Chemical changes have been performed by man from very early times,
probably the earliest being the heating of clay to make pottery.
Let me write what I understood from the explanations and you can say if I’m right.
I deleted the ’first’ just to make the sentence clearer to read. It doesn’t make a difference.
What is what:
I)
noun – ”chemical changes”
II)
noun of the dependent clause – ”the earliest”
III)
participle (verb+ing) – ”being”
IV)
gerund, object – ”heating”
Guesswork:
"the first [of the chemical changes] being the heating of clay" – dependent clause
Possible sentences:
a/ "..., the
first being the heating of clay" – dependent clause
b/ "... and the
first are the heating of clay" – main clause (they’re continuing in the present)
- Have I used a possible conjunction in the
b-sentence?
- Is that a good example for your (b) explanation paragraph?
- I’m not sure how in my
b-sentence the second clause becomes the main clause. I think it’s still the dependent clause.
Your last sentence brought an idea on my mind. (not sure is it correct
)
Could you write down some short sentences with the participle and their present counterpart.
The difference between those pairs written in contrast should explain me everything.
Examples of the contrast I mean – the ’
Possible sentences’ above.
Send u a THX,
It was really useful.