Grammar Questions

[RAlec114]

<ol>
<li>Investigations completed, we compared notes, discussed results, and reworked our strategy.</li>
</ol>

<p>^Isn't there something wrong with "Investigations completed," ? Shouldn't it be "Having completed investigations," ? I don't understand how this is correct.</p>

<ol>
<li> Heretofore. </li>
</ol>

<p>Lol what they heck does that word mean? </p>

<p>61.</p>

<p>That fight most likely involves another bird of prey that has invaded [What/Where] the merlin believes to be its territory.</p>

<p>Why is the answer what and not where? territory = location no? </p>

<ol>
<li> Their wings move [quickly, constantly,] with powerful downstrokes, typically keeping a very steady line of flight.</li>
</ol>

<p>Their wings move [very quick and constant,] with powerful downstrokes, typically keeping a very steady line of flight.</p>

<p>Their wings move [quick and constant,] with powerful downstrokes, typically keeping a very steady line of flight.</p>

<p>This thing really confused me. The first one is correct. The whole double adverb + comma really confuses me. explain? I was looking for [quickly and constantly] but there was no such answer :D. Why is there a comma inbetween quickly and constantly in the first one?</p>

[silverturtle]

<p>

26. Investigations completed, we compared notes, discussed results, and reworked our strategy.</p>

<p>^Isn’t there something wrong with “Investigations completed,” ? Shouldn’t it be “Having completed investigations,” ? I don’t understand how this is correct.

</p>

<p>It’s an absolute phrase and is grammatical. See:</p>

<p>[Grammar</a> Reference .::. Absolute Phrases](<a href=“http://www.testmagic.com/grammar/explanations/phrases/absolute-phrases-introduction.asp]Grammar”>http://www.testmagic.com/grammar/explanations/phrases/absolute-phrases-introduction.asp)</p>

<p>

28. Heretofore. </p>

<p>Lol what they heck does that word mean?

</p>

<p>[Heretofore</a> - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary](<a href=“http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heretofore]Heretofore”>Heretofore Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster)</p>

<p>

That fight most likely involves another bird of prey that has invaded [What/Where] the merlin believes to be its territory.</p>

<p>Why is the answer what and not where? territory = location no?

</p>

<p>It is perfectly logical that a bird is invading a territory. The referent of “what” is “terrority.” If “where” were to be used, the sentence would have to read, “…that has invaded where the merlin believes its terrority to be.”</p>

<p>

67. Their wings move [quickly, constantly,] with powerful downstrokes, typically keeping a very steady line of flight.</p>

<p>Their wings move [very quick and constant,] with powerful downstrokes, typically keeping a very steady line of flight.</p>

<p>Their wings move [quick and constant,] with powerful downstrokes, typically keeping a very steady line of flight.</p>

<p>This thing really confused me. The first one is correct. The whole double adverb + comma really confuses me. explain? I was looking for [quickly and constantly] but there was no such answer . Why is there a comma inbetween quickly and constantly in the first one?

</p>

<p>Process of elimination would suffice here if one understands the need for an adverbial modifier. It is acceptable to offset the second adverb in that way, though a good explanation for that eludes me at the moment (I am tempted to say that the latter adverb is defining the former in some way, but that doesn’t seem quite right semantically).</p>