Search results for 'tag:Prepositions tag:Noun phrases' matching tags 'Prepositions' and 'Noun phrases'

Sentence Analysis

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 12:49:24 GMT

I have to analyse the following sentence, but I'm really stuck...

"Amanda's practical solutions of what had seemed an insoluble mystery descended on the family like a balm."

I have to cut this sentence into constituents and cut those up in nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, pronouns, prepositions etc.
For now I have this:
'Amanda's practical solutions of what had seemed an insoluble mystery' = the subject of the whole sentence and is a Noun Phrase
'descended' = the main verb of the sentence,
'on the family' = a Prepositional Phrase
'like a balm' = a Prepositional Phrase

The two prepositional phrases don't give me any trouble (both start with a preposition, than have a determiner article and end in a noun).

The Noun Phrase is what gives me trouble...

'Amanda's practical solutions of what had seemed an insoluble mystery' has two constituents, I'd say...
'Amanda's practical solutions' = Noun Phrase
'of what had seemed an insoluble mystery' = ???
I really can't get beyond this point... How should I analyse this?

I really hope someone can help me with this sentence...

'For example, although it is true to say that the noun group is the structure we choose for "the things" we want to talk about, it is not the only one.'

Peaceblinkfriend — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:35:18 GMT

For example, although it is true to say that the noun group is the structure we choose for the things we want to talk about, it is not the only one. Sometimes we want to talk about an event or an idea that is not easy to express in a noun group. Instead we can use a clause as the subject of another clause. e.g All I want is a holiday. (Quoted from the introduction of Collins COBUILD English Grammar )

I don't quite understand what it means by 'the things we want to talk about'. What is being referred to by 'the things'? For all it's worth, according to the glossary included in the grammar, a noun group is a group of words which acts as the subject, complement, or object of a clause, or as the object of a preposition. Also called nominal group or noun phrase.

Thank you

PBF

Re: Grammar- is using versus is by using

26TMNTJG2PG — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:58:07 GMT

I have recently found 'by using public transport' in the following sentence is closely connected with the prepositional phrase in LEO. Therefore, it should be a prepositional phrase that followed 'One way of lowering fuel consumption is'.

One way of lowering fuel consumption is by using public transport. - Your above assertion can only be correct if (the preposition) by is necessary. Let us see the functions of a preposition stated below to determine this.

The best time to practice water conservation is before a water shortage. (prepositional phrase = noun functioning as a complement - Besides it also tells us about the time.)

As for the noun phrase 'using public transport', it can also function as a gerund phrase according to the example below shown by LEO - gerund phrase is just a general name. One way of lowering fuel consumption is using public transport.

One of Serena Williams' biggest disappointments after her semifinal defeat was losing her spot for tennis singles in the Olympics. (gerund phrase = complement - Besides it also tells us about the disappointments.)

A preposition shows in what relation one thing stands to another, i.e. what one thing has to do with another in respect of Place, Situation, Circumstance and Time.

Unlike the following sentence which indicates a situation or circumstance, the preposition by is necessary:-

We learn more by not taking answers at face value.

Regards.

Re: Grammar- is using versus is by using

bhikkhu1991 — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:07:06 GMT

Hello,

I have recently found 'by using public transport' in the following sentence is closely connected with the prepositional phrase in LEO. Therefore, it should be a prepositional phrase that followed 'One way of lowering fuel consumption is'.

One way of lowering fuel consumption is by using public transport.

The best time to practice water conservation is before a water shortage. (prepositional phrase = noun functioning as a complement)
LEO-prepositional phrase= preposition + object of the preposition + modifiers.

As for the noun phrase 'using public transport', it can also function as a gerund phrase according to the example below shown by LEO.

One way of lowering fuel consumption is using public transport.

One of Serena Williams' biggest disappointments after her semifinal defeat was losing her spot for tennis singles in the Olympics. (gerund phrase = complement)
LEO- gerund phrase = gerund + modifiers, objects, or complements.

I am only a learner of English, I hope the experts or grammarians can correct this reply.

Thank you.

With best wishes.

will be looking forward to meeting you

Believer — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 07:13:54 GMT

Hi,

Which one or ones are right? When do we use each of them?

1. I will be looking forward to meet you.

2. I will be looking forward to meeting you.

3. I am looking forward to meet you.

4. I am looking forward to meeting you.

I think that depends on whether you are looking at 'to' as a preposition or 'to meet' as an infinitive. Are they both correct?

How about this?

I like playing chess.

I like to play chess

For the above, are we looking at the choice of looking 'to play' as an infinitive acting as a part of a noun and 'playing chess' as a noun phrase?

