[Grammar] Inversion

[rkatk]

I am wondering if the second sentence is grammatically right compared to the first one.

I understand what the 2nd sentence is trying to show Grammatically; the inversion

But

I think the second sentence sounds right to me in spoken English, but technically, is the second one right grammatically in written English, or in formal English grammar tests?

1 Original: Gradually, the bath, taken alone, is a time when the child is comfortable with her imagination.

2 Paraphrasing: Gradually, the bath, taking alone, is a time when the child is comfortable with her imagination.

 

[teechar]

Hello rkatk, and welcome to the forum.
Please tell us the source of that sentence.

 

[rkatk]

thank your interest, here is the sentence of the book

Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age




Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age - Sherry Turkle




I have another question about the following sentence fragment in this book:

"to the child's capacity to play contentedly alone while"

Is it correct to use "play contented alone" instead of "contentedly", or are right?


Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age - Sherry Turkle


Thank you for your correction!

 

[emsr2d2]

I am wondering if the second sentence is grammatically right compared to the first one.

I understand what the [STRIKE]2nd[/STRIKE] second sentence is trying to show grammatically no semi-colon here (the inversion). [STRIKE]But[/STRIKE] I think the second sentence sounds right to me in spoken English no comma here but, technically, is the second one [STRIKE]right[/STRIKE] grammatically correct in written English no comma here or in formal English grammar tests?

1. Original: Gradually, the bath, taken alone, is a time when the child is comfortable with her imagination.

2. Paraphrasing: Gradually, the bath, taking alone, is a time when the child is comfortable with her imagination.

Please note my corrections to the above paragraph.

Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age - Sherry Turkle

[STRIKE]and .[/STRIKE] I have another question about the following sentence fragment in this book:

"to the child's capacity to play contentedly alone while"

Is is correct to use no comma here "play contented alone" no tilde or comma here instead of "contentedly", no tilde or dash here or are [STRIKE]both[/STRIKE] are right?

Please note my corrections to your paragraph above. The same corrections apply to the almost identical post that followed.

 

[GoesStation]

"To play, contented, alone" is possible in the right context.

Please study and use correct punctuation. Don't invent new ways to present your sentences. I'll give you two tips here:

• Don't put a space after an opening quotation mark or before a closing one.
• Don't use a tilde ("~") in your writing except to mark an approximate number in technical texts.

 

[emsr2d2]

No, you cannot replace "contentedly" with "contented". You need an adverb to describe how the child is playing (adverbs describe actions) so only "contentedly" works.

 

[teechar]

Back to the original post, the first "is" in this sentence should be changed to something like "becomes"; in that case, "gradually" would make sense. Also, I would have no problem with using "its" (instead of "her") as a gender-neutral pronoun when referring to a child.

Gradually, the bath, taken alone, is a time when the child is comfortable with her imagination.

 

[GoesStation]

I would not refer to a person as "it". It's dehumanizing.

 

[Rover_KE]

You can use 'their' as a gender-neutral pronoun for a child.

 

[teechar]

Take a look at entry #1.1 in the following link. Perhaps this (aversion) is yet another AmE thing.
https://www.lexico.com/definition/it

In other varieties, "it" and "its" are used, as explained in the link above.

 

[rkatk]

Wow, it's amazing! Thanks a lot!

 

[rkatk]

then, the paraphrased sentence is wrong?


So, You think the two sentence fragments below are grammatically wrong, right?

Gradually, the bath, taking alone, is a time when the child is comfortable with her imagination.

For the child psychoanalyst Donald W. Winnicott, a child's capacity to be bored-closely linked to

the child's capacity to play contented alone while in the quiet presence of a parent-is a critical sign of psychological health.

 

[GoesStation]

wow , amazing ! thanks a lot ~~

Do not use tildes ("~") in your writing. Don't invent punctuation. Write complete sentences.

Don't put a space before an exclamation mark or other sentence-ending punctuation.

 

[Rover_KE]

rkatk is receiving answers to the same question here.

 

[rkatk]

Still wondering

Thank you for the precious opinions.

I am still wondering about the possibility.

The reason I think the second sentence segment could be right is like this.

1 Gradually, the bath, taken alone, is a time when the child is comfortable with her imagination

2= Gradually, taking the bath alone is a time when the child is comfortable with her imagination

3= Gradually, the bath, taking alone is a time when the child is comfortable with her imagination


Doesn't the last sentence make sense at all even in spoken English? Thank you in advance.

 

[GoesStation]

Re: Still wondering

1 Gradually, the bath, taken alone, is a time when the child is comfortable with her imagination.

2= Gradually, taking the bath alone is a time when the child is comfortable with her imagination.

3= Gradually, the bath, taking alone is a time when the child is comfortable with her imagination.


Doesn't the last sentence make sense at all even in spoken English? Thank you in advance.

Sentence one is possible if you remove "gradually". I can't guess what word you're looking for there, but "gradually" doesn't work.

Sentences two and three don't work even if you remove the first word. Sentence two might be understood. Sentence three wouldn't.