Are "easier" and "late" both adjectives here?

[xxwzs]

1. It is easier to look out a plan than to carry it out.
2. I was ten minutes late for the train.
The "easier" and "late" in above separate sentences are said to be adverbs in my grammar.
But I have a different point of view, treating them both as adjectives.
Am I wrong or the grammar is? You will be highly appreciated if any detailed explanation.

 

[TheParser]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello, XXWWZS:

IF (if!) I understand my books correctly, you are absolutely correct.

1. "It is easy to think of a plan."

a. "Obviously," the word "easy" is an adjective. (Compare: "To think of a plan is easy.")

b. The comparative makes no difference:

i. "It is easier ("more easy") to think of a plan than to carry it out."


2. "I was ten minutes late." (Forget "for the train" when analyzing the status of "late.")

a. My books tell me the grammatical meaning of this sentence is: "I was late to the extent of ten minutes."

I = subject.
was = linking verb.
late = adjective.
ten minutes = noun phrase being used as an adverb to modify the verb. [Important edit: Please see MikeNewYork's post.]



James

 

[tedmc]

The "easier" and "late" in above separate sentences are said to be adverbs in my grammar.
What do you mean by 'my grammar'? Do you mean your grammar book?

But I have a different point of view, treating them both as adjectives.
But I have a different point of view. I treat them both as adjectives.

Am I wrong or the grammar is? You will be highly appreciated if any detailed explanation.
l would appreciate it if you would give me a detailed explanation.

not a teacher

 

[MikeNewYork]

James, for me, the adverb phrase is modifying the adjective, not the verb.

 

[TheParser]

The adverb phrase is modifying the adjective, not the verb.

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

You are ABSOLUTELY correct: "I was late to the extent of ten minutes." I was ABSOLUTELY wrong.

Professors House and Harman's book says that in "The mountain is a mile high," the noun phrase "a mile" is used as an adverb to modify the adjective "high."


James

 

[MikeNewYork]

It is very unusual to modify a linking verb with an adverb.