aaleks's log

[aaleks]

del.

[rdearman]

consulted one of a dozen clipboards hanging on the wall behind him, Caitlin realizing for the first time that he hadn't even switched his computer on.

This might also be a punctuation problem. It might be there should be a comma (or a semi-colon) after Caitlin. With the two comma's then noun Caitlin can be omitted and still be valid.

consulted one of a dozen clipboards hanging on the wall behind him, Caitlin, realizing for the first time that he hadn't even switched his computer on.

[aaleks]

del.

[smallwhite]

> #1
"... consulted one of a dozen clipboards hanging on the wall behind him, Caitlin realizing for the first time that he hadn't even switched his computer on."

When asking questions about grammar it’s always better to quote the whole sentence because you may be cutting up the sentence at the wrong place and giving insufficient or even misleading information. What you have quoted above is insufficient.

Edit: glad you realised.

[aaleks]

del.

[rfnsoares]

"Whatley consulted one of a dozen clipboards hanging on the wall behind him, Caitlin realizing for the first time that he hadn't even switched his computer on"

I think I have understood
I re-re-re-read...

If the sentence has finished after the "his computer on" the usage of the verb in the past makes sense, otherwise the usage of the gerund might (or not) make sense, depending on what comes after it.

Quite intriguing.

[aaleks]

del.

[smallwhite]

> "Whatley consulted one of a dozen clipboards hanging on the wall behind him, Caitlin realizing for the first time that he hadn't even switched his computer on".

I’d say this is a participle clause marking result.

The fire expanded, killing three.
The fire expanded, its smoke killing three.
Whatley spoke, Caitlin realising he had a stutter.

I think full stop is British and period Amercan.

[rfnsoares]

"Whatley consulted one of a dozen clipboards hanging on the wall behind him, Caitlin realizing for the first time that he hadn't even switched his computer on"

I think I have understood
I re-re-re-read...

If the sentence has finished after the "his computer on" the usage of the verb in the past makes sense, otherwise the usage of the gerund might (or not) make sense, depending on what comes after it.

Quite intriguing.

Now the sentence looks exactly like it is in the book, I swear . With a full stop/period mark* after "his computer on"

*I'm not sure how this "." punctuation mark is supposed to be called.

I really do not know. See whether these sentences below make any sense in the book you're reading.

1) Whatley consulted one of a dozen clipboards hanging on the wall behind him, when Caitlin realized for the first time that he hadn't even switched his computer on.

2) Whatley consulted one of a dozen clipboards hanging on the wall behind him, when Caitlin was realizing for the first time that he hadn't even switched his computer on.

I also got intrigued. Let's wait for people more capable than me.

[aaleks]

del.