[Grammar] Is "when you are" omitted in this sentence?

eggcracker · Jun 15, 2012

I was seeing a magazine a while ago. And I'm confused now because there seems like missing words are in the sentence.

Is "when you are" left out in front of the word "using" in the sentence far below? If so, Does leaving out "when you are" make sentence more formal?

"Add instant glamour to your hair by pinning feathers or ribbons into a messy up-do. This Jason Wu look is surprisingly easy to create at home: just pin hair back in sections and add in strips of fabric or ribbon using kirby grips."(excerpt from magazine)

5jj · Jun 15, 2012

'When you are' is not omitted, and should not be added - unless you want to give a different meaning.

eggcracker · Jun 15, 2012

5jj said:
'When you are' is not omitted, and should not be added - unless you want to give a different meaning.

Thank you 5jj.
But, I'm still confused.
Does ".... strips of fabric or ribbon using kirby grips." mean ".... strips of fabric or ribbon which uses kirby grips."?
I'm not sure whether "strips of fabric or ribbon" can use kirby grips.

charliedeut · Jun 15, 2012

eggcracker said:
"add in strips of fabric or ribbon using kirby grips."(excerpt from magazine)

Hi,

I see no reason why one can't use kirby grips to hold the strips of fabric or ribbon to the hair.

The only consideration that comes to my mind is how carefully you should use them (they might rip the ribbon, or tear the fabric, or....)

Greetings,

charliedeut

PS: I just posted the picture because I didn't know what "kirby grips" are; so any other member might learn that too.

SoothingDave · Jun 15, 2012

Those are called "bobby pins" in AmE. I'd never heard of "kirby grips."

tzfujimino · Jun 15, 2012

eggcracker said:
Thank you 5jj.
But, I'm still confused.
Does ".... strips of fabric or ribbon using kirby grips." mean ".... strips of fabric or ribbon which uses kirby grips."?
I'm not whether "sure strips of fabric or ribbon" can use kirby grips.

Hi, eggcracker.
:-DIn your sentence, 'using kirby grips,' which functions as an adverbial phrase, modifies the verb 'add,'
I'm not sure if I've managed to answer your question, but I think 'using' here is similar to 'with.'
Or you could say 'by using kirby grips.'

eggcracker · Jun 15, 2012

tzfujimino said:
Hi, eggcracker.
:-DIn your sentence, 'using kirby grips,' which functions as an adverbial phrase, modifies the verb 'add,'
I'm not sure if I've managed to answer your question, but I think 'using' here is similar to 'with.'
Or you could say 'by using kirby grips.'

Hello tzfujimino.
Perhaps "by" was left out before the word 'using' in the sentence"...add in strips of fabric or ribbon using kirby grips.", I suppose.

emsr2d2 · Jun 15, 2012

eggcracker said:
I was seeing a magazine a while ago. And I'm confused now because there seems like missing words are in the sentence.

Is "when you are" left out in front of the word "using" in the sentence far below? If so, Does leaving out "when you are" make sentence more formal?

"Add instant glamour to your hair by pinning feathers or ribbons into a messy up-do. This Jason Wu look is surprisingly easy to create at home: just pin hair back in sections and add in strips of fabric or ribbon using kirby grips."(excerpt from magazine)

Nothing has been omitted but the word "by" could indeed be added before "using". The explanation could be expanded like this:

Pin your hair back in sections, and add strips of fabric or ribbon. Add those strips of fabric or ribbon by using kirby grips (to attach them (the strips) to your hair).

Barb_D · Jun 15, 2012

Or even more simply: Use kirby grips to pin strips of fabric or ribbon to your hair.

(I had no idea what kirby grips were either, until now!)

[Grammar] Is "when you are" omitted in this sentence?

eggcracker

Member

5jj

Moderator

eggcracker

Member

charliedeut

VIP Member

SoothingDave

VIP Member

tzfujimino

Key Member

eggcracker

Member

emsr2d2

Moderator

Barb_D

Moderator

Similar threads