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Here’s the original:

The veterinarian was caught off guard when, regaining consciousness, we were again attacked by the cat.

My rewrite of this sentence is either:

The veterinarian was caught off guard when we were again attacked by the cat regaining consciousness.

or else:

The veterinarian was caught off guard when, regaining consciousness, the cat attacked us.

Is either of these rewrites satisfactory?

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6
  • 2
    It is a confusing sentence. It's hard to answer your question without knowing, at least for starters, who regained consciousness, the cat, the veterinarian, or "us"?
    – JAM
    Jul 15, 2012 at 18:56
  • 1
    If a cat attacks, shouldn't it already have regained consciousness?
    – Frank
    Jul 15, 2012 at 18:58
  • so you're saying the cat had lost consciousness, then regained consciousness, then attacked. The vet and "us" never lost consciousness in the first place -- correct? :)
    – JAM
    Jul 15, 2012 at 19:03
  • Yes,that is almost what i mean .
    – Frank
    Jul 15, 2012 at 19:07
  • 1
    May be i should say "The veterinarian was caught off guard when the cat, having regained consciousness, attacked us"
    – Frank
    Jul 15, 2012 at 19:09

2 Answers 2

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4

Based on our exchange of comments, your third sentence is correct:

The veterinarian was caught off guard when, regaining consciousness, the cat attacked us.

Since you're trying to say that it is a second attack, I'd add "again":

The veterinarian was caught off guard when, regaining consciousness, the cat attacked us again.

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3

Both rewrites retain the ambiguity of the first sentence, but I'd say the latter is better.It is unclear who regained consciousness. Assuming that it's the cat, here's an alternative:

After regaining consciousness, the cat caught the veterinarian off guard by attacking us again.

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