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Means, results : a synthesis...

As I had promised, here is the synthesis of the different tests and lessons preparing the difficult way towards the expression of "Means and Results". They're quite difficult and have a very bad reputation among students...That's why I had decided to make them gradual...  

As promised too, you'll then have to face a test in which the different varied patterns will be mixed. You'll have to go slow and be careful!  

For the scatterbrains who haven't found their ways to the prep tests, I'm speaking about : test ,  test , test  and test  " for long is the way that leads to success"...

1. THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO CHANGE PLACES:

The verb indicates the means of doing the action, the way of moving or a noise going along with this movement, whereas the element expressing the result is  expressed by a particle, a preposition + a noun:

- The Wetbacks were many to swim across the Rio Grande into the USA. 

- The door banged shut because of the draught.

* This precise construction indicates movement  and very often gives the possibility to know if the subject is getting nearer or getting away.

- Quick ! Run upstairs... she needs  you ! 

- Come in ... I've been waiting for you for long! 

* When it is followed by « one's way », the verb indicates a difficulty to move, an effort to make in order to succeed.

- The policeman shouldered his way through the crowd to catch the thief. 

2. PERSUASION - DISSUASION :

                                                 SUBJECT + VERB + INTO/OUT OF + V+ ing (or NOUN)

Once again, the way of doing the action is expressed by the verb which may be extremely varied, and the result is introduced by INTO (for persuasion) or OUT OF (for dissuasion).

- Mat deceived his parents into signing the cheque he needed. 

- We laughed him out of his plans. They were too unrealistic.

3. MEANS - RESULTS :

Contrary to the constructions of the sentences in French and other European languages, the means is always mentioned before the result. The chronological order must be respected. 

- At the football match, he shouted (means) himself hoarse (result). 

- The young mom sang (means) the baby to sleep (result).

Well well!  You know everything, now ... Go for the test! 

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You will have to rewrite the sentences given in the exercise, expressing the same ideas, but using the constructions rewiewed above. I know you don't like writing too much, and I've given you the different possibilities... Lucky You!

e.g.0. The baby went to sleep. The young mom sang to him. >> The young mom sang the baby to sleepThe young mom sang the baby to sleepI don't know.

1. I told them the truth because they frightened me. >> Telling the truth was frightening herI don't know.
2. The soldiers went through the bushes. They crawled to the shelter. >> The soldiers crawled through the bushes to the shelterCrawling to the shelter, the soldiers went through the bushesThe soldiers went through the bushes by crawlingThe soldiers went to the shelter in crawling through the bushesI don't know.
3. Stop it! If you drink too much, you’ll be sick. >> Stop it! You won't drink out of being sickYou'll drink yourself sickYou'll drink into being sickYou'll be sick because of drinkingI don't know !
4. --- The boy kicked the dog. The dog fell down the stairs. >> The dog fell down the stairs, being kickedThe boy kicked the dog down the stairsDown the stairs, the dog was kickedThe dog was kicked the boy down the stairsI don't know.
5. The little girl rubbed her eyes. She had difficulties to stay awake. >>The little girl rubbed her eyes awakeRubbing her eyes, the little girl stayed awakeThe little girl was awake and she rubbed her eyesBy rubbing her eyes, the little girl stayed awakeI don't know.
6. He went to the South of France. He took the plane whereas she took her car there. >> Whereas he flowed to the South, she rode her carHe flied to the South of France whereas she drivenHe flew to the South of France whereas she drove her carHe went to the South of France by flying whereas she went by drivingI don't know there.
7. It is said that Milton became blind. Milton read too much. >> Milton is said to have read himself blindIt is said that Milton himself blinded for reading too muchBlind Milton had read too muchIt is said that Milton had reading himself blindI don't know.
8. The anxious parents came into their newborn’s room. They walked on tiptoes to see that everything was normal. >>The anxious parents tiptoed into their newborn's roomThe newborn was tiptoed into his room by his anxious parentsThe anxious parents watched their newborn by tiptoeing into the roomThe baby's room was tiptoedby the anxious parentsI don't know to see that everything was normal.
9. Tim intimidated Lucy. Tim didn't want her to drink alcohol.>> Tim intimidated Lucy out of drinking alcoholLucy was intimidated into drinking alcoholLucy was intimidated and she drank alcohalTim intimidated Lucy and she drank alcoholLucy drank herself intimidatedI don't know.
10. Patrick was so furious that he gave a kick. Patrick opened the door. >> Patrick was so furious that he opened the door, kicking itkicking the door, he opened ithe opened the door with a kickhe kicked the door openI don't know.