Syntax- přednášky

The following sentences all contain wrongly attached participle. Rewrite them correctly:

1. Standing waiting for a bus, a dog suddenly attacked me.

• When I was standing waiting for a bus, a dog suddenly attacked me. / Standing waiting for a bus, I was attacked by a dog.

1. Returning to the room, several of her most valued possessions were missing.

• Returning to the room, she found that several of her most valued possessions were missing.

1. Having already eaten, most of the food was wasted.

• As they had already eaten, most of the food was wasted./ Having already eaten, we wasted most of the food.

1. Weighed down by business worries, the holiday was a great relaxation for him.

• Weighed down by business worries, he found the holiday a great relaxation to be.

1. Being very gifted musically, her father made her practice every day.

• Being very gifted musically, she was made to practice every day.

Make a gerund phrase out of the words in parentheses.

1. (they, break off, negotiations, so soon) was quite unexpected.

• Their breaking off negotiation so soon was quite unexpected.

1. (he, return, reward money) surprised the donor.

• His returning of reward money surprised the donor. – his = subject

1. I can’t understand (they, reject, advice, their lawyer).

• I can’t understand their rejecting the advice of their lawyer.(I can’t understand WHAT? – functions as an object)

1. No one was aware of this presence because of (he, enter, room, so quietly).

• No one was aware of this presence because of his entering the room so quietly.

1. The doctor suggested (he, see, psychiatrist).

• The doctor suggested his seeing a psychiatrist.

Supply the required preposition and the gerund form of the verb in parentheses.

• I am looking forward (see) you again. → I am looking forward to seeing you again.

• Can I plan (see) the new house soon? → Can I plan to see the new house soon? / Can I plan seeing the new house?

• Nothing will deter him (continue) his experiment. → Nothing will deter him from continuing his experiment.

Participle or Gerund?

1. I hate speaking in the public.

• Gerund - object

1. I’ve never resented your always being right. (2 different subjects)

• Gerund – object (gerund phrase with its own subject)

1. I blame myself for not having foreseen this development.

• Gerund – perfect form – object

1. A wise subordinate lets his superior run out of valuable suggestions before advancing his own.

• Gerund/Participle – BOTH – object (“before” can be preposition or conjunction)

1. No one can get in without being let in.

• Gerund – object

1. He was standing by the big globe, studying it, probably picking out a spot for me to be exiled to.

• Participle

1. Having been brought up exclusively in England, she could not understand the situation.

• Participle – in finite structure it would be an adverbial clause of reason

1. John was not surprised, having noticed this tendency before.