the work done vs the work being done

[ostap77]

1)"The work done, we went home."

OR

2)"The work being done,we went home."

OR

3)"The existing data being limited, no definite conclusions could be made."

OR

4)"The existing data limited, no definite conslusions could be made."

Are these sentences grammatically correct?

 

[bhaisahab]

1)"The work done, we went home."

OR

2)"The work being done we went home."

OR

3)"The existing data being limited, no definite conclusions could be made."

OR

4)"The existing data limited, no definite conslusions could be made."

Are these sentences grammatically correct?

#4 is wrong.

 

[ostap77]

Why is it wrong when I leave out "being" as in "The data limited...." and correct when left out as in "The work done.."?

 

[birdeen's call]

Why is it wrong when I leave out "being" as in "The data limited...." and correct when left out as in "The work done.."?

Think of "the work done" as an elliptic version of "the work having been done". Try inserting "having been" to number 4. We get

The existing data having been limited, no definite conslusions could be made.

Who has limited the existing data? Probably no one. Probably no action was taken by anyone to limit the data. Yet it is limited.

"Limited" works as an adjective in number 3. "Done" works as a participle in number 1. This is what makes the difference in my opinion.

 

[ostap77]

With all due respect, you would not be answering my question by suggesting what needs to be replaced! How about this one "The dinner over, we went into town." Here we have an adjective too. And I've been told this one is correct.

 

[birdeen's call]

With all due respect, you would not be answering my question! Have I been asking for advice how to get around it? No.

I'm not sure I understand. I wasn't trying to give advice on how to get around anything. I was trying to explain why it is incorrect to leave out "being" in "the existing data being limited".

 

[ostap77]

Refer to my post about dinner being over.

 

[birdeen's call]

Refer to my post about dinner being over.

Ostap, please try being more specific when you say things. When I read the quoted post of yours, I thought you were being rude and wanted me to search the site for some post about dinner being over. I had no idea you'd edited your previous post.

When I said what I said previously, I was anxious to do so because I wasn't sure if there weren't examples like yours. I couldn't find one, but I think yours is fine. I will think about it, but I can't see an answer now.

 

[birdeen's call]

I'll add one more thing. I must admit that I'm not entirely sure that number 4 is incorrect. Number 3 sounds more natural to me, but I'm not sure about 4. I'll admit even more. I tried to refute bhaisahab's answer by corpus search. It was the complete lack of success that made me try to defend his answer instead.

I think I'll just shut up now and wait for answers.

 

[ostap77]

I'm cool with it. It just sometimes grammar is weird! It's been driving me up the wall since I've been learning English!

 

[birdeen's call]

OK, I'll try a question instead of an answer. (To bhaisahab and others.) Would the following be better than number 4?

With the existing data limited, no definite conslusions could be made.

 

[bhaisahab]

OK, I'll try a question instead of an answer. (To bhaisahab and others.) Would the following be better than number 4?

With the existing data limited, no definite conclusions could be made.

I think the problem is that while it may be grammatical, it's not natural. I can't imagine any native speaker saying or writing it, that's why you can't find it in the corpus.

 

[birdeen's call]

I think the problem is that while it may be grammatical, it's not natural. I can't imagine any native speaker saying or writing it, that's why you can't find it in the corpus.

Thanks. Perhaps I confused myself by thinking about it too much. I've noticed that I can convince myself that almost anything is proper English if I think about it long enough.

 

[ostap77]

I kindly ask you to refer to post #5. Why is "The dinner over, we went into town." correct,whereas "The existing data limited, we........" is incorrect? Over and limited are ajectives.

 

[5jj]

I've noticed that I can convince myself that almost anything is proper English if I think about it long enough.

You are not alone.

 

[5jj]

I kindly ask you to refer to post #5. Why is "The dinner over, we went into town." correct,whereas "The existing data limited, we........" is incorrect? Over and limited are ajectives.

Sometimes you just have to accept that certain things seem natural to native speakers and others don't, as bhai suggested in post #12.

 

[ostap77]

Has there ever been a list of exeptions?

 

[5jj]

Has there ever been a list of exeptions?

Exceptions to what?

 

[ostap77]

THE LIST OF ADJECTIVES.

 

[birdeen's call]

THE LIST OF ADJECTIVES.

Why the caps? And why won't you try to be specific, just once. It doesn't hurt to type in a whole sentence.

Is there a list of adjectives like "over", which work in constructions analogous to

Dinner over, we went into town.

?

I doubt it.