Ava took a piece of paper on the table.

[alpacinou]

Which one is correct?

1. Ava took a piece of paper on the table, reading the names on it.

2. Ava took a piece of paper sitting on the table, reading the names on it.

3. Ava picked up a piece of paper on the table, reading the names on it.

 

[emsr2d2]

Which one is correct?

1. Ava took a piece of paper on from the table, reading the names on it.
2. Ava took a piece of paper that was sitting on the table, reading the names on it.
3. Ava picked up a piece of paper on from the table, reading the names on it.

Note my corrections to the preposition in 1 and 3, and the addition of words to 2.

Was she reading the names on the piece of the paper as she picked it up, or did she pick it up and then read the names?

 

[Tarheel]

You could also say that she took a piece of paper off the table and then read the names on it.

 

[alpacinou]

Was she reading the names on the piece of the paper as she picked it up, or did she pick it up and then read the names?

The latter.

 

[emsr2d2]

The latter.

In that case, I would use "... and then read the names on it". Your original made the two things sound simultaneous.

 

[Barque]

I wouldn't use "took" at all, except in a specific context, such as if different people were asked to each take a piece of paper from a collection on the table. I'd say "picked up".

I don't like the use of "sitting" in sentence 2, even with the addition of "that was". A piece of paper seems too insubstantial to "sit" on a table, but maybe that's just me.

 

[Tarheel]

@Barque Indeed! If I have to talk about something being on the table I don't say it's sitting on the table. I just say it's on the table.

My comment should have used "Instead of" instead of "In addition to".