Gerund phrase needs a subject

[bmo]

(1). First of all, we waited a long time to be seated and orders taken.

Is this incorrect? Should I say," First of all, we waited for a long time to be seated and for the orders (to be) taken?"

(2). Secondly, after ordering the meal, there was no waiter serving us. Also, the meal came out very slow.

This is also wrong, there is no subject to go with ordering, correct? Should I say, "Secondly, after ordering the meals, we did not see waiters coming to serve us," or "Secondly, after the meals were ordered, there was no waiter serving us?"

Ordering the meal can be replaced by "placing our orders," right? Better?

And, the last sentence, the meal came out very slow. This is also incorrect. The meal cannot come out by itself, the waiter brought it out. Could I say, "The meals were not served promptly?" Or "It took them a while to serve the meals?"

(3). Lastly, the waiter's attitude was very awful. That really made us felt unhappy. Everyone in my family was disappointed about the service.
Made us felt unhappy. It should be made us feel unhappy, right? Actually, it should be made us unhappy, right?
Disappointed about the service: should this be "disappointed with the service?"

Thanks a lot.

 

[cuchuflete]

Let's walk through this, step by step.

(1). First of all, we waited a long time to be seated and orders taken.

Is this incorrect? Should I say," First of all, we waited for a long time to be seated and for the our orders (to be) taken?"

(2). Secondly, after ordering the meal, there was no waiter serving us. Also, the meal came out very slowly.

This is also wrong, there is no subject to go with ordering, correct? Should I say, "Secondly, after ordering the meals, we did not see waiters coming to serve us," or "Secondly, after the meals were ordered, there was no waiter serving us?" Second, after ordering the meal, there was no waiter serving us. That is correct, as far as it goes, but it simply means that no waiter was attending to us after our order had been taken. Do you want to say something other than that?
Your alternatives are also correct, but not better or more precise.

Ordering the meal can be replaced by "placing our orders," right? Better? It really depends on your tone and context. "Placing our orders" is more common in colloquial speech, but that is not the same as "better" if the rest of the context is more formal.

And, the last sentence, the meal came out very slow. This is also incorrect. The meal cannot come out by itself, the waiter brought it out. Could I say, "The meals were not served promptly?" Or "It took them a while to serve the meals?" Again, it's a question of tone and register. "...the meal came out very slowly will be easily understood, as will the alternatives you have offered.

(3). Lastly, the waiter's attitude was very awful. That really made us felt feel unhappy. Everyone in my family was disappointed about the service.
Made us felt unhappy. It should be made us feel unhappy, right? Actually, it should be made us unhappy, right? They are different. "...made us feel unhappy" emphasizes our feelings, and the act of becoming unhappy, while "made us unhappy" highlights our emotional condition. They are very similar, despite that distinction in nuance.
Disappointed about the service: should this be "disappointed with the service?" Both are fine.

Thanks a lot.

 

[TheMagician]

Hi bmo,

I'm impressed by the distinctions you have spotted!

1. "We waited a long time" should formally be "for a long time", but many native speakers would use "We waited a long time".

Similarly, it should be "and for the orders to be taken" but "for orders to be taken" would be used, especially in speech. You do need "to be", to denote that some one is taking the orders.

So, "First of all, we waited (for) a long time to be seated and for the orders to be taken".


2. "ordering" is a present participle, since it is a verb. If it was being used as a noun, it would be a gerund. if I remember my grammar, a present participle doesn't always need a subject; it is being used impersonally in this context to describe what happened.

"After ordering the meal" is therefore not a problem. Nor is "placing our orders" which works just as well, and sounds a little more formal.

Now to the waiters. What did you expect from the waiters? If you expected drinks or some appetizers, it might be better to say that rather than just "there were no waiters to serve us". Perhaps I am misunderstanding what you mean.

As for the meal, did it take a long time to appear, or did it come out with long intervals between dishes? In either case, you could say that "service was slow". If you want to stick to the original formula, say "Also, the meal came out very slowly". Your other suggestions about "the meal was not served promptly" and it took them a while to serve the meals" work well.

Putting it all together, "Secondly, after ordering the meal, the waiters disappeared and the service was very slow."

Hope this helps.

 

[jdenson]

(2). Secondly, after ordering the meal, there was no waiter serving us. Also, the meal came out very slow.

In spite of what others have said, this sentence is wrong because it includes an unattached participle. In Modern English Usage, Fowler gives the following example:
"A firm sent its bill with the following letter:
Dear Sir, ...being desirous of clearing our Books to end of May will you kindly favour us with cheque in settlement per return...
The reply ran:
Sirs, -- You have been misinformed. I have no wish to clear your books."

As written, the sentence means that the waiter ordered the meal, and after doing so, did not serve us. It should read: "After we ordered, there was no waiter serving us."
JD

 

[bmo]

(2). Secondly, after ordering the meal, there was no waiter serving us. Also, the meal came out very slow.
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Thank you all.

Q1. So the above is actually missing a subject. "After ordering the meal" is a participial phrase modifying a following subject which is missing from the sentence.

Q2. How can a meal come out by itself?

Thanks again, this is really quite a learning place.

 

[l3376876]

(2). Secondly, after ordering the meal, there was no waiter serving us. Also, the meal came out very slow.
======================================
Thank you all.

Q1. So the above is actually missing a subject. "After ordering the meal" is a participial phrase modifying a following subject which is missing from the sentence.

Yes, "ordering the meal" is a participal phrase ( not the gerund as you put in the blank for the title) and from your context, the subject is you not the waiters.

Q2. How can a meal come out by itself?

This question is similar to the following:
1. Does the meal taste delicious by itself?
2. Did my hat blow away by itself?

 

[bmo]

So "the meal came out very slowly" is wrong?