[Grammar] somebody can analyze this sentence?

[johncorter]

Hello my dear friend.
Somebody can analyze this sentence and what does it mean?
I take things a step at a time

 

[JMurray]

not a teacher

"A step at a time" or "One step at a time", both are common and mean the same thing.
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/american-english/one-step-at-a-time

 

[Rover_KE]

[STRIKE]Hello my dear friend.[/STRIKE] Unnecessary.

Can somebody please analyze this sentence? What does it mean?

I take things a step at a time. The sentence must end with a full stop (period).

Please note the correct way to ask a question, and that a better title would have been I take things a step at a time.

Extract from the Posting Guidelines:

'Thread titles should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.'

 

[TheParser]

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


Hello, Mr. Corter:

In my OPINION, maybe we can parse your sentence like this:

I = subject.
take = verb.
things = object.
a step = a noun that is functioning as an adverb (SOME books call it an "adverbial objective.") It modifies the verb "take." That is, "I take things to the extent of a step at a time."
at a time = prepositional phrase that modifes "a step."


Please study this example from my book: "The package arrived the day before yesterday."

The book parses it as:

The package = subject.
arrived = verb.
the day = a noun that is functioning as an adverb, modifying the verb "arrived." [My note: The package arrived to the extent of the day before yesterday.]
before yesterday = prepositional phrase that modifies " the day."

*****

"To take things a [one] step at a time." In my OPINION, to do something in an orderly, planned manner.



If I want to be the president:

1. I get a good education.
2. I get elected to be the leader of my city.
3. I then get elected to be the leader of my state.
4. I then get elected to the parliament of my country.
5. I then get an important job helping the president.
6. Then I become the vice-president.
7. Finally I become the president!


James


That book: Pence and Emery, A Grammar of Present-Day English (1963).