wandering

Which one of the following is correct (the wandering man or the man wandering):

When I went out, I saw a man wandering down the street and a man standing in a corner. The wandering man came towards me.

When I went out, I saw a man wandering down the street and a man standing in a corner. The man wandering came towards me.

they are both the same!?!?!

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by navi

Which one of the following is correct (the wandering man or the man wandering):

When I went out, I saw a man wandering down the street and a man standing in a corner. The wandering man came towards me.

When I went out, I saw a man wandering down the street and a man standing in a corner. The man wandering came towards me.

In that context:

..the standing man.. (Not OK)
..the man (who was) standing.. (OK)

..the wandering man.. (Not OK)
..the man (who was) wandering.. (OK)

All the best,

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by navi

Which one of the following is correct (the wandering man or the man wandering):

When I went out, I saw a man wandering down the street and a man standing in a corner. The wandering man came towards me.

When I went out, I saw a man wandering down the street and a man standing in a corner. The man wandering came towards me.

In addition to what Cas said, the man standing would have had to be standing on a corner. Try:

• When I went out, I saw a man wandering down the street and a man standing on a corner. The man who was wandering came towards me.

What do you think?

:)

[navi tasan]

Thanks everybody.
As for your version Ron, I'd say that is indeed the best, clearest and most common version, but as usual I am looking about for the roundabout way of saying things.
We say: "an approaching train", but could we say "a train approaching"? One would think we are talking about "the train's approaching".
The approaching train or the train approaching? It seems that the approaching train is more acceptable in the US than in the UK.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by navi tasan

Thanks everybody.
As for your version Ron, I'd say that is indeed the best, clearest and most common version, but as usual I am looking about for the roundabout way of saying things.
We say: "an approaching train", but could we say "a train approaching"? One would think we are talking about "the train's approaching".
The approaching train or the train approaching? It seems that the approaching train is more acceptable in the US than in the UK.

One could say "the train approaching", but it would be more common to do that if the participle had an object or modifier.

He was startled by the train approaching. (marginal)
He was startled by the train approaching the platform. (better)

[Tdol]

I'm less marginal than you, Mike.

[RonBee]

What Mike said.

:wink:

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by tdol

I'm less marginal than you, Mike.

That's like "deceptively deep". Are you for it or against it? :wink:

[Tdol]

I think it's OK.