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English 1b3 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Were functioning as both a linking verb and an auxiliary

The two characters were angry, not happy.

What if I change the first to a verb phrase (see below), rather than a linking verb:

I thought that the two main characters in the original movie were killed by the antagonist, not survivors of the battle.

'not' is an adverb of contrast here.

Is the sentence OK, even though the contrast starting at 'not' (with an ellipted and) is between a verb phrase (passive voice) and a predicate nominative? (Perhaps the only problem is that it's not parallel).

Thanks
  

Top answer

You could change "not survivors" to "and were not survivors". This would arguably be better English, but it reads a little awkwardly. The meaning of the original sentence is quite clear as it stands, and would certainly not need to be changed if spoken, rather than written.

— Anonymous

  • You could change "not survivors" to "and were not survivors".
  • This would arguably be better English, but it reads a little awkwardly.
  • The meaning of the original sentence is quite clear as it stands, and would certainly not need to be changed if spoken, rather than written.
  • Alternatively, how about changing "not" to "rather than being" or to "instead of being"?
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1 Answers
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You could change "not survivors" to "and were not survivors". This would arguably be better English, but it reads a little awkwardly. The meaning of the original sentence is quite clear as it stands, and would certainly not need to be changed if spoken, rather than written.
Alternatively, how about changing "not" to "rather than being" or to "instead of being"?
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