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Pokh Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
ING- MODIFIER
I am really confused by these three different explanations. Can someone please help me understand what is the concept behind verb "ing" modifier. How to find out what it actually modifies? Listed below are couple of sentences and the explanation from ETS(red)
During the early years of European settlement on a continent that was viewed as "wilderness" by the newcomer, having intimate knowledge of the ecology of the land, Native Americans helped the rescue of many Pilgrams and pioneers from hardship, or even death.
During the early years of European settlement on a continent that was viewed as "wilderness" by the newcomer, knowing intimately the ecology of the land, Native Americans helped to rescue many Pilgrams and pioneers from hardship, or even death.
ETS: Both sentences are confusingly worded because they begin with present participles (having and knowing) that appear at first to refer to the immediately preceding noun, newcomers, rather than to Native Americans.
"The Parthenon was a church from 1204 until 1456, when Athens was taken by General Mohammed the Conqueror, the Turkish sultan, establishing a mosque in the building and using the Aeropolis as a fortress."
ETS says 'establishing and using modify Athens,"
"Five fledgling sea eagles left their nests in western Scotland this summer, bringing to 34 the number of wild"
ETS: "Bringing is the present participle of the verb to bring. As used here, it correctly describes an action that happens at the same time as the action in the main clause; bringing indicates that the number of wild birds became 34 when the five eagles left their nests."
To the historian Tacitus, the nephew of Pliny the Elder wrote two letters, being the only eyewitness accounts of the great eruption of Vesuvius."
ETS:the verb phrase that begins being the only eyewitness accounts modifies the subject of the preceding clause, suggesting nonsensically that the nephew of Pliny the Elder himself was the eyewitness accounts."
Thank you
During the early years of European settlement on a continent that was viewed as "wilderness" by the newcomer, having intimate knowledge of the ecology of the land, Native Americans helped the rescue of many Pilgrams and pioneers from hardship, or even death.
During the early years of European settlement on a continent that was viewed as "wilderness" by the newcomer, knowing intimately the ecology of the land, Native Americans helped to rescue many Pilgrams and pioneers from hardship, or even death.
ETS: Both sentences are confusingly worded because they begin with present participles (having and knowing) that appear at first to refer to the immediately preceding noun, newcomers, rather than to Native Americans.
"The Parthenon was a church from 1204 until 1456, when Athens was taken by General Mohammed the Conqueror, the Turkish sultan, establishing a mosque in the building and using the Aeropolis as a fortress."
ETS says 'establishing and using modify Athens,"
"Five fledgling sea eagles left their nests in western Scotland this summer, bringing to 34 the number of wild"
ETS: "Bringing is the present participle of the verb to bring. As used here, it correctly describes an action that happens at the same time as the action in the main clause; bringing indicates that the number of wild birds became 34 when the five eagles left their nests."
To the historian Tacitus, the nephew of Pliny the Elder wrote two letters, being the only eyewitness accounts of the great eruption of Vesuvius."
ETS:the verb phrase that begins being the only eyewitness accounts modifies the subject of the preceding clause, suggesting nonsensically that the nephew of Pliny the Elder himself was the eyewitness accounts."
Thank you
Top answer
One way to determining the word(s) being modified is to change the -ing phrase to a full relative clause, and see where it fits. g. Mary silenced the barking dog with a sharp command.
- One way to determining the word(s) being modified is to change the -ing phrase to a full relative clause, and see where it fits.
- g.
- Mary silenced the barking dog with a sharp command.
- -> Mary silenced the dog that was barking ...
- Sentence 1) During the early years of European settlement on a continent that was viewed as "wilderness" by the newcomer , knowing intimately the ecology of the land, Native Americans helped to rescue many Pilgrams and pioneers from hardship, or even death.
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2 Answers
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One way to determining the word(s) being modified is to change the -ing phrase to a full relative clause, and see where it fits.
I have seen these types of phrases referred to as "reduced clauses."
e.g.
Mary silenced the barking dog with a sharp command.
-> Mary silenced the dog that was barking...
Sentence 1)
During the early
I have seen these types of phrases referred to as "reduced clauses."
e.g.
Mary silenced the barking dog with a sharp command.
-> Mary silenced the dog that was barking...
Sentence 1)
During the early
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pokhDuring the early years of European settlement on a continent that was viewed as "wilderness" by the newcomer, having intimate knowledge of the ecology of the land, Native Americans helped the rescue of many Pilgrams and pioneers from hardship, or even death.I am going to toss in my two cents worth regarding the present
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