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Gavintlgold Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Usage of the phrase "As a noun, ..."
Hi, I've recently been fretting about a grammatical detail I had thought I understand, but which I may have gotten wrong all this time. Here's an example of the type of sentence I'm referring to:
I am quite sure that this sentence contains an error, as the soldier in the first part of the sentence is never referred to in the second half. However, I recently came across another variation of this:
As a soldier, your gun is very useful.
Previously, I had assumed this was a grammatical error, as, similarly to the first sentence, the subject is not well connected to the second half. But, according to an outside source, it's a perfectly valid sentence. Also, the subject of the second phrase is "people", so, other than contextually, what grammar connects the "soldier" with "me"? Could I get an explanation about this, hopefully comparing the two? Thanks in advance.
As a soldier, people making jokes about war annoys me.
Top answer
" If the sentence begins with "As a soldier," the subject of the next part has to do something as a soldier . " "As a soldier, your gun is very useful" is incorrect because your gun does not do anything as a soldier . " As a soldier, you will find your gun a very useful item" is okay.
- " If the sentence begins with "As a soldier," the subject of the next part has to do something as a soldier .
- " "As a soldier, your gun is very useful" is incorrect because your gun does not do anything as a soldier .
- " As a soldier, you will find your gun a very useful item" is okay.
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3 Answers
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I'll let someone else who knows the grammar terms bettern than I do explain what this error is called, but I can assure you that neither example is "a perfectly valid sentence." If the sentence begins with "As a soldier," the subject of the next part has to do something as a soldier. "As a soldier, I am annoyed when people make jokes about war." "As a soldier, your gun is v
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This is what I thought. I would like to verify with the actual sentence in question:
I originally thought this sentence w
As an English major, people not knowing the difference between the words "theory" and "hypothesis" irritates me way more than the variations of non-English words adopted by Starbucks to distinguish the size of their drinks from one another.
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As an English major, the author of that sentence should know better!
I think it's an example of a dangling or misplaced modifier.
Welcome to English Forums, gavintlgold. Your instincts are good!
I think it's an example of a dangling or misplaced modifier.
Welcome to English Forums, gavintlgold. Your instincts are good!
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