Analyzing sentences: Role of Dates?

Status
Not open for further replies.

mangotea21

New member
Joined
Nov 1, 2017
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Are dates classified as a specific part of speech?

For example: the utterance "In 1776," ... would it be adequately analyzed as ... "The utterance begins with a preposition In, which is determining the date 1776" or can dates be specified more exactly?
 

TheParser

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2009
Member Type
Other
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
NOT A TEACHER


Hello, Mangotea:

I do not have the answer, but I would like you to consider a few thoughts of mine.

1. "Americans declared independence in 1776."

a. As you said, in is the preposition in that prepositional phrase.

b. I believe that in most instances, the object in a prepositional phrase must be a noun or pronoun.

c. I believe that in formal English, that sentence would be written as: "Americans declared independence in the year of 1776.

d. And I believe that in very formal English, that sentence would be written as: "Americans declared independence in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred seventy six."
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top