a. Tom having a lot of friends, he can get all the help he needs.
b. With Tom having a lot of friends, he can get all the help he needs.
Are both grammatically correct?
Are both natural?
I think in (b) 'he' is not Tom! In (a) it might or might not be Tom.
Many thanks
with him having a lot of friends
Moderator: Alan
- Alan
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Re: with him having a lot of friends
Whether with or without 'with', the initial phrase is absolute, so that in neither case does 'Tom' necessarily specify the referent of the VP 'can get' (although, without contextual indications to the contrary , this would naturally tend to be assumed).
Cf.
Tom, having a lot of friends, can get...
where Tom is the subject of both 'having' and 'can get'.
Cf.
Tom, having a lot of friends, can get...
where Tom is the subject of both 'having' and 'can get'.