in spoken English

Seiichi MYOGA · Post by **Seiichi MYOGA** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:43 am

Do you accept (1) in spoken English, or rather do you think you would find yourself saying this?

(1) Driving in from the airport, the flags were fluttering proudly.

Thank you in advance
Seiichi MYOGA

(1) is cited from J. Humphrys, Lost for Words.

Andrew Patterson · Post by **Andrew Patterson** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 10:58 am

It sounds fine to me, Seiichi.

revel · Post by **revel** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 11:20 am

Hey!

I'd probably pen in the margin in red or green ink "Who's driving, the flags?"

peace,
revel.

Lorikeet · Post by **Lorikeet** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:10 pm

I'd rather see something like:

Driving in from the airport, we saw the flags fluttering proudly. or
As we drove in from the airport, the flags were fluttering proudly.

lolwhites · Post by **lolwhites** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:24 pm

So-called "dangling participles" are often frowned upon from their ambiguity, though context and common sense usually help to sort out what they refer to.

When I was at primary school, the headteacher, while berating us for the litter around the school, angrily said "I saw a sandwich walking down the corridor."

Seiichi MYOGA · Post by **Seiichi MYOGA** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 3:06 am

Dear all,
I appreciate your help and comments.

I think in spoken English especially, you may hear, or inadvertantly, even you may hear yourself speaking of, something like (1), but native speakers of English will disagree with (2) and (3), without any reservation.

(1) Driving in from the airport, the flags were fluttering proudly.
(2) The flags, driving in from the airport, were fluttering proudly.
(3) The flags were fluttering proudly, driving in from the airport.

Am I right?

Seiichi MYOGA

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