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Spooner Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Present participle problem

"It was his duty, as her husband, to accompany her wherever she wanted to go, carrying her coat, ...."

My question is:

Isn't the underlined phrase ungrammatical given that the subject of the sentence is not the person who's performing the act of "carrying her coat"?

Please enlighten me.

Thanks
  

Top answer

Well, the subject is "it", and there's no possibility of thinking that "it" or, what amounts to the same thing, "his duty", could carry a coat, so I don't think there's any chance of confusion here. It's saying, in effect, He had to accompany her, carrying her coat. So the implied subject of 'carrying her coat' is not at all unclear.

— CalifJim

  • Well, the subject is "it", and there's no possibility of thinking that "it" or, what amounts to the same thing, "his duty", could carry a coat, so I don't think there's any chance of confusion here.
  • It's saying, in effect, He had to accompany her, carrying her coat.
  • So the implied subject of 'carrying her coat' is not at all unclear.
  • CJ
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3 Answers
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Well, the subject is "it", and there's no possibility of thinking that "it" or, what amounts to the same thing, "his duty", could carry a coat, so I don't think there's any chance of confusion here.

It's saying, in effect,

He had to accompany her, carrying her coat.

So the implied subject of 'carrying her coat' is not at all unclear.

CJ
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So, are you saying it's acceptable although it's ungrammatical as long as it's not confusing or are you saying it is grammatical?

Spooner
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I find it grammatical and acceptable.

CJ
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