_______ and happy, Tony stood up and accepted the prize.

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diamondcutter

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_______ and happy, Tony stood up and accepted the prize.
A. Surprised B. Being surprised

I’d like to know which choice is correct. Why?
THANKS.
 
As always, we don't just hand out answers. Which one do you​ think is correct, and why?
 
I think the correct answer is A. The two adjectives are used as adverbial. But I don’t know if we can also choose B.
Thanks.
 
Hi, everyone.
May I ask for your help?
Would you please answer my question above?
Thanks a lot in advance.
 
'Being surprised' seems to mean 'because of being surprised', which doesn't fit the sentence.

Not a teacher.
 
***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Hello, Diamondcutter:

I do not claim to have the answer, but I have found some information that may interest you.

1. "Rather nervous, the man opened the letter."
2. "The man, rather nervous, opened the letter."
3. "The man opened the letter, rather nervous."

"Rather nervous" is a supplementive adjective clause.

4. "Being too nervous to reply, he stared at the floor."
5. "Too nervous to reply, he stared at the floor."

The book says that #5 is a shorter way to say #4.

And -- if I understand the book -- #4 is a shorter way to say something like: "Because / since / as he was too nervous to reply, he stared at the floor."



James

Source: A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language (1985 edition) by Professor Quirk and three colleagues. Pages 425 and 996.
 
Both options work for me. "Surprised" (and happy) is an adjective, and "being surprised" (and happy) is an adjectival participial phrase. Both modify "Tony".
 
Last edited:
'Surprised and happy, Tony stood up and accepted the prize.'
May I take it to mean 'Tony stood up and accepted the prize happily in surprise'?

Not a teacher.
 
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