grammar question!!!!!
I read this sentence: In a paper from early 1960s, Winnicott described a boy of six, whose parents had been deeply abusive to him, becoming very connected to a small animal his grandmother had given him. I don't understand why he said ''becoming'' instead of ''become''. Could someone help me explain it? Thank you!!!!!

Is this a participial construction sentence?

Question

grammar question!!!!!
I read this sentence: In a paper from early 1960s, Winnicott described a boy of six, whose parents had been deeply abusive to him, becoming very connected to a small animal his grandmother had given him.  I don't understand why he said ''becoming'' instead of  ''become''. Could someone help me explain it? Thank you!!!!!

Is this a participial construction sentence?

Answer

This is a somewhat complex sentence to make into pieces. The short answer is that "becoming" is not a verb at this point. Technically, it is part of a present participle phrase "becoming very connected" which is used to modify the noun phrase "boy of six".

"become" would not go with "boy" as a verb. It would be "becomes", "became", or "has/had become".

Answers · 2

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