Re: Two question about "where"

Goodman — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 23:35:54 GMT

Velimir wrote:
Hello everybody, I have two questions about the word "where" . 1.I've been told that "where" in the following sentence is a pronoun by its form : Where did you get to? And the explanation is that in possible answer like: I got to page 4. it stands for the noun phrase "page 4". If it is a pronoun in this sentence,is it because of the stranding of the preposition,or in any question beginning with "where" it is to be understood as a interrogative pronoun,not an adverb.(i.e "Where are you going" --> "I am going to London",would it be interpreted that "where" stands for the noun "London"). 2.When "where" is used as a subordinator to join two clauses like in the following sentence: a) Macy's is the place where I buy my clothes. what is "where" by its form in the subordinate clause "where I buy my clothes",a pronoun or an adverb? And if "the place" is left out like: b) Macy's is where I buy my clothes. does it change anything? Is "where" to be understood as a pronoun (and what noun it replaces then),conjunction,or an adverb. Many thanks Velimir

Hi Velimir,

One of the functions of where, when, who ,what and which is to form a question. i.e. Where have you been! In this usage, itâs an adverb for places and locations.

When did you call? â âWhenâ, like âwhichâ and âwhatâ is also an adverb, and it infers time.

Another function for these words is a conjunction which joints two separate concept or ideas together in a single sentence. i.e. âIt was eight in the evening when she came homeâ.

âI saw a man who looked to be at his late 20âs coming out of your house around 4 in the afternoon when I came home from school.â This sentence contained 2 relative pronouns :who and when.

This may help you.

http://grammar.uoregon.edu/pronouns/relative.html

Re: Two question about "where"

Velimir — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:58:24 GMT

Hello Kooyeen,

First,thank you very much for your answer .
In the meantime I've got the answer on part 1 of my post .It is a question of a preposition at the end of a question.I understand that if ,for example, I ask :

Where are you going to? - "where" is a pronoun since it can be replaced with a noun phrase like "which place"

but in:

Where are you going? - "where" is an adverb here because it can be replaced by "to which place" what is an adverbial expression.

Anyway,this is my interpretation of the answer I've got on other forum. Also,it was my opinion that "where" in questions is always an adverb since it always renders some adverbial expression in answer,which can be equalized with "where" in the question no matter where you put a preposition. And generaly it is more an adverb even in situations with stranded preposition.

And you know, it is interesting that both in Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary and Oxford ALD "where" is indicated as an adverb and conjunction,but not as a pronoun. What means that they are of my opinion.I would put smiley here but I don't know how to insert it, so please imagine one. And one more.

Again,thank you very much for your answer Kooyeen

Velimir

Two question about "where"

Velimir — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 09:59:37 GMT

Hello everybody,

I have two questions about the word "where" .

1.I've been told that "where" in the following sentence is a pronoun by its form :

Where did you get to?

And the explanation is that in possible answer like:

I got to page 4.

it stands for the noun phrase "page 4".

If it is a pronoun in this sentence,is it because of the stranding of the preposition,or in any question beginning with "where" it is to be understood as a interrogative pronoun,not an adverb.(i.e "Where are you going" --> "I am going to London",would it be interpreted that "where" stands for the noun "London").

2.When "where" is used as a subordinator to join two clauses like in the following sentence:

a) Macy's is the place where I buy my clothes.

what is "where" by its form in the subordinate clause "where I buy my clothes",a pronoun or an adverb?

And if "the place" is left out like:

b) Macy's is where I buy my clothes.

does it change anything? Is "where" to be understood as a pronoun (and what noun it replaces then),conjunction,or an adverb.

Many thanks

Velimir

Re: preposition phrase or ellpted subordinate clause

Buddhaheart — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 05:24:06 GMT

âAfter playing chessâ is a prepositional phrase functioning as an adverb of time modifying the main verb âwentâ. Itâs also considered an elided clause. In âAfter he played chess, he went on to take a long walk home.â the prepositional phrase becomes a full subordinate clause. âPlaying chessâ is indeed a noun phrase and is the object of the preposition âafterâ.

preposition phrase or ellpted subordinate clause

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 02:24:15 GMT

Hi,

Can you tell me how a person would know if the underlined part is a prepositional phrase or an ellipted subordinate clause acting as an adverbial phrase?

After playing chess, he went on to take a long walk home.

I think 'playing chess' can be said to be a noun phrase that is quite functional as a noun. as shown below . Can a noun phrase like 'playing chess' be used as an object of preposition or only is that it only a 'word' noun can assume that role?

Playing chess is one major activity that prevents me from sleeping at night.