-ing

Question

Hi,I have a question in regards to verb+ing. In the sentence:"We can distinguish eight regions, each corresponding to one qualitative orientation (labeled 0 - 7) and the location b corresponding to no orientation."why is it "each corresponding to.." and not "each corresponds to.."? Are they both valid? How are they different?Cheers,Michael

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Hi, I have a question in regards to verb+ing. In the sentence: "We can distinguish eight regions, each corresponding to ... orientation." why is it "each corresponding to.." and not "each corresponds to.."? Are they both valid? How are they different?[/nq]
It's a matter of sentence structure, specifically, how the added information is attached to the main clause "We can distinguish eight regions". In the version above, the added information is a complement consisting of two gerund phrases, not two clauses.

To use "corresponds to", you'd have to say "each of which corresponds to ..., and the location b corresponds to ..." because the added information is now in a subordinate relative clause followed by an independent clause conjoined with "and". Another way to use "corresponds to" in that sentence is to break it into two sentences, the initial main clause and a second sentence that begins "Each region corresponds to ...".
In the sentence you quoted, "corresponding" is a verbal but not a main verb, nor is it part of the present progressive form "is corresponding", which would not be idiomatic in standard English or standard American.

Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor
For email, replace numbers with English alphabet.

Usenet · Answer

I see. Why is a gerund phrase valid here? Is "each" modifying the gerund phrase?
Cheers,
Michael

Usenet · Answer

...
} which would not be idiomatic in standard English or } standard American.
Oy!
It's bad enough when the English do that. This here is just too Coopish to let pass sans comment.

R. J. Valentine

Usenet · Answer

Michael Dayzman:
[nq:1]"We can distinguish eight regions, each corresponding to one qualitative orientation (labeled 0 - 7) and the location b corresponding to no orientation."[/nq]
The sentence is punctuated as if location b was one of the eight regions, but the labeling from 0 to 7 makes it clear that it is not. There must be a second comma after the clause that starts with "each" and ends with ")".
[nq:1]why is it "each corresponding to.." and not "each corresponds to.."? Are they both valid? How are they different?[/nq]
"Each corresponds" would start a new sentence or a clause that has the same form as a complete sentence; such a clause cannot modify a noun, as the version with "corresponding" does. "We can distinguish eight regions, each corresponding..." but "We can distinguish eight regions; each corresponds..." or "We can distinguish eight regions. Each corresponds..."
In this case the "corresponding" version is better because we want the eight regions and the location b to jointly form the object of the verb "distinguish"; with a "corresponds" version it would be harder to make that work.

Mark Brader, Toronto > "What Europe needs is a fresh, unused mind." (Email Removed) > Foreign Correspondent

My text in this article is in the public domain.

Usenet · Answer

Doesn't the phrase "corresponding to..." modify the noun "regions"? Isn't the object for th everb "distinguish" the noun "regions"?

Cheers,
Michael

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Doesn't the phrase "corresponding to..." modify the noun "regions"? Isn't the object for th everb "distinguish" the noun "regions"? Cheers, Michael[/nq]
Michael, your posts are showing up without any previous quoted material, which makes it hard for the rest of us to understand. This is a problem caused by the Google interface. The fix is to choose "Show Options" and then the "Reply" which is next to "Reply to Author."

Best wishes Donna Richoux

Usenet · Answer

Oh, I'm so sorry; I should have replied to the group.

Sorry about that.
Michael

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]In this case the "corresponding" version is better because we want the eight regions and the location b to jointly form the object of the verb "distinguish"; with a "corresponds" version it would be harder to make that work.[/nq]
Why is the object of the verb "distinguish" the phrase "corresponding to.." and not the noun "regions"? Doesn't the phrase "corresponding to.." modify "regions" and so shouldn't it be a participial phrase?

Cheers,
Michael

Usenet · Answer

Mark Brader:
[nq:2]In this case the "corresponding" version is better because we ... "corresponds" version it would be harder to make that work.[/nq]
Michael Dayzman:
[nq:1]Why is the object of the verb "distinguish" the phrase "corresponding to.." and not the noun "regions"?[/nq]
It is the noun "regions", or rather, that's part of it. The thing is that "each corresponding" can serve as a modifier of "regions", but "each corresponds" cannot.

Mark Brader, Toronto, (Email Removed) > "...but I could be wromg." Rodney Boyd

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I see. Why is a gerund phrase valid here? Is "each" modifying the gerund phrase?[/nq]
[nq:1]I agree with evrything Franke said above (bar the part that's currently getting him a kicking), except for the use ... know, and therefore I hope I don't. Maybe both. Maybe someone will come along and clear up the confusion. Cybercypher?[/nq]
As I hear it, it is a phrase applying to 'regions', and 'each' is a pronoun, whose antecedent is 'regions'. It does convey the same meaning of individual applicability as if it were an adverb or adjective.

john

-ing

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions