April 15, 2021
Need to understand some sentences' structures
Hi, can anyone please help me in understanding the following three sentences structure:
* We can't continue in this way without there being dire consequences.
(How is being used in the above sentence?) is it used before an adjective (dire)?
* Offshore windfarms located out at sea can provide a partial solution to the problems.
(What does located out mean in the above sentence?)
*Continued use of fossil fuels will have dire consequences in the long term.
(Is continued here in passive voice?)
Correction Settings
Need to understand some sentences' structures
Hi, can anyone please help me in understanding the following three sentences' structure:s?
Hi, can anyone please help me in understanding the following three sentences' structures?
Colon isn't necessary, but if you're determined to use it you need to separate it out from the question. "Can anyone help me? I'd like to understand the structures of these sentences:"
(How is "being" used in the above sentence?) i Is it used before an adjective ("dire")?)
(How is "being" used in the above sentence? Is it used before an adjective ("dire")?)
It's often really helpful to put words like this in quotes, when you aren't actually *using* them. It took me a few seconds to work out that you weren't saying "How is [something] being used in the above sentence?"
(What does "located out" mean in the above sentence? )
(What does "located out" mean in the above sentence?)
(Is continued here in passive voice?)
Feedback
I think the key term here is "participle". I believe, though I'm not certain, that "being" (or "there being") is a present participle, and "located" is a past participle. "Continued" could be a participle but I think it's just an adjective. I'm not very well educated on participles, so I'm sure you can find much more helpful discussion on them if you search now that you know the word! But I'll tell you what I can.
"We can't continue in this way without there being dire consequences." - If we continue in this way, there will be dire consequences. I think this sentence formation is really only used in this one specific way, it's almost a set phrase, and it's quite formal/literary. Really difficult to explain.
"Offshore windfarms located out at sea can provide a partial solution to the problems." - This one's much simpler. It's just a shortened way to say "Offshore windfarms that are located out at sea". It's functioning as an adjective, like "Windfarms that are offshore", but because it's a participle we can sort of put it in a verb-y place. "located at sea" would mean something very similar, but we often add "out" when we're talking about things that are in the sea, for some reason. And we use "at sea" sometimes to make it sound like it's sort of... supposed to be there? Placed there, deliberate, for some purpose. Especially for things that are floating or otherwise on/above the water. The wreck of the Titanic is in the sea, but it is not AT sea.
"Continued use of fossil fuels will have dire consequences in the long term." - Simpler still. I believe this is just an adjective meaning "uninterrupted", modifying "use". Like "Careless use of a circular saw will have dire consequences for your fingers."
April 16, 2021
Thank you so much for explaining this in detail. wow! I didn't know that "continued" can be an adjective. I think past participle follows by 'by' in a sentence is actually passive for example: Being motivated by money is inappropriate. So here motivated by money is in passive form, right? :D
April 16, 2021
I searched on the internet about adjectives end with "ed" and found that an adjective that ends in -ED is used to describe: a feeling (or how a person feels) or an emotion. It is used to describe a temporary thing. Since only people (and some animals) have feelings, -ed adjectives cannot be used to describe an object or situation. So I think 'Continued' is used here as passive because it's not an emotion or feeling.
April 16, 2021
Money motivates me -> I am motivated by money. Yes, that's right :)
The thing about -ed is very interesting! One of those things you never really notice as a native. But there are exceptions (there are always exceptions): a fried egg, melted chocolate. A finished product, a winged aircraft. It's obvious that most of them are derived from the past participle, but grammatically they can be used as pure adjectives without signifying anything more than any other adjective would.
In fact generally past participles can simply be used as adjectives. You definitely shouldn't be thinking that past participle means passive voice. It's how passive voice is formed, but they have many other uses too. A broken window, an interesting book, an exciting adventure, a fallen tree. All past participles (except the present ones - whoops), all functioning as adjectives, no connection to the voice of the sentence. I tripped over the fallen tree -> the fallen tree was tripped over (by me).
April 16, 2021
Thank you so much! You corrected my concept as I was really confused :)))
April 16, 2021
It can be a confusing language :) Glad to help!
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(Is continued here in passive voice?) This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Need to understand some sentences' structures This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Hi, can anyone please help me in understanding the following three sentences structure:
Hi, can anyone please help me in understanding the following three sentences' structure Colon isn't necessary, but if you're determined to use it you need to separate it out from the question. "Can anyone help me? I'd like to understand the structures of these sentences:" |
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* We can't continue in this way without there being dire consequences. |
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(How is being used in the above sentence?) is it used before an adjective (dire)?
(How is "being" used in the above sentence? It's often really helpful to put words like this in quotes, when you aren't actually *using* them. It took me a few seconds to work out that you weren't saying "How is [something] being used in the above sentence?" |
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* Offshore windfarms located out at sea can provide a partial solution to the problems. |
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(What does located out mean in the above sentence? )
(What does "located out" mean in the above sentence? |
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*Continued use of fossil fuels will have dire consequences in the long term. |
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