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Reducing adj. clause to phrase!

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Latest post Thu, Apr 23 2009 1:00 AM by Clive. 1 replies.
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BlackBlitz  +  700151 Wed, 22 Apr 09 11:11 PM
On a website, some adj. phrase has an ommitted "since" in the beginning.


"[Since] having been a office worker, he knew how to use a computer"

Clause: "Since he has been a officer worker, he knew how to use a computer".


The "having been" is an adjective modifying the noun "he".


However, what about after prepositions that also act as conjunctions at times.


"Before going to the mall, he dropped by the library"


The website says "going to the mall" is a gerund as it follows the preposition "before". However, judging from the example above, I might disagree. =S


"Before *he goes the mall*, he dropped by the library".


Now the "going to the mall" modifies "he" and is not an object of the preposition.


Can someone clear me up on this?
BlackBlitz
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Best answer by Clive  +  700167 Thu, 23 Apr 09 01:00 AM
Hi,

The website says "going to the mall" is a gerund as it follows the preposition "before". However, judging from the example above, I might disagree. =S

I agree with the website.

Consider that you can say 'Before going to the mall' (ie gerund) or 'Before lunch' (ie noun).

 

Consider also these simpler examples of how 'before' conveys meaning.

 

Before driving his car to Montreal, he played the guitar.

This means that when he finished playing the guitar, he got in his car and drove to Montreal.

 

Driving his car to Montreal, he played the guitar.

The police stopped hm and gave him a ticket, because he was playing the guitar while he was  driving his car. Stick out tongue" src="" mce_src="/emoticons/emotion-4.gif">

 

Best wishes, Clive

 
Clive
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