G 600

Adverb Phrases and Absolute Constructions

Are the following sentences

correct or wrong?
If they are wrong, how can you correct them?

To work efficiently, frequent oiling of

the machine is required.

Wrong!
To work efficiently, the machine requires frequent oiling.
For the machine to work efficiently, frequent oiling is required.
Think of other ways you can correct this sentence!

Darkness having come, we stopped for

the night.
Correct!
What does this sentence mean?
After darkness came, we stopped for the night.

On being notified that the weather would be

good, the two men got ready for their long flight.
Correct!
Can you reconstruct the full clause?
When/As soon as/ Once the two men were notified that the
weather would be good, they got ready for their flight.

After reading the newspapers in the library,

they should be put back in their proper place.
Wrong!
Can you correct the sentence?
After reading the newspapers in the library,
students/readers/you should put them back in their proper
place.
After students/ readers/you read the newspapers in the
library, they should be put back in their proper place.

The bus being very crowded,

we decided to take a taxi.
Correct!
What does this sentence mean?
Because the bus was very crowded, we decided to take a
taxi.

What about these three sentences?

Wrong!
1. As a child, his parents spoiled him very
much.
As a child, he was spoiled a lot by his parents.
When he was a child, his parents spoiled him very much.
2. A timid person, every little thing frightened him.
Wrong!
A timid person, he was frightened by every little thing.
Because he was a timid person, every little thing frightened him.
3. A comedian at heart, the children were often made to laugh by
Wrong!
their teacher.
A comedian at heart, the teacher often made the children laugh.
Because he was a comedian at heart, the children were often made
to laugh by their teacher.

What about these three

Wrong!
1. While waiting
for the doctor, there are numerous magazines
sentences?
you can read.
. While waiting for the doctor, you can read numerous
magazines.
Wrong!
. While you are waiting for the doctor, there are numerous
magazines you can read.

2. By obeying traffic regulations, many accidents can be

Wrong!
avoided.
. By obeying traffic regulations, you/people/drivers can avoid
many accidents.
. If you/people/drivers obey traffic regulations, many accidents
can be avoided.

What about these three sentences?

Wrong!

1. Having painted the outside of the house, the inside should be

painted.
. Having painted the outside of the house, you/contractors should
paint the inside.
Wrong!
. After you/contractors paint the outside of the house, the inside
should be painted.
2. Blowing at sixty miles an hour, the tree was knocked down by Wrong!
the wind.
. Blowing at sixty miles an hour, the wind knocked down the tree.
. Because the wind was blowing at sixty miles an hour, the tree
was knocked down.
. The wind blowing at sixty miles an hour, the tree was knocked
down.
3. Having been found guilty by the jury, the judge gave the
defendant a severe sentence.

When ready, take the meat out of

Ambiguou
the oven immediately. s!
When who is ready?
The meat ?
When the meat is ready, take it out of the oven
immediately.
When ready, the meat must/should be taken out of the
oven immediately.
You?
When you are ready, take the meat out of the oven
immediately.