Reduced adverbial clauses with 'being'

Question

Adverbial clauses can be reduced by omitting the subject and the verb to be:

Why does the reduced version in bold have the word being inserted. I'm pretty sure it's just because it is passive voice and thus requires it the verb to be, but I want a further explanation of possible

He was sent to hospital after he was attacked by a man.

He was sent to hospital after being attacked by a man=reduced

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But why is being inserted in this sentence? Is it implying it was progresive aspect or what?

He will try to blind you with references to his own success, while being incompetent and expecting you to pick up the pieces.

Wouldn't the original have been this?

He will try to blind you with references to his own success, while he was incompetent and expecting you to pick up the pieces.

Thanks a load.

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

English 1b3He was sent to hospital after he was attacked by a man.

He was sent to hospital after being attacked by a man=reduced

You're on the right track![Y] After is a preposition in the sentence and all prepositions are followed by the ing form of a verb. Was is a form of to be and that's why being must be used.

English 1b3He will try to blind you with references to his own success, while being incompetent and expecting you to pick up the pieces.

Wouldn't the original have been this?

He will try to blind you with references to his own success, while he was incompetent and expecting you to pick up the pieces.

A progressive aspect may come to your mind, and I don't blame you if it does. After all, expecting implies that as well. Actually, is should be used instead of was since it goes better with will in the main clause. Being is often used in reduced clauses, or clause equivalents, as they are also called. The meaning of being is very often causal, implying a reason. (Being tired, I went to bed. = Because I was tired, I went to bed.)

That isn't the case in your sentence, though, and being could well be omitted: He will try to blind you with references to his own success, while incompetent and expecting you to pick up the pieces. I'm not sure the meaning is automatically clear in that sentence. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. Perhaps we'll get other opinions.

CB

Reduced adverbial clauses with 'being'

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