this once prosperous region

[Vik-Nik-Sor]

Hello.

prosperous
• this once prosperous region
OALD

Once here means "at some time in the past; formerly" and modifies 'prosperous'. Is it right?

 

[SoothingDave]

Yes. At one time (in the past) the region was prosperous.

 

[Gillnetter]

Hello.

prosperous
• this once prosperous region
OALD

Once here means "at some time in the past; formerly" and modifies 'prosperous'. Is [STRIKE]it[/STRIKE] that right?

Yes, you are correct. You could write the text (a fragment of a sentence) without "once" - "this prosperous region." You could also substitute another word for "once" - happy/cold/determined/remote, etc.

 

[5jj]

You could also substitute another word for "once" - happy/cold/determined/remote, etc.

However, these words would modify 'region', not 'prosperous'.

 

[tzfujimino]

Hello, Gillnetter.:-D
Yes, I know what you mean, but "once" in the original sentence is an adverb. So, I think it will make it easier for the OP to understand the matter if we provide some adverbs as substitutes:
this economically/increasingly/exceedingly prosperous region

:-D

(Edit)
@5jj: I didn't know you were creating your post...

 

[5jj]

@5jj: I didn't know you were creating your post...

No need for a . You added a useful suggestion.