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Zuotengdazuo Posted 9 years ago
Grammar
Why "clenched"?
Her brother followed, one hand still clenched hard around his sword hilt.
I read the sentence above in A Game of Thrones. I am wondering why the author uses "clenched" here? Shouldn't it be "clenching"?
Thank you for your enlightenment.
Top answer
"one hand still clenching" would have the sense of an active verb, the subject of verb "clench" being "hand". e. e.
- "one hand still clenching" would have the sense of an active verb, the subject of verb "clench" being "hand".
- e.
- e.
- the person clenched his hand.
- The latter is the more natural expression.
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1 Answers
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"one hand still clenching" would have the sense of an active verb, the subject of verb "clench" being "hand".
"one hand still clenched" has the sense of a passive verb, i.e. the hand is clenched, i.e. the person clenched his hand.
The latter is the more natural expression.
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