SS/PS question

[potioncat]

 "zanooda2"  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. 


Potioncat:
English is such a precise language. ;-)

I've noticed a trend. Most have said that they thought in-his-hand 
modified caught until the alternative was offered and they thought 
about it. I'd say, go with the first impression. The suggestion 
instiled doubt and some things don't do well with too much thought.

But, having given it too much thought, this is what I think. The 
important thing is that he "caught" the small item, not the small item 
itself. The 50 foot dive also describes the quality of the catching.

"In his hand or by hand" are common phrases that are added onto 
sentences. I don't know if there's a name for it, emphasis is all I can 
think of. For example, I could show you the striped afgan on my sofa 
and say, "I made this afgan by hand." (How else would I make it?) or I 
might say, He held the frog in his hand. (How else would he hold it? 
Never mind, I don't want to know.)

If Harry had caught some wee dark creature and McGonagall wanted to 
show it to Quirrell, then  "He caught that thing-in-his-hand (after a 
50 foot dive)" would be a reasonable interpretation. But in the case of 
the rememberall, I think  "in his hand" refers to caught.