In literature (particularly fiction), there will often be examples of supplementary adjectives and absolute constructions in which a participle isn’t present. My question boils down to how we analyse such passages. My instinct tells me that the present participle ‘being’ has been omitted; however, it has been difficult to find sufficient evidence that supports my … Read more
Would the phrase “needless to say” be an absolute phrase (adverbial phrase that modifies the entire clause after it)? “Needless to say, I was super happy.“ Answer One definition of “absolute phrase” that is somewhat more extended than the one in the original question is as follows: An ABSOLUTE PHRASE is a MODIFIER (quite often … Read more
a finding that has shocked most observers. Full sentence: studies have shown that X is 60 percent of Y, a finding that has shocked most observers. What is your opinion. Isn’t it that the above is a clause? This is what I know – An appositive noun modifier, a type of modifier that NEVER appears … Read more
How do you think about this sentence? Is it ok grammatically? Having been in shape, I go to gym twice a week. ` Answer Grammatically it’s fine, except that gym is not one of those institutions (like school and church) that doesn’t need an article. So I go to the gym twice a week. As … Read more
I am working on a revision of an academic research paper. We performed some empirical studies and wrote a paper to demystify some common misunderstanding of certain techniques. One reviewer gave me comments saying that “the authors deal in emotional absolutes.” And further point out cases like “widespread and pessimistic views” of technique XXX, and … Read more
I just encountered the following sentence in The Oxford Guide to Style (p. 161) and could not figure out its structure: Since it⁽¹⁾ is being presented as a direct quotation it⁽²⁾ is treated as one, it⁽³⁾ being immaterial that the words are not in English. Why can the the final instance of the pronoun it, … Read more
I scooped her up. Her belly fit snugly into my palm ; a low continual grunting pulsed through her body . These sentences have been recited from the following link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/magazine/2004/07/11/the-goddess-of-flowers/f0ca69bf-fb03-47e2-bd6a-460073fbdf52/ Here, the subject of “a low continual grunting pulsed through her body” is different from the subject of “Her belly fit snugly into my … Read more
