[Grammar] Parsing the sentence

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coolpro

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It annoyed her to think that she had trusted him.

I'd like to parse this sentence and find out the parts of sentence.

1. It is definitely the subject of the sentence.
2. annoyed her to think that she had trusted him is probably the predicate which consists of a verb and other linked words.
3. Let's analyse the predicate.
4. annoyed is the verb of the sentence.
5. her is perhaps acting as the direct object of the verb annoyed.
6. What about the verb group to think that she had trusted him? What part of sentence does it act as?
 

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coolpro

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I found the answer in this book:

"...an infinitive phrase used as a subject may come after the predicate; as, "It pleased the jackal to see Mother and Father Wolf look uncomfortable".
 

coolpro

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I found the answer in this book:

"...an infinitive phrase used as a subject may come after the predicate; as, "It pleased the jackal to see Mother and Father Wolf look uncomfortable".


so what part of sentence would "It" be then?
 

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It annoyed her to think that she had trusted him.

It = grammatical subject, an expletive
annoyed = verb of the superordinate clause
her = object of "annoyed"
PRO to think that she had trusted him = deep subject (aka notional subject)

As you can see, there are two subjects in this clause: one is the grammatical subject, and the other is the deep subject.
The grammatical subject is so termed because it governs the verb with respect to number and person and because it occupies the preverbal subject territory. Semantically, "it" is empty, with no reference.
The performer of the annoying is the idea expressed by the infinitive clause. True subject.

To think that she had trusted him annoyed her.
This annoyed her.

Different focus can be achieved via the means of postpositing.

Compare:
To think that she had trusted him annoyed her.
It annoyed her to think that she had trusted him.
 

coolpro

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Thank you for the explanation.

I took an interest in the syntax of the English language. I have downloaded the e-book called "English Syntax: An Introduction" by Jong-Bok Kim and Peter Sells.

Here is the link -> https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&...TktZGQyNy00NGIxLTkyMDUtMWI3NWU2NjY1YTc4&hl=en

Can anyone run through the contents of the e-book and tell me your opinion on whether the e-book is worth reading?
 

5jj

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Can anyone run through the contents of the e-book and tell me your opinion on whether the e-book is worth reading?
There are 290 pages, so it might take me a couple of minutes.;-)
 

coolpro

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There are 290 pages, so it might take me a couple of minutes.;-)

I'm sorry I did not mean anyone to read the whole e-book. just the contents of the e-book, the very first pages at the beginning. : )

I would appreciate if someone shared their opinions on the e-book with me.
 
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coolpro

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But I still waiting for the opinions on e-book :)
 
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