Grammar question (advanced level )

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi. Can you kindly elaborate on which option can be correct and why? ( much obliged in advance )

Mr. Hill decided to offer the position to Henry, ………… .

  1. Having rejected his job offer by Bill
  2. Bill having rejected his job offer
  3. Bill rejecting his offer
  4. Being rejected his offer by Bill
2

#2 is correct.

3

can you say why? I cannot understand what the structure is.
subject + having + participle sounds awkward to me. What was the grammar topic? and what was the main (or previous ) form of this sentence?

4

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Hello,

I thought that you might be interested in this information.

  1. “Bill having rejected his job offer” is called by grammar books a nominative absolute phrase.

  2. An absolute phrase consists of a noun (Bill) + a participle (having rejected).

  3. The absolute phrase often comes first, but it can also come later.

  4. Here are some examples from one of my books:

a. The sun having set, darkness slowly descended.
b. The train was late, the bridges having been swept away by the flood.

  1. Absolute phrases are regularly used as an adverb, indicating reason, time, etc.

CREDIT: the above information is from English Review Grammar by Walter Kay Smart.

  1. The following are only my thoughts:

a. I think that it is accurate to say that we use absolute phrases usually in writing. If you were to speak like this on a regular basis, other people would think that you were weird.

b. In regular conversational English, I think that your sentence would be something like:

Mr. Hill decided to offer the job to Henry because / since Bill had rejected it.

c. As you can see, your sentence – using the absolute – sounds more elegant.

James

5

Dear James
I, hereby, convey my heartfelt thanks to you for the invaluable help extended to me in procuring Knowledge of Grammar.It has been a great pleasure to receive your viewpoint about my Questions indeed.I hope that I can ask more questions from you.
. Reciprocating your kindness is not possible yet I like to assure you that you will always find me at your service (through Email ). I’m eternally grateful for your precise elaborations.( My email: Roozbeh_sh90@yahoo.com and my facebook : Roozbeh Shahlai.)

I’m a English teacher ( with trifle knowledge :wink: ) In IRAN.I hadn’t seen this topic ( a nominative absolute phrase ) in All my grammar sources before. ( such as: Practical English grammar by Micheal Swan / Use of English by Mark Harrison/ Longman Advanced Learner’s Grammar by Mark Foley and … ) and unfortunately I have no access to “English Review Grammar”. your point was useful for me. about this form : " since/because Bill had rejected it " I completely agree with you and this sounds more natural to me.

Sincerely yours
R.Shahlai

6

Thank you very much for your extremely kind note.

Mr. Swan’s book is, indeed, wonderful, but – as you know – he concentrates on telling us how English is spoken and written. He does not pay much attention to terminology.

I think that you will be able to find a lot of useful information by searching for “nominative absolute phrase” on the Web.

Thanks again so much.

James

P.S. I am not sure, but I think that these language forums prefer that posters NOT give their email addresses. Sadly, there are some people on the Web who are not nice people. So it is important to protect your private information.

Whenever you have a question about English grammar, you will find many native speakers here who will be delighted to assist you.

7

1- my pleasure mate :wink:
2- thanks for informing me about my privacy information and account.that was reasonable,So I’m so sorry to put you in this position.
3- Let me assure you that I’m going to pose my question to get a firm grasp of your thorough elaborations.
4- I’d prefer to seek this topic in reliable grammar books same as you said.( English Review Grammar ).

much obliged :wink:

8

Thank you for your reply. Have a nice day!