SS/PS question

[Steve]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "zanooda2" <zanooda2 at ...> wrote:
>
> Hi, guys! I need help with one sentence in SS/PS. Could some
> English-speaking person explain to me how they understand the 
> following sentence: 
>
> "He caught that thing in his hand after a fifty-foot dive" 
> (Ch. 9, "The Midnight Duel", p.151 Am.ed. or p.113 Br.ed.).
> 
> It's something that McGonagall says to Wood, after witnessing 
> Harry's dive for the Remembrall. 
> 
> Does "in his hand" define the word "thing" here or does it 
> define the word "caught"? Does the first part of the sentence
> mean something like "He caught the thing that he is holding 
> now in his hand [Remembrall]", or does it mean "He caught 
> that thing with his hand/into his hand/using his hand"?
> 
> I will really appreciate your help (off-list is also OK :-)), 
> I'm kind  of in the middle of an argument about this sentence,
> LOL!
>


bboyminn:

Interesting point and one I never really considered before.

Let's restate it so that the emphasis stands out more -

1.) That thing in his hand, he caught it after a 50 foot dive.

2.) He caught that thing /with/ his hand after a 50 foot dive. 


I alway took it as McGonagall emphasizing that it was caught
(with his hand), rather than emphasizing what was caught (the
Rememberall).

But upon re-pondering it, it seems more logical that she
is pointing to the thing in his hand, and saying it was
caught after a spectacular 50 foot dive. 

Though not my original interpretation, I think the most likely
correct interpretation is reflected in sentence 1.) above.

Steve/bluewizard