[Grammar] adjective phrase

[Heidi]

Dear friends,

#1 I know that we can say 'I met a man who lives in Chicago' or 'I met a man living in Chicago'. But can we change 'I met a man who is a famous writer' to 'I met a man a famous writer'? Or change 'I met a man who is kind to everybody' to 'I met a man kind to everybody'?

#2 Can we change 'I was walking home when I lost my keys' to 'I was walking home when losing my keys'?

Thank you!

 

[SoothingDave]

#1. No, not really. Someone might say "I met a man, a famous writer." But I wouldn't use that in writing. In conversation, the "who is" is implied, left out. In writing, it is rather disjointed. As an introduction to a longer sentence it would be OK. "I met a man, a famous writer, who told me about..."

But not as its own sentence.

#2. Not unless "losing your keys" was an activity that you were actively engaged in. This type of structure can work in an example like "I saw a car on fire while walking the dog."

 

[Heidi]

Thank you, SoothingDave. But I think it's a little hard for me to understand. Maybe through examples, I might get the points more clear. So please allow me to ask some more questions.:lol:

Is it appropriate to change
#1 'The police officer who gave me directions was friendly' to
'The police officer giving me directions was friendly'?

#2 'I talked to the women who walked into my office' to
'I talked to the women walking into my office'?

 

[SoothingDave]

1. Is the direction giving over? Or is it continuing? The "-ing" form is for activity that is continuing. So, for this I would say do not change the sentence. The officer gave you directions. It's a completed action.

2. Same thing. Is the walking over or continuing? Did you talk to the women as they were walking into your office or after they had walked there? I think it's the latter. Your re-write also introduces an ambiguity. Were you the one walking or were the women?

 

[Heidi]

Thank you, SoothingDave. I think I've got the point. Thanks again!:lol: