Diagramming Longfellow

[Frank Antonson]

The news that mentioned earlier to Kondorosi is that there is now an American website dedicated to diagramming. Elizabeth O'Brien administers it.
Since it's based in the USA, I thought I would go to an American poet, Longfellow. (I think the English appreciate him, however, because I am quite sure that there is a bust of him (or at least a plaque) in Westminster Abbey's poet's corner.
Here's the website:
forum.english-grammar-revolution.com • View forum - Sentence Diagramming

[Kondorosi]

You agree with the "as fast as an ostrich" sentence click here?

I prefer mine better:



The first 'as' is an adverb modifying 'fast'; the second 'as' is a conjunction.

[Frank Antonson]

No, I say that "as...as" is a correlative conjunction and both belong on the same line modifying "fast".

[Kondorosi]

Correlative conjunctions always join grammatically equal elements (e.g., noun & noun, adjective & adjective, phrase & phrase, clause & clause, etc.

He can run as [fast] as [an ostrich]

fast = adj.
an ostrich = noun

adj. ≠ noun --> as ... as ≠ correlative conjunction

[Frank Antonson]

"As fast as an ostrich can run fast". Two clauses are being joined.

[Kondorosi]

1. He can run as [fast] as [an ostrich can run].
2. As [he can run fast] as [an ostrich can run].
3. As [fast he can run] as [an ostrich can run].

I think the first 'as' is solely attached to 'fast'.

This is what you like, right?

[Frank Antonson]

No, I would attach the first "as" to fast.
Let me diagram it. Give me a minute.

[Frank Antonson]

[Kondorosi]

Again. What are the comparative constituents in the sentence? (adv. & adv.)

[He can run fast] and [an ostrich can run fast]

Is the first fast "bigger" or the second? as ... as --> same.



Your as ... as, Frank, does not appear to be a correlative conjunction, because in your diagram it connects an adverb (fast) to the understood verb (x x) in the subordinate clause. In all modesty, my diagram is superb.

[Frank Antonson]

Yes, once again, you are right, you superb diagrammer.

The line should have been connected to the second understood "fast" (as you did it). You may not believe this, but I wondered if you would catch that. (Though I did not make the mistake intentionally -- I just thought of it later. )