For example:

It is a thing that works producing stuff.

This feels wrong to me, but I can’t quite put my finger on what exactly is wrong about it. It seems like it’s trying to be a participle phrase, but it’s not necessarily modifying the current state of “it”, and is, instead, describing what “it” is.

If it is, indeed, a participle phrase, then it should be able to be written as

Producing stuff, it is a thing that works.

But, to me, this doesn’t seem correct either, so it leads me to believe that the very structure of the sentence is incorrect.

  • @confluence
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    28 months ago

    How about an infinitive? “It is a thing that works to produce stuff.”

    • @[email protected]OP
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      8 months ago

      Hm, while that does seem to fit, it feels as if its intent doesn’t necessarily align. To me, that is more of a description of it’s purpose rather than what it does.

      • @confluence
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        28 months ago

        Ok, how about doubling up on the present participles? “The thing is working, producing stuff.”