see the relationship thus:

I contacted Ms Jones and informed her that ....

'in order to' tells us the purpose of the call, but it doesn't mean that I actually informed Ms Jones of anything. Maybe the phone connection went dead before I said anything.

The original phrasing with 'informing' means I really did inform her, not just that I intended to inform her.

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