In the sentence ‘I gained valuable experience working with international clients last year,’ the word ‘working’ plays a significant grammatical role. Understanding how it functions can help in mastering English sentence structure and usage.
What Does ‘Working’ Modify?
The word ‘working’ in this sentence is a present participle, which is used to describe the activity that is happening in conjunction with the main action. Here, it modifies the noun ‘experience.’ Specifically, it describes the type of experience that was gained — the experience of working with international clients.
So, in this case, ‘working with international clients’ acts as a noun phrase that explains the nature of the ‘valuable experience.’
The Role of ‘Working’ in the Sentence
In terms of grammar, ‘working’ is part of a reduced relative clause. The full form of the sentence could be ‘I gained valuable experience that involved working with international clients.’ The word ‘working’ simplifies this relative clause into a concise, more fluid phrase.
As a present participle, ‘working’ acts similarly to an adjective, but it functions to provide additional detail about the experience without forming a separate clause.
Why ‘Working’ is Used Here
The use of ‘working’ allows the speaker to focus on the action (working) and the relationship it has to the experience gained. This structure is commonly used in English to describe actions or situations that happened alongside or as part of the main event.
It also conveys a sense of an ongoing activity that contributes to the experience, which is crucial for understanding how the event was shaped.
Summary: Grammar and Function of ‘Working’
In summary, ‘working’ in this sentence serves as a present participle modifying ‘experience.’ It provides additional information about the nature of the experience and is part of a reduced relative clause. Understanding this use of participles can enhance your understanding of sentence structure and how different parts of speech work together in English.
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