Forums » ESL, Rules of English Grammar, Help and Games » ESL General English Grammar Questions » 13. Driving by anger, John slapped across Mary,s face.

13. Driving by anger, John slapped across Mary,s face.
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Angliholic  #476873  Thu, 14 Feb 08 02:22 PM
Driving by anger, John slapped across Mary’s face.
  
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Angliholic  #476875  Thu, 14 Feb 08 02:27 PM
Sorry! I messed this thread up!
Here is my question! Do both of the following sound right to you?

Driven by anger, John slapped across Mary’s face.
Driven by anger, John slapped across Mary.
  
Hoa Thai  #476880  Thu, 14 Feb 08 02:54 PM

Angliholic
Sorry! I messed this thread up!
Here is my question! Do both of the following sound right to you?

Driven by anger, John slapped across Mary’s face. OK - Or "Driven by anger, John slapped Mary across her face."
Driven by anger, John slapped across Mary. Not OK.
  
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khoff  #476887  Thu, 14 Feb 08 03:17 PM
Driven by anger, John slapped Mary // slapped Mary's face // slapped Mary across the face.
  
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CalifJim  #477108  Fri, 15 Feb 08 03:56 AM
 1.  You need the past participle in these sentence opening constructions with by.

Driven by anger, Disappointed by the results, Frightened by a gunshot,  ...

2.   The syntax you're looking for is not Verb + Prep + Possessive + Body Part.

You want Verb +  Person + Prep + the + Body Part

slapped Mary across the face

touched Marty on the cheek

poked Joe in the ribs

cut Tom on the arm 

You leave out the preposition and the if you use the possessive.  Verb + Possessive + Body Part

slapped Mary's face

touched Marty's cheek

 poked Joe's ribs

cut Tom's arm

CJ 

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