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Cho7712 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
a book about Napoleon
ex. I read a book about Napoleon.
Grammar reference says that the underlined phrase functions as adjunct to the whole noun phrase.
a. Who do you read a book about?
b. About whom do you read a book?
Adjunct is peripheral so I guess a and b are both possible.
But, those two just don't look well-formed.
Are they grammatically correct?
Grammar reference says that the underlined phrase functions as adjunct to the whole noun phrase.
a. Who do you read a book about?
b. About whom do you read a book?
Adjunct is peripheral so I guess a and b are both possible.
But, those two just don't look well-formed.
Are they grammatically correct?
Top answer
In "I read a book about Napoleon", the phrase "about Napoleon" modifies "book". The choice of tense is not helping (a) and (b). ", but it is still not really satisfactory.
- In "I read a book about Napoleon", the phrase "about Napoleon" modifies "book".
- The choice of tense is not helping (a) and (b).
- ", but it is still not really satisfactory.
- "about (who)" no longer properly modifies "book", but seems to modify "read" instead.
- " is OK.
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4 Answers
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In "I read a book about Napoleon", the phrase "about Napoleon" modifies "book". The choice of tense is not helping (a) and (b). If you said this at all in the present it would most likely be "Who are you reading a book about?", but it is still not really satisfactory. "about (who)" no longer properly modifies "book", but seems to modify "read" instead. "Who are you reading about?" is OK.
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Thank you for the answer.
There's a tense mistake I made, thanks for pointing it out.
Your revision makes it more succinct while informative.
Still though, if one persists in using 'a book~' phrase, as you said it, the version of preposed who can be used.
Notwithstanding it being in disfavor, do I use this form without concern for grammaticality?
ex. What did you meet a boy wit
There's a tense mistake I made, thanks for pointing it out.
Your revision makes it more succinct while informative.
Still though, if one persists in using 'a book~' phrase, as you said it, the version of preposed who can be used.
Notwithstanding it being in disfavor, do I use this form without concern for grammaticality?
ex. What did you meet a boy wit
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cho7712What did you meet a boy with?This is not usable. "with" appears to be describing "meet". Compare "What did you open this can with?" / "A can-opener".
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