Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Subject and Verb
I am often confused about what I am "allowed" to do when using modifiers along with my humble subjects. I should know what I am "allowed" to do at this point, but I don't. Example is the following sentence grammatically faulty.
The dog not just an ordinary dog but our dog barked through the entire night, angrily snapping at every shadow the moon cast, thinking nothing of the sleeping people in beds, hoping not to be eaten by the darkness, perhaps knowing that tomorrow the pernicious vet would murder him.
I am not sure if I am allowed to add the phrase "not just an ordinary dog but our dog." I believe that it is okay, because it is a part of the complete subject.
I also do not know if any of the modifying phrases would be considered misplaced. Maybe all of them are misplaced, but they are all supposed to be modifying the dog.
The dog not just an ordinary dog but our dog barked through the entire night, angrily snapping at every shadow the moon cast, thinking nothing of the sleeping people in beds, hoping not to be eaten by the darkness, perhaps knowing that tomorrow the pernicious vet would murder him.
I am not sure if I am allowed to add the phrase "not just an ordinary dog but our dog." I believe that it is okay, because it is a part of the complete subject.
I also do not know if any of the modifying phrases would be considered misplaced. Maybe all of them are misplaced, but they are all supposed to be modifying the dog.
Top answer
You need to learn how to use punctuation and how to be less prolix: The dog — not just an ordinary dog but our dog — barked all night, angrily snapping at every shadow the moon cast, thinking nothing of the sleeping people , hoping not to be eaten by the darkness, and thinking that tomorrow the pernicious vet would murder him.
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You need to learn how to use punctuation and how to be less prolix:
The dog—not just an ordinary dog but our dog—barked all night, angrily snapping at every shadow the moon cast, thinking nothing of the sleeping people, hoping not to be eaten by the darkness, and thinking that tomorrow the pernicious vet would murder him.
The dog—not just an ordinary dog but our dog—barked all night, angrily snapping at every shadow the moon cast, thinking nothing of the sleeping people, hoping not to be eaten by the darkness, and thinking that tomorrow the pernicious vet would murder him.
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