Anything wrong with this sent: Before the ambulance came,

[Helped Wanted]

Please advice if there's any problem with this sentence structure. A billion thanks for helping again.


Before the ambulance came, the gang of robbers had got away.

 

[RonBee]

In AE, we would say:

• Before the ambulance came, the gang of robbers had gotten away.

Or:

• The robbers got away before the ambulance came.

 

[Casiopea]

Re: Anything wrong with this sent: Before the ambulance came

Please advice if there's any problem with this sentence structure. A billion thanks for helping again.


Before the ambulance came, the gang of robbers had got away.

I agree with RonBee.

In addition,

had of 'had got away' indicates that the action of getting away took place before the ambulance arrived.

Event #1: The gang got away. => The gang had got away.
Event #2: The ambulance came. => The ambulance arrived.

The gang had got away [before the ambulance came.] (OK)
[Before the ambulance came,] the gang had got away. (OK)

Topicalizing 'the ambulance came' can for some people make it seem as if the ambulance arrived happened 1st and the gang got away happened 2nd.

 

[RonBee]

Re: Anything wrong with this sent: Before the ambulance came

"Topicalizing"?

:wink:

 

[RonBee]

Re: Anything wrong with this sent: Before the ambulance came

P.S.

Say: "Please advise...."

 

[Helped Wanted]

I am so thankful to both of you for replying and helping me again and again. Hope you will not get sick and tired of helping people like me! You are wanted here and we all need professional advice from great teachers like you two and those who are willing to help! Once again, many thanks!

 

[Casiopea]

Re: Anything wrong with this sent: Before the ambulance came

"Topicalizing"?

:wink:

topicalization
topicalize
topicalizing

-s- :?:

 

[RonBee]

topicalize
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=topicalize

 

[Helped Wanted]

Oh yes, Please advise ( the verb not the noun, right? ) Thanks again ^o^ ^o^

 

[RonBee]

Oh yes, Please advise ( the verb not the noun, right? ) Thanks again ^o^ ^o^

Yes. The noun is advice. The verb is advise.

 

[Tdol]

Re: Anything wrong with this sent: Before the ambulance came

"Topicalizing"?

:wink:

topicalization
topicalize
topicalizing

-s- :?:

I like the word. It's in onelook.com- http://www.infoplease.com/ipd/A0697370.html

 

[Casiopea]

Re: Anything wrong with this sent: Before the ambulance came

"Topicalizing"?

:wink:

topicalization
topicalize
topicalizing

-s- :?:

I like the word. It's in onelook.com- http://www.infoplease.com/ipd/A0697370.html

topicalizing, a term used in the field of linguistics, linguistic-ese. Onelook is a darn good source, I do believe.

 

[Tdol]

It seems to dig all sorts of uses out that many others leave behind. If I want to search for something that might not have made mainstream dictionaries, I head for onelook.com. ;-)

 

[RonBee]

Find a couple of examples of topicalize here: http://www.uta.edu/english/tim/courses/4301w00/syn.html