In the constant search to improve our linguistic competence, we are faced with some assumptions that are often unimaginable. And, so to speak, the article in question is intended to address a recurrent practice, subject to some considerations. In order to represent it, let us pay attention to the following statements:
Despite the boy being hardworking, he did not succeed in the evaluations.
Despite the boy being hardworking, he did not succeed in the evaluations.
Certainly we are apt to regard the second example as correct, given its commonplace use. However, an important point must be mentioned, referring to the first statement:
When analyzing the subject to which he relates, we find that it is the term "boy", detected through the following question:
Despite the effort, who has not been successful in the evaluations?
We get the answer: the boy.
Based on this assumption, it is mentioned the fact that the above mentioned finding (referring to the first example), it constitutes a grammatical inconsistency, since through the grammatical postulates it is not recommended to contract the preposition "of" with the articles "the" or with the pronouns represented by "he", "she", "that", "this" and "this" when they represent the subject of infinitive prayer. This statement adheres to the assumption that the element that is governed by the preposition is the verb, not the subject.
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Therefore, this one, like so many others, will be evidenced as follows:
Despite the boy being hardworking, he did not succeed in the evaluations.
The time has come for her to manifest herself to everyone present here.
It all depends on that girl confessing her mistake.
Before they arrive, the meeting cannot be started.
By Vânia Duarte
Graduated in Letters
Brazil School Team
Grammar - Brazil School
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
DUARTE, Vânia Maria do Nascimento. "'Of the or of the?' – How to use them?"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/gramatica/de-ouque-forma-empregalos.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.
