'the majority of them being children '?

Question

Dear teachers,I've  found the following sentence in 'TIME FOR KIDS".'Nearly 800,000 of these cases result in death, the majority of them being children in Africa.'Can I translate the sentence into one below?'Nearly 800,000 of these cases result in death, and the majority of them are children in Africa.'I feel the use of 'being' unnatural...Thank you in advance.Hiroshi

Avangi · Accepted Answer

The first version is perfectly natural, and quite common among "educated" speakers. You might call it "high register." I'll agree that you won't find it in casual conversation.

You correctly altered the second version to make the second phrase a clause.
I'd say the second phrase in the original is an appositive.
Your version would be natural to a broader audience.

The problem I do have with both of them is that the antecedent of "them" is not clear. Cases, or deaths?
We're equating "cases" to "children." It may be okay.

Would you say, "These two cases are children (in Africa)"? I suppose if you're in the business.
"Johnny Jones is case number seventeen."

'the majority of them being children '?

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