Example sentences of "[prep] [conj] [v-ing] [pron] [prep] " in BNC.
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| 1 | The great Italian poet Leopardi had this to say : ‘ Works of genius have this intrinsic property that even when they give a perfect likeness of the nullity of things , even when they clearly demonstrate and make us feel the inevitable unhappiness of life , even when they express the most terrible despair , nevertheless … they always serve as a consolation , rekindling enthusiasm , and though speaking of and portraying nothing but death , restore to it , at least for a while , the life that it had lost . ’ |
| 2 | I think it would be fun to use fabric paints rather than hunting for and knitting lots of different colours . |
| 3 | Walter made quite a business from stealing rationed food from the grocer he worked for and selling it on the black market , while Theo dealt mostly in men 's clothes which he shifted on to a second-hand dealer who paid ready cash . |
| 4 | It is no more than the action of clashing their teeth together as if sinking them into the neck of the prey , in the specialized killing bite of the cat , but it has become a sound signal that many observers have commented on . |
| 5 | All of them were sitting forward in their seats , as if bracing themselves for a collision . |
| 6 | Philip French wrote in The Times , ‘ Once again , the considerable talent of Michael Crawford is squandered on feeble material , and he is excusably incapable of convincing us of the irresistible attraction of an insipid newcomer called Genevieve Gilles , who delivers her lines as if reading them from the small print of an oculist 's chart ( from which they might well have derived ) . |
| 7 | His ability to face anything was severely tested by Mr Multhrop , who clutched him firmly by his lapels as he entered the door , as if holding him under close arrest , an impression strengthened by the sight of a uniformed policeman standing behind him . |
| 8 | She runs her finger slowly along his chin , as if inspecting it for dust . |
| 9 | She moved past them , smiling at Axel , as if welcoming him for the first time . |
| 10 | Pascoe peered at the drink before putting the glass to his lips , as if drinking it at all was a risky thing . |
| 11 | The man looked at the boys as if seeing them for the first time . |
| 12 | Julius looked at her jeans and T-shirt , as if seeing them for the first time . |
| 13 | Eddie 's gaze ran on round the room , taking in , as if seeing them for the first time , the stool and easel , the framed reproduction Leonardo drawings on the walls , the low divan bed . |
| 14 | He looked at her for a moment as if seeing her for the first time then paused , giving the question serious thought . |
| 15 | Vincent looked at him , as if seeing him for the first time . |
| 16 | She looked up at Trent , as if seeing him for the first time : ‘ I 'd have drowned if you 'd left me on the Key . ’ |
| 17 | She sat down before the dressing-table , automatically picking up a hairbrush , but the sight of her own reflection in the mirror distracted her , and for long moments she simply stared at her own face , as if seeing it through the eyes of a stranger . |
| 18 | He moved round and joined them and stared intently at the portrait as if seeing it for the first time . |
| 19 | Sam looked at the revolver as if seeing it for the first time . |
| 20 | Charles found he was watching much of the play as if seeing it for the first time . |
| 21 | He smiled dazzlingly and looked her up and down as if fondling her with his gaze , while she returned his smile and somehow without moving made her cling silk dress ripple and shimmer . |
| 22 | But on the following day he had shaved the red stubble from his chin , was wearing a cleaner shirt , and was once more beginning to adopt a stern and over-bearing expression The Magistrate continued to give the orders which regulated the defence of the enclave , but in a subdued tone , as if referring them to the final authority of the Collector , should he wish to exercise it . |
| 23 | He rested a hand tentatively on her arm as if expecting it to be snatched angrily away . |
| 24 | Finally , as if rewarding us for our efforts , Yuri provided us with what was for us the highlight of the day — an impromptu performance ( to a disco beat ) which left us in no doubt at all as to why this tall , handsome athlete is Russia 's leading ballet super-Tsar ! |
| 25 | Bertha Cohen spoke slowly , as if recounting something by rote , her hands intent on the job of scooping out each piece of fish without breaking the enclosing skin . |
| 26 | Jannie put her spare hand over her eyes as if shielding them from the sun , and closed out the sight of her husband . |
| 27 | The eagles talked less now and fell into their own thoughts as if preparing themselves for the dark months ahead . |
| 28 | Oswald sat up , shaking his head as if freeing himself from a trance . |
| 29 | When his father was absent , he would come here himself and stand beside the pool , staring down into the water as if emptying himself into its depths , letting his thoughts become the fish , drifting , gliding slowly , almost listlessly in the water , then rising swiftly to breach the surface , imbued with sudden purpose . |
| 30 | It was night ; a brisk breeze drove chubby clouds to the east , effacing and revealing the stars as if polishing them for display . |