Apposition--Noun Phrase-Sentence Analysis?

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But, around windows, electrical outlets on exterior walls, light fixtures through the ceiling, each of these will have some small gaps that will allow air movement.

Please describe how this phrase functions. Are they a group of prepositional phrases functioning as 1 noun phrase in apposition to 'each of these'?

Thanks
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Hi,

But, around windows, electrical outlets on exterior walls, light fixtures through the ceiling, each of these will have some small gaps that will allow air movement.

Please describe how this phrase functions. Are they a group of prepositional phrases functioning as 1 noun phrase in apposition to 'each of these'?

It's really just not a correctly worded sentence.

It needs to be

eg But around windows, electrical outlets on exterior walls, and light fixtures through the ceiling, there will be some small gaps that will allow air movement.

eg But windows, electrical outlets on exterior walls, and light fixtures through the ceiling will each have some small gaps that will allow air movement.

Clive
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Thanks, Clive

I prefer your rewrites. But could you explain how the original is incorrect, the missing 'and' aside?
Hi,

But, around windows, electrical outlets on exterior walls, light fixtures through the ceiling, each of these will have some small gaps that will allow air movement.

I prefer your rewrites. But could you explain how the original is incorrect, the missing 'and' aside?

The 'each of these' seems to refer to 'around windows, etc.'..

It seems like saying eg 'Around windows will have some small gaps', when it should be 'The area around windows will have some small gaps'.

Clive
Ah, yes. The meaning should be clear nonetheless. I mean, surely it isn't ungrammatical, as 'each' isn't forced to refer to the whole phrase right? It could be referring soley to windows, etc... I guess you're just saying it is unclear rather than plain wrong...

Cheers
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Hi,

I think that's a matter of terminology.

I'd say that something can be so unclear or odd that at some point you just say it's wrong.

'Wrong' is a subjective term. That's why we don't have perfect computer-based grammar-checking programs.

Clive

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