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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Reduced passsive adverbial clauses
Could you help me with another reduced adverb clause question?
I found these two sentences from different grammar books.
When an applicant is chosen for a job, she signs a contract.
When chosen for a job, she signs a contract. (From Advanced Grammar, p. 182)
Before the patient was released, he had to sign a hospital form.
Before being released, the patient had to sign a hospital form (From The Advanced Grammar Book, p. 209).
To me, both sentences (in purple) are passive voice. Why is one reduced by removing be-verb while the other be-verb is changed to -ing? I can't find any explanation for this anywhere :/
I found these two sentences from different grammar books.
When an applicant is chosen for a job, she signs a contract.
When chosen for a job, she signs a contract. (From Advanced Grammar, p. 182)
Before the patient was released, he had to sign a hospital form.
Before being released, the patient had to sign a hospital form (From The Advanced Grammar Book, p. 209).
To me, both sentences (in purple) are passive voice. Why is one reduced by removing be-verb while the other be-verb is changed to -ing? I can't find any explanation for this anywhere :/
Top answer
This is a function of the different properties of "before" and "when". " is wrong because "before" cannot be followed (in a relevant sense) by a past participle. On the other hand, it can be followed by a present participle.
- This is a function of the different properties of "before" and "when".
- " is wrong because "before" cannot be followed (in a relevant sense) by a past participle.
- On the other hand, it can be followed by a present participle.
- In a way, this is because the former is adjective-like while the latter can be noun-like.
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2 Answers
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This is a function of the different properties of "before" and "when". "Before released ..." is wrong because "before" cannot be followed (in a relevant sense) by a past participle. On the other hand, it can be followed by a present participle. In a way, this is because the former is adjective-like while the latter can be noun-like.
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GPYThis is a function of the different properties of "before" and "when". "Before released ..." is wrong because "before" cannot be followed (in a relevant sense) by a past participle. On the other hand, it can be followed by a present participle. In a way, this is because the former is adjective-like while the latter can be noun-like.I have to admit that I'm
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