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Electrum Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

These codices being

Here's a sentence from Mail Online:

The fact that a figure is portrayed would appear to rule out these codices being connected to mainstream Judaism of the time, where portrayal of lifelike figures was strictly forbidden because it was considered idolatry.

Is this 100% correct? I would have written these codices' being or better yet the connection of these codices.
  

Top answer

Hi, All three ways are standard. Perhaps the apostrophe is more often used with people (eg Tom's being . ) rather than with things, as in your example.

— Clive

  • Hi, All three ways are standard.
  • Perhaps the apostrophe is more often used with people (eg Tom's being .
  • ) rather than with things, as in your example.
  • Clive
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9 Answers
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Hi,

All three ways are standard.

Perhaps the apostrophe is more often used with people (eg Tom's being . . ) rather than with things, as in your example.

Clive
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CliveAll three ways are standard.
I know the Mail's construction is so widely used that it is probably regarded as standard, but I parse the phrases thus:

codices being connected = Noun governing participial phrase, the noun being the direct object of the verb rule out. Paraphrase: rule out the codices that are being connected

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CliveAll three ways are standard.[/q

What I'm trying to do is get you to justify your statement or provide an authority. This is one of the topics that has been on my mind for some months. Where I am, I have no access to books about English grammar.

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Hi,

All I meant was, as you said,
. . . the Mail's construction is so widely used that it is probably regarded as standard . . .

Good luck with having your own language.

Clive
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CliveAll I meant was, as you said,
. . . the Mail's construction is so widely used that it is probably regarded as standard . . .

Good luck with having your own language.
OK, thanks
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Mail Online is OK in contemporary English - the use of the possessive as the subject of a gerund has been declining when the gerund phrase is the direct object.
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AlpheccaStarsthe use of the possessive as the subject of a gerund has been declining when the gerund phrase is the direct object.
I've noticed that. The question is whether it is logical.

Let me note that in the case of a name, it would be more understndable.

because of Tom being away on vacation (rather than Tom's)

Sin
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The fact that a figure is portrayed would appear to rule out these codices being connected to mainstream Judaism of the time, where portrayal of lifelike figures was strictly forbidden because it was considered idolatry.
electrumRule out the codices or rule out their connection?
rule out the possibility that these codices are connected to ...

CJ
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CalifJimThe fact that a figure is portrayed would appear to rule out these codices being connected to mainstream Judaism of the time, where portrayal of lifelike figures was strictly forbidden because it was considered idolatry.
electrumRule out the codices or rule out their connection?
rule out the possibility that these codices are co
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