[Grammar] Help me for the vague pronoun

[henryfrance]

The second sentence in each pair contains a vague pronoun that is under-lined. Rewrite the second sentence so that it makes a clear reference

My algebra teacher kept us ten minutes after we were supposed to leave. This made me mad.

I rewrite: the fact that my algebra teacher kept us ten minutes after we were supposed to leave made me mad.

the sentence I rewrite above is right or wrong? Help me correct it.

thanks for support

 

[Matthew Wai]

'My algebra teacher keeping us ten minutes after we were supposed to leave made me mad.'

Not a teacher.

 

[henryfrance]

'My algebra teacher keeping us ten minutes after we were supposed to leave made me mad.'

Not a teacher.

The sentence that you write means "My algebra teacher who was keeping us ten minutes......"

you said "not a teacher" what Does the phrase mean?

 

[Matthew Wai]

'Keeping' is a gerund instead of a present participle in my sentence.

you said "not a teacher" what Does mean?

It means I am not a teacher.

 

[Rover_KE]

You said "not a teacher". What does the phrase mean?

Welcome to the forum, Henry.

The forum is called 'Ask a Teacher'. However, knowledgable non-teachers are welcome to answer questions subject to the following conditions:

You are welcome to answer questions posted in the Ask a Teacher forum as long as your suggestions, help, and advice reflect a good understanding of the English language. If you are not a teacher, you will need to state that clearly in your post. Please note, all posts are moderated by our in-house language experts, so make sure your suggestions, help, and advice provide the kind of information an international language teacher would offer. If not, and your posts do not contribute to the topic in a positive way, they will be subject to deletion.


Your own rewrite of the original question is actually better than Matthew's attempt, but it must start with a capital letter — as must every new sentence in written English.

 

[henryfrance]

Hi teachers


Help me correct the vague pronoun of the following sentence and rewrite it


"The crack in my windshield is getting bigger. I knew that might happen."


I rewrite:
I knew that the crack in my windshield was getting bigger might happen.
Or
"The fact that the crack in my windshield is getting bigger might happen"


The sentences I rewrite above is wrong or right? And explaining where I went wrong.


Thanks for help.

 

[Matthew Wai]

'I knew that the crack in my windshield might be getting bigger.'

You know I am not a teacher.

 

[TheParser]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello, Henry:

I believe that many native speakers would also express the idea of your sentence like this:

"My algebra teacher kept us ten minutes after we were supposed to leave, which really made me mad."

"Which" refers to the whole fact that your teacher kept you ten minutes after the usual dismissal time.

Although some writing teachers do not like this use of "which," it is common, so you should not be too astonished when you hear or see it.



James

 

[Barb_D]

I knew that the crack in my windshield might get bigger.

 

[Matthew Wai]

The sentence that you write means "My algebra teacher who was keeping us ten minutes......"

'Doing' in the construction 'someone doing something' can be either a gerund or a present participle modifying 'someone'; that's what I learned from this forum.

Not a teacher.