[Grammar] "Though" stuff

[thienan123456]

Can anybody explain why the second sentence is correct in terms of structure?

He's not a professional singer, but he sang this song beautifully.
-> Though no professional singer, he sang this song beautifully.

There's virtually no book talking about this way of using "though", so is there any explanation for this or is it a common usage among native speakers?

 

[MikeNewYork]

In your second sentence, I would say "though not a professional singer".

 

[thienan123456]

In your second sentence, I would say "though not a professional singer".

But a qualified American showed that usage without a clear explanation.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Great, but I still would say what I wrote.

 

[thienan123456]

Great, but I still would say what I wrote.

Maybe you are right but I just want an acceptable explanation for this way of using "though". As far as I'm concerned, it should be some kind of a reduced form of concession with "though" only. However, commonly this sort of reduced form is used with adjective so your way of writing is acceptable. The problem is I just want to know if it is an inexplicable usage of this conjunction, you know, there are strange things out there without any clear explanation.

Let's have a look at this example

Toenail growth, ..... only about 2 mm per month, was also up on the figure obtained in a similar survey done 70 years ago. (FCE Trainer, Cambridge)

1. although
2. despite
3. however
4. nevertheless

Peter May, the author says only A can go with “only about 2 mm per month.” In this question, choice C, D are impossible because if either of them fits, both of them fits the space. So we might as well choose A but the problem is if there's any grammar point for this? By the way, there's no Cambridge grammar book discussing this matter.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I think it I would be reasonable to describe this sort of construction as a reduced clause.

Though (he is) not a professional singer...
Toe nail growth, although (it is) only about 2 mm per month, was...

 

[Tdol]

In your second sentence, I would say "though not a professional singer".

I'm British, so not a qualified American, but I would do the same.

 

[Raymott]

"Though no professional singer, he sang this song beautifully."
This is an acceptable and not uncommon construction. I would not change it, and besides, I think you're after an explanation of this phrase rather than just being given an alternative.
It means "[Al]though he's no professional singer ..."
"No" is often used this way. It means something like "not any type of". It implies that he falls well short of something - in this case, being a professional singer. It can also means "He's definitely not a ..."
"I can sing a little, but I'm no Caruso."
"Relax. Though I'm no surgeon, I know how to remove a splinter!"
"I can boil an egg, though I'm no chef."
In these contexts, 'no' has connotations beyond 'not a'; they are not interchangeable.

Examples:
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/bob-carr-says-hes-no-snob-as-former-colleagues-open-fire-20140410-zqt7d.html
http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/n...n=Feed:+bizj_dayton+(Dayton+Business+Journal)
http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/ex-kiss-drummer-peter-criss-says-hes-no-anti-semite/

 

[thienan123456]

"Though no professional singer, he sang this song beautifully."
This is an acceptable and not uncommon construction. I would not change it, and besides, I think you're after an explanation of this phrase rather than just being given an alternative.
It means "[Al]though he's no professional singer ..."
"No" is often used this way. It means something like "not any type of". It implies that he falls well short of something - in this case, being a professional singer. It can also means "He's definitely not a ..."
"I can sing a little, but I'm no Caruso."
"Relax. Though I'm no surgeon, I know how to remove a splinter!"
"I can boil an egg, though I'm no chef."
In these contexts, 'no' has connotations beyond 'not a'; they are not interchangeable.

Examples:
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/bob-carr-says-hes-no-snob-as-former-colleagues-open-fire-20140410-zqt7d.html
http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/n...n=Feed:+bizj_dayton+(Dayton+Business+Journal)
http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/ex-kiss-drummer-peter-criss-says-hes-no-anti-semite/

So what would you say about "Toenail growth, although only about 2 mm per month, was also up on the figure obtained in a similar survey done 70 years ago."
Do you think it is a reduced clause too?

 

[Raymott]

So what would you say about "Toenail growth, although only about 2 mm per month, was also up on the figure obtained in a similar survey done 70 years ago."
Do you think it is a reduced clause too?

Yes, "although only 2 mm per month" is a reduced clause from "although it was only 2 mm per month".