[Grammar] can you help correct my work, on identifying verb and subject?

[barefootchuck]

Hi, I'm doing some self-study here with the ever-so amazing Harbrace College Handbook. Could anyone help correct my answer please?

Exercise 6: verb is underscored, and subject is boldfaced.

1. Send your reply tomorrow. [the subject "you" is implied.]

2. There was no way to repair the motor.

3. Did you not recognize the signature?

4. Looking at old portraits brings back pleasant memories.

5. To learn is the proper business of youth.

6. Has cotton been grown very successfully in Egypt?

7. Fishing is good recreation.

8. The team, after having been outplayed for three quarters, won the game.

9. Speaking before a group is good practice.

10. To win is man's eternal aim.

Thanks,
Barefootchuck

 

[Barb_D]

All are good except #2 - I need someone else to confirm that one because I'm always confused about cleft-type sentences.

 

[5jj]

#2 seems fine to me.

 

[TheParser]

2. There was no way to repair the motor.

NOT A TEACHER


Hello, Chuck:

Yes, I agree: the Harbrace College Handbook is great (I have an older edition).

1. Of course, I may be wrong, but I most respectfully submit the following analysis for your consideration:

"There was no way to repair the motor."

a. As the handbook told you, ignore the word "there" in analysis.

b. Thus we have: was no way to repair the motor.

c. Now let's put those words in "regular" order:

no way to repair the motor was (existed).

Thus, I believe that it is accurate to state:


* No way = the subject.

* to repair the motor = infinitive phrase that modifies (gives more information about) the subject.

* was (existed) = verb.

*****

Question: No way existed to do what?

Answer: To repair the motor.


HAVE A NICE DAY!

 

[barefootchuck]

Thanks all. And thank you TheParser. There is one question about the book you use. The exercise is found in 1b - recognize subjects of verbs, and that particular chapter for my book is really short. I couldn't find the place where the handbook says to ignore the word "there" in analysis., where did you find it say that?

 

[TheParser]

NOT A TEACHER


Hello, Chuck:


Thank you for your kind note.

I have the 1972 edition. (I am a very old man.)

Yes, 1b says that "Verb precedes subject. There used as an introductory word or filler is an expletive, which

is never the subject."

I am also a fan of the Reed-Kellogg diagramming system, something American students used to study in the "old days," but very rarely nowadays.

When you get a chance, please check out the diagramming forum here at usingenglish.com. Read some of the posts, for

many of them have diagrams.


Almost all books agree that "there" in your kind of sentence is a so-called expletive that should be ignored in parsing

(analysis). In other words, "There are 50 American states" would be parsed as "50 American states are." Of course, no

one would speak like that. I have, however, come across one book that claims that "there" is the subject. But he is

definitely in the minority.

If you get a chance, go to the diagramming forum and ask that "There was no way to repair the car" be shown in a

Reed-Kellogg diagram. I think that you will be fascinated by the "map" of your sentence. The teacher who answers most

of the questions at that forum is very patient and nice. He has taught me a lot.


Sincerely yours,


James