Results 1 to 6 of 6
Like Tree3Likes
  • 1 Post By Tdol
  • 1 Post By TheParser
  • 1 Post By BobK

Thread: complex End-weight emphasis

  1. #1
    panicmonger is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Chinese
      • Home Country:
      • China
      • Current Location:
      • Australia
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Posts
    425

    Default complex End-weight emphasis

    I have learnt the use of end-weight emphasis for adjuncts.

    But having said that, my complex question is about the order of an adjunct and a postmodifier of an object in a sentence?

    This is an unusual question.
    For example:

    The Chinese people will sprinkle salt and rice grains as "offerings" to the mouse at various corners of the house.
    (the emphasis is "ast the various corners of the house")

    The Chinese people will sprinkle salt and rice grains at various corners of the house to the mouse as "offerings".
    (the emphasis is "as offerings")

    Is it grammatical and emphatic to put a postmodifier at the end of a sentence?

    Thank you very much indeed.

  2. #2
    panicmonger is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Chinese
      • Home Country:
      • China
      • Current Location:
      • Australia
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Posts
    425

    Default Re: complex End-weight emphasis

    Is the question too grotesque to ask?

  3. #3
    Tdol is offline Editor, UsingEnglish.com
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • UK
      • Current Location:
      • Philippines
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Posts
    38,631

    Default Re: complex End-weight emphasis

    There's a risk that things can become difficult to follow and understand. The prepostion to before mouse makes this one rather choppy. I wouldn't do it.
    panicmonger likes this.

  4. #4
    TheParser is offline Key Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Other
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • United States
      • Current Location:
      • United States
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Posts
    4,877

    Default Re: complex End-weight emphasis

    Quote Originally Posted by panicmonger View Post
    I have learnt the use of end-weight emphasis for adjuncts.

    But having said that, my complex question is about the order of an adjunct and a postmodifier of an object in a sentence?

    This is an unusual question.
    For example:

    The Chinese people will sprinkle salt and rice grains as "offerings" to the mouse at various corners of the house.
    (the emphasis is "ast the various corners of the house")

    The Chinese people will sprinkle salt and rice grains at various corners of the house to the mouse as "offerings".
    (the emphasis is "as offerings")

    Is it grammatical and emphatic to put a postmodifier at the end of a sentence?

    Thank you very much indeed.

    ***** NOT A TEACHER *****


    Panicmonger,


    I would be more comfortable with:



    The Chinese people sprinkle salt and grains of rice

    in various corners of the house as "offerings"

    to the mouse.


    Thank you & have a nice day
    panicmonger likes this.

  5. #5
    BobK's Avatar
    BobK is offline Harmless drudge
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • UK
      • Current Location:
      • UK
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    14,901

    Default Re: complex End-weight emphasis

    But, to answer question - well at least to respond to the examples - they're both grmmatical and the stress indicated is appropriate. However, postmodifiers, adjuncts and suchlike were never my cup of tea, so I wouldn't presume to generalize.

    b
    panicmonger likes this.

  6. #6
    panicmonger is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Chinese
      • Home Country:
      • China
      • Current Location:
      • Australia
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Posts
    425

    Default Re: complex End-weight emphasis

    Thanks all of you cordially.
    You all have helped a lot in my learning English.
    Your help is kinda encouragement to me.
    God bless you.

Similar Threads

  1. Emphasis at the end of a sentence
    By kl004535 in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 13-Mar-2010, 06:41
  2. put weight OR gain weight?
    By cmlg38542006 in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 06-Apr-2009, 11:44
  3. helps lose weight//helps weight loss
    By angliholic in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 06-Apr-2008, 18:48
  4. Emphasis?
    By nyggus in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 15-Jul-2006, 08:08
  5. Complex compund and compound-Complex
    By Camilo in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 14-Feb-2006, 07:26

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Hotchalk

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.1