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Bamtori Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

ING form for the last verb

"She sifted through the evidence bags and selected one, handing it to him."

Teachers, please help me with this. I've always had a problem with this kind of structure using its ~ing form for the last verb in a sentence, like "haning it to him" in this one. Can I just write it like, "She sifted through the evidence bags and selected one, and then handed it to him."
  

Top answer

" Teachers, please help me with this. I've always had a problem with this kind of structure using its ~ing form for the last verb in a sentence, like "handing it to him" in this one. " Yes, you could write it that way.

— Clive

  • " Teachers, please help me with this.
  • I've always had a problem with this kind of structure using its ~ing form for the last verb in a sentence, like "handing it to him" in this one.
  • " Yes, you could write it that way.
  • However, the use of the -ing form suggests that 'the handing' was immediately after, almost at the same time as, 'the selecting process'.
  • In your rewritten version, this simultaneous aspect is less strong.
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3 Answers
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Hi,

"She sifted through the evidence bags and selected one, handing it to him."

Teachers, please help me with this. I've always had a problem with this kind of structure using its ~ing form for the last verb in a sentence, like "handing it to him" in this one. Can I just wr
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Thank you so much, Clive.[K]
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Hi,

You're welcome. Emotion: wink

Clive
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