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#2 (permalink) Sun Oct 08, 2006 9:51 am Phrase: "His money running out..." |
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Hi Tom
I'd say it's a participial phrase functioning as an adjective and it modifies he.
Having no other choice, he took the job.
Smiling broadly, Sue explained her momentous discovery.
Having not studied at all, he failed the test. _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
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#3 (permalink) Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:02 am Participial phrase |
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Hi Tom,
Just one word of warning: make sure the subject of the phrase is the same subject of the main verb.
Here is a classic example of what not to write:
Walking down the street, his hat blew off.
What's wrong with that? I've written it small because it's wrong!
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13891 Location: UK
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#4 (permalink) Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:16 am Russian classic prose |
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| Alan wrote: |
Here is a classic example of what not to write:
Walking down the street, his hat blew off.
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Hi
Funny, but the classic Russian example of this mistake "Arriving the station, my hat blew off" © Anton Chechov
seems to be almost acceptable when translated in English directly. :) Or not? _________________ It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water… |
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Tamara I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 25 May 2006 Posts: 1577 Location: UK
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#5 (permalink) Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:40 am Russian classic prose |
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In other words: in my view, the obvious confusion in my (translated) example would be only if I used the Passive form in the second part (‘was blown off’ for hat), instead of Active (as it is in the original version of the Chechov's joke). _________________ It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water… |
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Tamara I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 25 May 2006 Posts: 1577 Location: UK
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#6 (permalink) Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:45 am Phrase: "His money running out..." |
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Hi Tamara
I suspect most people would understand the intended meaning of "Arriving at the station, my hat blew off". But technically speaking, this sentence implies that only the hat arrived at the station. :lol:
Amy _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
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#7 (permalink) Sun Oct 08, 2006 11:17 am Phrase: "His money running out..." |
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Thank you everybody.
Just one more question:
If I wrote the sentence this way would it be wrong?
With his money running out, he took a job as a dishwasher.
Tom |
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Tom I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 2103
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#8 (permalink) Sun Oct 08, 2006 11:17 am Phrase: "His money running out..." |
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Yes, thank you, Amy. I first posted it right, but then "corrected". 'Perfect Is the Enemy of (the?) Good', you know. :)
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| only the hat arrived at the station. |
:) _________________ It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water… |
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Tamara I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 25 May 2006 Posts: 1577 Location: UK
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#9 (permalink) Sun Oct 08, 2006 11:27 am Alternative sentence |
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| Tom wrote: |
Thank you everybody.
Just one more question:
If I wrote the sentence this way would it be wrong?
With his money running out, he took a job as a dishwasher.
Tom |
That would also be correct Tom. |
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Conchita Language Coach

Joined: 26 Dec 2005 Posts: 2826 Location: Madrid, Spain
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| 'Much' + countable nouns? | Difference between industrious and hard working |