[Grammar] A great deal more going on.

[nininaz]

Hello Teachers,
I want to know the grammatical rule of more in the following context and the meaning of going on. Also, why is the verb used in progressive tense?
"When you look at a tree, you may notice only the branches and leaves. A closer look shows that there is actually a great deal more going on. Trees provide home to ... "

 

[Matthew Wai]

'There is actually a great deal more going on' = 'A great deal more is actually going on there', where 'more' is a pronoun and 'going on' means 'happening'. The progressive tense refers to the moment you look at it.

 

[nininaz]

'There is actually a great deal more going on' = 'A great deal more is actually going on there', where 'more' is a pronoun and 'going on' means 'happening'. The progressive tense refers to the moment you look at it.

Thanks for your reply.Can we use revise the context as below?!
"There is actually a great deal more (thing) which is going on".

 

[Raymott]

You can say, "There are actually a great deal more things going on." But doing this adds nothing to the meaning.
"more thing" doesn't make sense.

 

[nininaz]

You can say, "There are actually a great deal more things going on." But doing this adds nothing to the meaning.
"more thing" doesn't make sense.

I asked as "a great deal" cann't be used with single countable noun.
Therefore, it dosen't make sense to me why the wrire used ' there is + a great deal more ' .

 

[Matthew Wai]

I consider 'more' uncountable when it is used as a pronoun, as in 'there is much more'.

 

[Raymott]

Would you accept, "There is a lot more happening"? "A great deal" = "A lot".

 

[Matthew Wai]

Yes, I would.

 

[Raymott]

Yes, I would.

Not you - nininaz. We posted at the same time.

 

[nininaz]

Not you - nininaz. We posted at the same time.

Yes I would.You meant 'going on' is consider noun like 'happening'.

 

[Rover_KE]

I asked as "a great deal" [STRIKE]cann't[/STRIKE] can't be used with single countable nouns.

Therefore, it [STRIKE]dosen't[/STRIKE] doesn't make sense to me why the [STRIKE]wrire[/STRIKE] writer used 'there is + a great deal more' .

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[Matthew Wai]

You meant 'going on' is consider noun like 'happening'.

Both are the main verbs instead of nouns there.

 

[Raymott]

Yes I would.You meant 'going on' is consider noun like 'happening'.

Your question was about "A closer look shows that there is actually a great deal more going on."
Given that "going on" means "happening", and "a great deal" means "a lot", and you accept "There is a lot more happening", you shouldn't have a problem with "There is a great deal more going on."