grammar

[jiang]

Dear teachers,

It was moving like a huge black rope winds around a windlass.

I don't understand the grammar.

"like" is a prepositon. Then what is the parts of speech of "winds" here? I think "winds" is a verb. But how can a preposition followed by a verb? Could you please analyze the sentence for me?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.

Jiang

[5jj]

'Like' is frequently used as an adverb or a conjunction in places where the pedant would prefer 'as'.

[billmcd]

Dear teachers,

It was moving like a huge black rope winds around a windlass.

I don't understand the grammar.

"like" is a prepositon. Then what is the parts of speech of "winds" here? I think "winds" is a verb. But how can a preposition followed by a verb? Could you please analyze the sentence for me?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.

Jiang

I don't understand it either. Maybe it should be, "that winds (verb) around etc." OR "as it winds around etc." OR "winding around etc."

[jiang]

Hi,
Thank you very much for your help.
May I say it means "just like"?

Jiang

'Like' is frequently used as an adverb or a conjunction in places where the pedant would prefer 'as'.

[jiang]

Hi billmcd,

Thank you very much for your help. I think your explanation makes sense.

Jiang

I don't understand it either. Maybe it should be, "that winds (verb) around etc." OR "as it winds around etc." OR "winding around etc."

[rajan]

There are two clauses in it. It was moving and a huge rope winds around a windlass. Both these clauses are joined by like, which is a conjunction. Rope is a subject of the second clause, winds is a verb, around a windlass is a prepositional phrase.

Dear teachers,

It was moving like a huge black rope winds around a windlass.

I don't understand the grammar.

"like" is a prepositon. Then what is the parts of speech of "winds" here? I think "winds" is a verb. But how can a preposition followed by a verb? Could you please analyze the sentence for me?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.

Jiang

[5jj]

I was clearly too terse in post #2.

It was moving like a huge black rope winds around a windlass. = It was moving in the way that a huge black rope winds (wraps or twists) round a windlass (winch).

[jiang]

Hi Rajan,

Thank you very much for your explanation.

Jiang

There are two clauses in it. It was moving and a huge rope winds around a windlass. Both these clauses are joined by like, which is a conjunction. Rope is a subject of the second clause, winds is a verb, around a windlass is a prepositional phrase.

[jiang]

HI fivejedjon,

Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I see.

Jiang

I was clearly too terse in post #2.

It was moving like a huge black rope winds around a windlass. = It was moving in the way that a huge black rope winds (wraps or twists) round a windlass (winch).