In the sentence ‘How serious those words coming from the TV are,’ the present participle ‘coming’ is used in a way that might seem confusing at first. While we usually associate present participles with active verbs or actions performed by the subject, this construction has a different grammatical function. In this article, we will explore why the present participle ‘coming’ is used in this context and clarify how it fits into the sentence structure.
1. The Role of Present Participles in English Grammar
Present participles are often used to describe actions that are happening in the present, or to form continuous tenses. However, they can also function in other ways. One such use is when the participle describes a characteristic of the noun, or in certain cases, it can act as part of a reduced relative clause.
In sentences like ‘the dog barking loudly’ or ‘the running man,’ the present participle modifies the noun (the dog, the man), describing an action associated with that noun. In the case of ‘coming,’ the participle is functioning in a similar way, but with a slightly different structure.
2. Reduced Relative Clauses: A Key Explanation
The phrase ‘those words coming from the TV’ is an example of a reduced relative clause. Normally, we would say ‘those words that are coming from the TV.’ In this case, the relative clause ‘that are coming from the TV’ is shortened, and ‘that are’ is omitted, leaving just the present participle ‘coming’ to express the ongoing action.
This is a common construction in English, especially in more casual or spoken forms of the language. The use of the present participle here allows for a smoother, more concise sentence without losing meaning.
3. Understanding ‘Coming from the TV’
In the sentence ‘How serious those words coming from the TV are,’ the present participle ‘coming’ refers to the origin or source of the words. The phrase ‘coming from the TV’ describes the source of the words, suggesting that the words are being transmitted or broadcast through the TV. This use of ‘coming’ emphasizes the action or movement of the words, rather than focusing on a static state.
Thus, ‘coming’ here doesn’t imply an active subject in the usual sense, but rather a process or ongoing action related to the source of the words. It’s an example of how present participles can convey meaning beyond the typical subject-verb structure.
4. When to Use Present Participles Like ‘Coming’
Present participles such as ‘coming’ are commonly used in informal English, especially in spoken language or when aiming for brevity. They help make sentences more fluid and concise. In formal writing or more structured contexts, however, it’s more common to see the full relative clause, such as ‘that are coming from the TV.’
To summarize, the choice to use ‘coming’ in this context reflects the speaker’s desire for efficiency and fluidity in their expression, reducing the need for a longer sentence structure.
5. Conclusion: Understanding Present Participles in Reduced Clauses
In the sentence ‘How serious those words coming from the TV are,’ the present participle ‘coming’ is part of a reduced relative clause that modifies ‘words.’ This construction is a common feature in English, allowing for smoother and more concise communication. By understanding how present participles work in such contexts, we can better grasp how English speakers convey complex ideas in simpler forms.
In short, ‘coming’ in this sentence acts as a modifier that adds information about the origin of the words, creating a more fluid expression without sacrificing clarity.
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