wandering

[Anonymous]

Which one of the following is correct (the wandering man or the man wandering):

When I went out, I saw a man wandering down the street and a man standing in a corner. The wandering man came towards me.

When I went out, I saw a man wandering down the street and a man standing in a corner. The man wandering came towards me.

 

[Chizu]

they are both the same!?!?!

 

[Casiopea]

Which one of the following is correct (the wandering man or the man wandering):

When I went out, I saw a man wandering down the street and a man standing in a corner. The wandering man came towards me.

When I went out, I saw a man wandering down the street and a man standing in a corner. The man wandering came towards me.

In that context:

..the standing man.. (Not OK)
..the man (who was) standing.. (OK)

..the wandering man.. (Not OK)
..the man (who was) wandering.. (OK)

All the best,

 

[RonBee]

Which one of the following is correct (the wandering man or the man wandering):

When I went out, I saw a man wandering down the street and a man standing in a corner. The wandering man came towards me.

When I went out, I saw a man wandering down the street and a man standing in a corner. The man wandering came towards me.

In addition to what Cas said, the man standing would have had to be standing on a corner. Try:

• When I went out, I saw a man wandering down the street and a man standing on a corner. The man who was wandering came towards me.

What do you think?

 

[navi tasan]

Thanks everybody.
As for your version Ron, I'd say that is indeed the best, clearest and most common version, but as usual I am looking about for the roundabout way of saying things.
We say: "an approaching train", but could we say "a train approaching"? One would think we are talking about "the train's approaching".
The approaching train or the train approaching? It seems that the approaching train is more acceptable in the US than in the UK.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Thanks everybody.
As for your version Ron, I'd say that is indeed the best, clearest and most common version, but as usual I am looking about for the roundabout way of saying things.
We say: "an approaching train", but could we say "a train approaching"? One would think we are talking about "the train's approaching".
The approaching train or the train approaching? It seems that the approaching train is more acceptable in the US than in the UK.

One could say "the train approaching", but it would be more common to do that if the participle had an object or modifier.

He was startled by the train approaching. (marginal)
He was startled by the train approaching the platform. (better)

 

[Tdol]

I'm less marginal than you, Mike. ;-)

 

[RonBee]

What Mike said.

:wink:

 

[MikeNewYork]

I'm less marginal than you, Mike. ;-)

That's like "deceptively deep". Are you for it or against it? :wink:

 

[Tdol]

I think it's OK. ;-)

 

[MikeNewYork]

I think it's OK. ;-)

That's what I thought. I'm not saying it is incorrect, mind you. 8)

 

[Tdol]

It would depend on the context- it would fine tosay it in the station, for instance. ;-)

 

[MikeNewYork]

It would depend on the context- it would fine tosay it in the station, for instance. ;-)

Would you use the other form: "approaching train"? :?:

 

[navi tasan]

TDOL is deeply deceptive not deceptively deep!
And good question.
a train approaching
an approaching train (this one is defenitely fine)

the train approaching
the approaching train

The grammar book says that once a noun has been postmodified with an ing participle one may use the participle to premodify it.
A proposition offending many members was rejected. The offending proposition had been put forth by...

 

[RonBee]

TDOL is deeply deceptive not deceptively deep!
And good question.
a train approaching
an approaching train (this one is defenitely fine)

the train approaching
the approaching train

The grammar book says that once a noun has been postmodified with an ing participle one may use the participle to premodify it.
A proposition offending many members was rejected. The offending proposition had been put forth by...

Yes, that is because context has been provided. It has been established that the preposition is offensive. Thus, the reader (or listener) understands what is meant by offending proposition or offensive proposition.

A train is approaching an approaching train. A disaster in the making?

:wink:

 

[navi tasan]

No. They can approach each other without being on the same track.
(I saved the day!!)

 

[MikeNewYork]

No. They can approach each other without being on the same track.
(I saved the day!!)

Good job! :multi: