Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[klafterreith]

Downhill you can reach speeds of 50km/h


Is the position of `downhill�grammatically correct? is it a serious mistake?

[lotus]

Hi,

Just add "going" and it would be just fine.

Going downhill, you can reach speeds of 50km/hr.


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda

[rice07]

Hi Teacher Lotus

Sorry for my jumping in!

reduced clauses with when and while

It is often possible to leave out subject + be after when( especially when it means whenever), and after while. This is rather formal.

Don't forget to signal when you are turning right.
=Don't forget to signal when turning right.

Climb when you are ready.
=Climd when ready.

While he was in Germany, he got to know a family of musicians.
=While in Germany, he got to know a family of musicians.

According to the above, I'm wondering if adding When going to the sentence Klafterreith raised would be fine?

You can reach speeds of 50km/hr when you are going downhill.
=When you are going downhill, you can reach speeds of 50km/hr.
=When going downhill, you can reach speeds of 50km/hr.

I quoted that theory above from a grammar book, and in that book it took when/while clauses as adverbial clauses in this case. Perhaps your suggestion on the question could be a form of gerund phrase if I wasn't misunderstood, or rather, When could be dropped. Would you be able to expound on this point for me?

I would appreciate it if you could help... !

BTW, maybe I got it? But I suppose those -ing clauses are participle ones. Like:

1.You are going downhill. You can reach speeds of 50km/hr.
=(Being) Going downhill, you can reach speeds of 50km/hr.

2.He has nothing to do, he feels bored.(incorrect)

=>Having nothing to do, he feels bored.

3. adverbial clauses: Putting down my paper, I ...

Participle clauses can also be used in similiar ways to full adverbial clauses, expressing condition, reason, time relations, result etc. (This can only happen, of course, when the idea of condition, reason etc is so clear that no conjunction to signal it.) Adverbial participle clauses are usually rather formal.

Going downhill, you can reach speeds of 50km/hr.
=If you go downhill, you can reach speeds of 50km/hr.