Monday, July 31, 2017

grammar - I have a problem with verb structure


In this sentence:




Four items are responsible for three-fourths of the overall spending around the world, the most prominent share being that of food.



Why after the comma, the verb "being" is used? Why it does not use "is"?



Answer



Your example is one sentence. It doesn't need to be:



Four items are responsible for three-fourths of the overall spending around the world.  The most prominent share is that of food. 



"Is" is a finite form. It creates a predicate and requires a subject.  "Being" is a non-finite form.  It creates a modifier. 



The entire structure "the most prominent share being that of food" is an absolute phrase.  It consists of the noun phrase "the most prominent share" modified by the following participial phrase "being that of food".  The absolute structure acts as a supplement to the associated clause, rather than acting as a clause on its own. 


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