** Reply to note from Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar              <[log in to unmask]>         Mon, 21 May 2001 21:48:45 -0400


Michael's examples and qeustion had to do with adverbial clauses. That brought the
elliptical adverbial clause to mind:

 >While I was running around the block, I saw three purple VW's.
or ...
>while running around the block, I saw three purple VW's.
or ...
>Running around the block, I saw three purple VW's.

"Despite," in your examples is not a subordinating conjunction; it can't introduce
clauses. I guess I'd have to say 'despite' behaves more like a preposition.


__________________________
David E. Sawyer, PhD
Chair, Department of English
North Hennepin Community College
Treasurer, Assembly For the Teaching of English Grammar
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[O](763) 424-0832; [H](612) 929-3713

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