Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Binch Lover]

Could somebody please help me with the following sentences:

1.
'The group was cautious about the future, saying the group was still "taking into account the uncertainty of the strength of the economic recovery".'

I wasn't sure how to explain the use of "saying". Is it a gerund?

2.
'Louis Vuitton continues to deliver an exceptional performance, sustained worldwide by the growth of its historic lines and by the success of its latest innovations.'

Again, I have a similar problem with "sustained". I told my student I wasn't entirely sure, but I thought that the conjunction was implied (i.e. 'which is sustained...'). I suspect there is a much better explanation.

PS: I'm not an idiot! Thanks

[jizza]

they're both participial phrases
http://mongryl.com/grammarshed/participial.phrases.html

[edwardcatflap]

yes what Jizza says is right. One of the most common types of participle clause is when people describe pictures or the like as in ......

e.g. What can you see in the picture.?
I can see a man running.

Language learners amost never use this structure, preferring to say things like. I can see a man. he is running. It's a very useful high frequency structure we should drill into students.

There are other uses of it such as

e.g. I sat on the beach, reading my book = ok

However you have to be careful as Korean students sometimes misuse it in this way


My mother telephoned me, lying on the sofa. (Who is lying)?