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Reply to "leaving out ‘being’?"

I still feel that "being" is necessary, or at least advisable. Any thoughts, David?

I agree with you, Gustavo, that "being" is needed. Indeed, I find the following two sentences you have proposed, Deepcosmos, to be ungrammatical:

  • *Nobody likes to be crossed off the list before given the opportunity to show others who they are.
  • *Before given this medicine, read all of this leaflet carefully.

I am not sure what has tempted you to think that it is possible to omit "being" in such sentences, Deepcosmos. Here is more evidence that it is a misguided idea:

(4a) Before being painted, the house was powerwashed.
(4b) *Before painted, the house was powerwashed.

(5a) Before being climbed, the tree was watered.
(5b) *Before climbed, the tree was watered.

(6a) Before being performed, the piece had to be composed.
(6b) *Before performed, the piece had to be composed.

Where is your quotation taken from, Deepcosmos? When I Google it, I just see a post that you made at another forum and a bunch of Hangul script.

Last edited by David, Moderator
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