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  #1  
Old 19-Nov-2002, 12:42
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Default negative + non-restrictive clause

Are these sentences correct:
1-"He was not a journalist, working for the NY Times."
2-"He was not a journalist, who worked for the NY Times."

Could they be followed by:
A-"He was a photographer for the NY Times."

Or do they necessarily mean that he was neither a journalist, nor an employee of the NY Times.
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Old 19-Nov-2002, 14:21
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Default Re: negative + non-restrictive clause

Quote:
Originally Posted by ntasan
Are these sentences correct:
1-"He was not a journalist, working for the NY Times."
2-"He was not a journalist, who worked for the NY Times."

Could they be followed by:
A-"He was a photographer for the NY Times."

Or do they necessarily mean that he was neither a journalist, nor an employee of the NY Times.
I would change the sentences. They sound a little rough to me.

1. He was not working for the NY times as a journalist.
2. He did not work for the NY times as a journalist.

Sentence number two can be followed by: (2) He was a photographer for the NY times.

Sentence number 1 can be followed by: (1) He was working as a photographer for the NY times.

Keep the 2 simple past sentences together and keep the 2 past progressive sentences together. I would use the sentences in the simple past. They sound better.
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Old 19-Nov-2002, 17:53
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Take the commas out and they will start making sense.
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Old 19-Nov-2002, 19:57
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Default ntasan

I agree with TDOL. The sentences are fine without the commas. Either of them could be followed by your third sentence.
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Old 20-Nov-2002, 16:02
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Thanks. I'm beginning to get the picture, I think, but I'd like to try another one if you don't mind. What about this one:
1-He wasn't a journalist, working for the NY Times, but a photographer, working for the LA Times.
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Old 20-Nov-2002, 17:37
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1-He wasn't a journalist, working for the NY Times, but a photographer, working for the LA Times.

I'd say that here the commas are optional, depending on important you see the newspapers as.
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Old 20-Nov-2002, 19:22
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Default commas

Quote:
Originally Posted by navi tasan
Thanks. I'm beginning to get the picture, I think, but I'd like to try another one if you don't mind. What about this one:
1-He wasn't a journalist, working for the NY Times, but a photographer, working for the LA Times.
In many cases, commas are needed between a noun and a referent participial phrase. In this case, however, I'd prefer no commas because:

1. The sentences are short.
2. The particpial phrases are an integral part of the sentences meaning.
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Old 08-May-2009, 15:37
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Default Re: negative + non-restrictive clause

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tdol View Post
1-He wasn't a journalist, working for the NY Times, but a photographer, working for the LA Times.

I'd say that here the commas are optional, depending on important you see the newspapers as.

Aren't the first and third commas unnecessary? I agree with MikeNewYork.
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Old 08-May-2009, 15:51
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Default Re: negative + non-restrictive clause

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Originally Posted by Daruma View Post
Aren't the first and third commas unnecessary? I agree with MikeNewYork.
IMO, they are. The -ing clauses are participles that describe, complement the predicate nominatives.
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