The porter had a taxi ready.

[sitifan]

The porter had a taxi ready. (Quirk et al. 1972. p. 961)
Does the quoted sentence mean that the porter flagged down or called a taxi?

 

[tedmc]

"Having something ready" doesn't tell you how you have it ready.

 

[Rover_KE]

I haven't got Quirk et al's 52-year-old book to hand.

What point is this sentence exemplifying?

 

[sitifan]

What point is this sentence exemplifying?

It is exemplifying the there-have alternation.
There was a taxi ready.
The porter had a taxi ready.

 

[Tarheel]

It is exemplifying the there-have alternation.
There was a taxi ready.
The porter had a taxi ready.

Two things. One, in both sentences the taxi was ready, but the second one gives more information. Two, hopefully, @Rover_KE will explain that grammar
term.

 

[SoothingDave]

The point is that the taxi is ready. There aren't very many ways that that can happen. Either he called or flagged one down, as you suggest. Or one was already there waiting for a fare.

How else did you think it could be?

 

[Rover_KE]

Two things. One, in both sentences the taxi was ready, but the second one gives more information. Two, hopefully, @Rover_KE will explain that grammar
term.

Pass.

 

[Tarheel]

 

[emsr2d2]

It is exemplifying the there-have alternation.
There was a taxi ready.
The porter had a taxi ready.

Whilst I can see from those two sentences what that phrase is supposed to mean, it does not appear to exist. I Googled "there-have alternation" and got no hits at all. Is that the term used in Quirk et al?

 

[tedmc]

It is exemplifying the there-have alternation.
There was a taxi ready.
The porter had a taxi ready.

The second sentence implies the porter arranged for the taxi to be ready whereas the first doesn't.

 

[Tarheel]

@tedmc When you imply something you hint at it. You don't come right out and say it. "The porter had a taxi ready" is quite clear.

 

[sitifan]

Whilst I can see from those two sentences what that phrase is supposed to mean, it does not appear to exist. I Googled "there-have alternation" and got no hits at all. Is that the term used in Quirk et al?

I don't have Quirk et al's 52-year-old book. It was cited in Essays on English Grammar and Rhetoric: From Traditional to Modern, written by Prof. Tang. (page 311)
https://www.google.com.tw/books/edi...porter+had+a+taxi+ready."&printsec=frontcover