progressive

[navi tasan]

I have a problem with this sentence, which I saw in a book:

1-"Pulling the diverse threads of revival together was the arrival in 1739 of the charismatic English cleric George Whitefield."

I know that one can say, for instance: "Standing in front of the door was John's brother David." But as far as I know that would mean that David WAS STANDING in front of the door.

Now, the original sentence cannot mean that the arrival of Whitefield WAS PULLING the diverse threads of revival together, because an arrival takes place in one day.
What the sentence wants to say is: "What pulled the diverse threads of revival together WAS the arrival of Whitefield ..." But I doubt that that structure could be used in this way, since the verb is progressive.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by navi tasan

I have a problem with this sentence, which I saw in a book:

1-"Pulling the diverse threads of revival together was the arrival in 1739 of the charismatic English cleric George Whitefield."

I know that one can say, for instance: "Standing in front of the door was John's brother David." But as far as I know that would mean that David WAS STANDING in front of the door.

Now, the original sentence cannot mean that the arrival of Whitefield WAS PULLING the diverse threads of revival together, because an arrival takes place in one day.
What the sentence wants to say is: "What pulled the diverse threads of revival together WAS the arrival of Whitefield ..." But I doubt that that structure could be used in this way, since the verb is progressive.

You are getting very good at this. I completely agree with you. The sentence would be better without the progressive form of the verb.

[navi tasan]

Thanks Mike. It is very kind of you.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by navi tasan

Thanks Mike. It is very kind of you.

Not at all. You are one of the best students I have ever encountered.