Drop of verb to be?

English grammar questions, answered by Alan

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maherazoz
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Drop of verb to be?

Post by maherazoz »

Hello,
Kindly, consider the following sentence:
(They found the most respected scientists in the kingdom – each one an expert.)
Shouldn't the sentence be: (each one "is" an expert)?
Why is verb to be (is) dropped here?
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Alan
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Re: Drop of verb to be?

Post by Alan »

It is a rather literary appositive construction in which the finite verb is simply ellipted. However, it means 'each one WAS...'.
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