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Meansup Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Sentence structure
Hi.
I have a question as to this sentence.
[ Now would it be correct to say: So far no one has opened my skull in order to see whether there is a brain inside; but everything speaks for, and nothing against, its being what they would find there? ]
1. In this sentence, is the phrase [ ~, its being what they would find there? ] a participle clause?
That is, can we understand it as [ ~, since it is what they would find there? ]?
If this phrase is a participle clause, shouldn't we write it as [ ~, it being what they would find there? ]?
2. Or is this phrase gerunds?
That is, can we understand it as the object of [ for & against ], and [ its ] is the subject of V-ing(Gerunds)?
3. And I'm wondering if we can use the genitive [ its ] as the subject of the participle clause. Isn't only the subjective form [ it ] possible?
eg.) Because it was raining, we couldn't get outside.
-> It being raining, we couldn't get outside.
-> Its being raining, we couldn't get outside. [ ? ]
Is this acceptable? [ It raining, we couldn't get outside. ]
Thanks.
I have a question as to this sentence.
[ Now would it be correct to say: So far no one has opened my skull in order to see whether there is a brain inside; but everything speaks for, and nothing against, its being what they would find there? ]
1. In this sentence, is the phrase [ ~, its being what they would find there? ] a participle clause?
That is, can we understand it as [ ~, since it is what they would find there? ]?
If this phrase is a participle clause, shouldn't we write it as [ ~, it being what they would find there? ]?
2. Or is this phrase gerunds?
That is, can we understand it as the object of [ for & against ], and [ its ] is the subject of V-ing(Gerunds)?
3. And I'm wondering if we can use the genitive [ its ] as the subject of the participle clause. Isn't only the subjective form [ it ] possible?
eg.) Because it was raining, we couldn't get outside.
-> It being raining, we couldn't get outside.
-> Its being raining, we couldn't get outside. [ ? ]
Is this acceptable? [ It raining, we couldn't get outside. ]
Thanks.
Top answer
They both seem ungrammatical to me or at least highly unlikely. I think I'd just say 1. So far no one has opened my skull in order to see whether there is a brain inside; but everything speaks for, and nothing against, that that is ( exactly) what they would find there?
- They both seem ungrammatical to me or at least highly unlikely.
- I think I'd just say 1.
- So far no one has opened my skull in order to see whether there is a brain inside; but everything speaks for, and nothing against, that that is ( exactly) what they would find there?
- For the second, I'd probably say 2.
- Since it was raining, we coudn't get outside.
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7 Answers
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They both seem ungrammatical to me or at least highly unlikely. I think I'd just say
1. So far no one has opened my skull in order to see whether there is a brain inside; but everything speaks for, and nothing against, that that is ( exactly) what they would find there?
For the second, I'd probably say
2. Since it was raining, we coudn't get outside.
That said
1. So far no one has opened my skull in order to see whether there is a brain inside; but everything speaks for, and nothing against, that that is ( exactly) what they would find there?
For the second, I'd probably say
2. Since it was raining, we coudn't get outside.
That said
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In my opinion, "So far no one has opened my skull in order to see whether there is a brain inside; but everything speaks for, and nothing against, its being what they would find there" is correct English.
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GPYIn my opinion, "So far no one has opened my skull in order to see whether there is a brain inside; but everything speaks for, and nothing against, its being what they would find there" is correct English.On reflection, I think I wouldn't object to "...everything speaks for a brain being what they would find there..", but then "it being", rather tha
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IvanhrOn reflection, I think I wouldn't object to "...everything speaks for a brain being what they would find there..", but then "it being", rather than "its being", seems the correct choice. Do you agree with me , GPY?They are both acceptable. "its being" is traditionally and formally correct.
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Thanks for your answer.
Then, what you're saying is that we can see it as gerunds, but not a participle clause?
Then, what you're saying is that we can see it as gerunds, but not a participle clause?
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meansupThen, what you're saying is that we can see it as gerunds, but not a participle clause?In the "its being" form, I think "being" must be a gerund. I suppose in the "it being" form it is a participle.
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