VBG_CLAUSE YAML source

code: VBG_CLAUSE
biber_number: H25
name: Present participial clauses
definition: >-
  Present participle forms functioning as adverbial clauses. Excludes
  progressive aspect, going-to, and [[WHIZBG]] deletions.
normalization: finite_verbs
parent: VBG
detection:
- requires:
  - pos
  - dep
  semgrex: '{pos:VBG}=vbg <advcl {}'
  description: >-
    Present participle as adverbial clause modifier. Excludes WHIZ deletions
    (which use acl relation) and progressive aspect (which uses aux relation).
- source: pybiber
  requires:
  - pos
  - dep
  cql: '[dep="punct"] [pos="VBG" & dep="advcl|ccomp"]'
  description: >-
    VBG with dep advcl or ccomp, preceded by punctuation. pybiber requires
    a comma or other punctuation immediately before the participle as a
    clause boundary marker. Also includes ccomp relations.
examples:
- text: _Running_ to the door, he called out
- text: _Speaking_ softly, Gandalf began
- text: He texted me _saying_ no.
  source: le_foll_2024
non_examples:
- text: He was ~running~ to the door
  note: Progressive aspect (be + VBG) — not a participial clause
- text: the man ~standing~ there
  note: WHIZ deletion — see [[WHIZBG]]
sources:
- biber_1988
- pybiber
notes: >-
  D2 loading .39. Biber counted these separately from WHIZ deletions ([[WHIZBG]]).