Are these sentences correct?

Question

Is these sentences correct in a grammatical way?:

1. It shows her courage, rather risking her own life than the lives of her siblings.
2. She was happy, being able to complete the challenge (instead of She was happy, because she could complete the challenge).

Answer 1

Hi Maya -- here's how I would change around these sentences: 1. Risking her own life rather than the lives of her siblings shows courage. 2. She was happy when she was able to complete the challenge. The sentences are clearer and more direct -- also, I removed some unnecessary punctuation (the commas). If we schedule a lesson I'm happy to explain why further!

Answer 2

Hmmmm….looks like a syntax problem. Syntax means word order. So changing the order of the words clarifies the meaning:

Risking her own life rather than the lives of her children shows her courage.

The second sentence looks like a punctuation and syntax problem. 

Remove commas that separate subjects and verbs or phases and fix syntax problems which can be rewritten to clarify the meaning:

She was happy because she could complete the challenge.

Or, Because she could complete the challenge she was happy.

Or, Being able to complete the challenge, she was happy

Or, Being able to complete the challenge made her happy (although you would have to add the word “made”).

Can you think of another way to write these sentences????:)