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Old 10-Mar-2004, 12:21
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Default adjectival clause

Are these sentences correct:
1-I talked to Jane, tall, dark and beautiful, in the garden.
2-I talked to Jane in the garden, tall, dark and beautiful.
(Jane is tall, dark and beautiful).
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Old 10-Mar-2004, 12:55
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I'd say the first is OK, but the second doesn't link up well.
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Old 10-Mar-2004, 17:58
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Default Re: adjectival clause

Quote:
Originally Posted by navi
Are these sentences correct:
1-I talked to Jane, tall, dark and beautiful, in the garden.
2-I talked to Jane in the garden, tall, dark and beautiful.
(Jane is tall, dark and beautiful).
When one uses adjectives in this manner, they have to follow the noun they describe. Number 2 is rather comical.
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Old 10-Mar-2004, 22:04
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Better:
  • I talked to the tall, dark, beautiful Jane as we stood in the garden on that lovely spring night.

:)
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Old 12-Mar-2004, 14:04
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Thanks TDOL, Mike and RonBee.

RonBee,
I talked to THE tall, dark beautiful Jane ...
or:
I talked to tall, dark beautiful Jane...

The first might give the impression that there is more than one Jane (and would definitely be used in the case were there indeed is more than one Jane). If there is only one Jane, then I think both could be used.
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Old 12-Mar-2004, 15:25
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Well, if I say I talked to tall, dark, beautiful Jane it makes it seem like tall, dark, beautiful is part of her name. Perhaps:
  • As I walked into the garden there stood Jane. I remembered that someone had described her to me as tall, dark and beautiful. She was easily a foot taller than the average woman, and her ebony hair glistened in the moonlight. She looked like a dream come true.

What do you think?

:)
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Old 12-Mar-2004, 15:44
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I think I know the Jane you're talking about!
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Old 12-Mar-2004, 15:49
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:wink:
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