http://www.englishforums.com/English/GeneralEnglishGrammarQuestions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here.enCSMOD (Build: 3273.32735)http://www.englishforums.com/English/HelpWithStructure/lwnr/post.htm#56576Sun, 21 Nov 2004 19:55:50 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:56576chiefelectro3http://www.englishforums.com/English/HelpWithStructure/lwnr/post.htm#56576http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-56576.xmlI would analyse it this way: <br /> <br />- "He swallowed a lot of new questions" - main clause; he = subject, swallowed = predicate, a lot of new questions = direct object <br /> <br />- "which had just occured to him" - subordinate clause, functioning as an object complement; internal analysis: which = relative pronoun, had occured = predicate, to him = direct object <br /> <br />- "and looked instead at the thousands of narrow boxes" - subordinate clause, functioning as an adverbial; internal analysis: and = conjunction; looked at = predicate; the thousands of narrow boxes = direct object <br /> <br />- "(which were) piled neatly right to the ceiling" - subordinate clause, functioning as an object complement; internal analysis: piled = predicate, neatly = adverbial, to the ceiling = adverbial. <br /> <br /> <br />That´s the way I learned it and I hope it´s correct... <br />http://www.englishforums.com/English/HelpWithStructure/lwhk/post.htm#56484Sun, 21 Nov 2004 05:59:49 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:56484mercurysmile31http://www.englishforums.com/English/HelpWithStructure/lwhk/post.htm#56484http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-56484.xmlThank you CalifJim. Although, I am still stuck on these 2 clauses, you're reply has helped me quite a bit. I'm just still a bit confused. I'll keep trying and post what I have tomorrow to see what others think. Thanks again! I really do appreciate it! <br />Sincerely, <br />Melissahttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HelpWithStructure/lwgw/post.htm#56465Sun, 21 Nov 2004 04:51:21 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:56465CalifJim2http://www.englishforums.com/English/HelpWithStructure/lwgw/post.htm#56465http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-56465.xmlHe swallowed a lot of new questions which had just occured to him, and looked instead at the thousands of narrow boxes piled neatly right to the ceiling. <br /> <br />He | swallowed ... and looked (instead) <br />subject | verbs joined by a conjunction (adverb) <br /> <br />swallowed | a lot of new questions <br />verb | complement of the verb, i.e., direct object - also antecedent to "which" <br /> <br />questions: which (the questions) | had occurred | to him <br />relative pronoun | verb phrase | prepositional phrase - indirect object pronoun "him" <br />relative clause functioning as an adjective to "questions" <br /> <br />looked | at the thousands of narrow boxes OR looked at | the thousands of narrow boxes <br />verb | prepositional phrases OR verb | complement, i.e., direct object <br /> <br />boxes | [which were] piled neatly right to the ceiling <br />direct object | modifying past participle phrase equivalent to a relative clause with "which were" deleted <br /> <br />piled | neatly | right | to the ceiling <br /> <br />past (passive) participle | adverb of manner | adverb of degree modifying the following | prepositional phrase <br /> <br />Well, it's a start, anyway! <br /><img src="/emoticons/emotion-1.gif" alt="Smile [:)]" />http://www.englishforums.com/English/HelpWithStructure/lwgb/post.htm#56458Sun, 21 Nov 2004 03:25:40 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:56458mercurysmile33http://www.englishforums.com/English/HelpWithStructure/lwgb/post.htm#56458http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-56458.xmlwell, wouldn't it instead be seperated into two clauses? Like, <br /> <br />1. 'He swallowed a lot of new questions which had just occured to him <br /> <br />and <br /> <br />2. looked instead at the thousands of narrow boxes piled neatly right to the ceiling." <br /> <br />After having 2main clauses I would need to identify their structural elements which is initially what I was trying to ask. Sorry :( <br /> <br />Thanks for giving me a different perspective. I see what you mean. I hope to hear back from you or anyone else who may have some insight into my problem! <br /> <br />Thanks, <br />Melissahttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HelpWithStructure/lwgr/post.htm#56457Sun, 21 Nov 2004 03:00:15 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:56457paradisse4http://www.englishforums.com/English/HelpWithStructure/lwgr/post.htm#56457http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-56457.xmlHi <br />I think if you want to analyize it <br /> <br />'He swallowed a lot of new questions which had just occured to him, and looked instead at the thousands of narrow boxes piled neatly right to the ceiling." <br /> <br />i think it will be (clauses ) <br />- he swallowed a lot of new questions <br />- hwich had just occured to him <br />- and looked instead <br />- at the thousands of narrow boxes piled neatly right to the celing . <br /> <br />I'm not sure . I hope it will be truehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HelpWithStructure/lwvn/post.htmSat, 20 Nov 2004 22:49:41 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:56436mercurysmile35http://www.englishforums.com/English/HelpWithStructure/lwvn/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-56436.xmlCould someone help me analyze the structure of this sentence? I'm really struggling with it. <br />I have to identify clauses and each of their constituent elements. <br /> <br />'He swallowed a lot of new questions which had just occured to him, and looked instead at the thousands of narrow boxes piled neatly right to the ceiling."