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  1. #1
    Unregistered Guest

    Default Confusing Phrase Identification

    In the following sentence:

    "The trees lining the wet sidewalk of the suburban neighborhood spread heedful shadows down endless blocks."

    What type of phrases (assuming the are dependent phrases) are the following and what do the modify?

    -lining the wet sidewalks
    -of the suburban neighborhood
    -down endless blocks

    Finally is this a good sentence, or can it be written a better way (is there anything grammatically wrong with the sentence)?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
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    Default Re: Confusing Phrase Identification

    Im not exactly sure how you want the phrases classified (by what names?) but all three look prepositional to me, meaning (I think) that they specify the places in which 'the trees,' 'the wet sidewalk,' and the 'shadow casting' are.

    It seems a very good sentence, but I wonder about what is meant by the word 'heedful.' Does this meen shadows that we must heed? Therefore shadows that are dangerous? Even trying to think up a context for it, I don't think I would use the word 'heedful' here.

  3. #3
    curmudgeon's Avatar
    curmudgeon is offline Moderator
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    Default Re: Confusing Phrase Identification

    I think heedful here means that the shadows make you aware or mindful of their presence, they are noticeable.

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