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Believer Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
A prepositional phrase as subject
Hi,
Can we use a prepostional phrase like "among the dogs lying on the floor" as a subject?
Among the dogs lying on the floor are a bull dog and pit bull.
Among the dogs lying on the floor is a bull dog.
Among the food available for your culinary pleasure is a steak on mustard sauce.
Are the 'is' and 'are' distinctions made correctly?
Thank you for your anticipated help.
Can we use a prepostional phrase like "among the dogs lying on the floor" as a subject?
Among the dogs lying on the floor are a bull dog and pit bull.
Among the dogs lying on the floor is a bull dog.
Among the food available for your culinary pleasure is a steak on mustard sauce.
Are the 'is' and 'are' distinctions made correctly?
Thank you for your anticipated help.
Top answer
Hi Believer No, you cannot say that "among the dogs lying on the floor" is the subject of the sentence. In your sentences the subject and the verb have been inverted and the prepositional phrase has been fronted: Among the dogs lying on the floor are a bull dog and pit bull. = A bull dog and pit bull are among the dogs lying on the floor.
- Hi Believer No, you cannot say that "among the dogs lying on the floor" is the subject of the sentence.
- In your sentences the subject and the verb have been inverted and the prepositional phrase has been fronted: Among the dogs lying on the floor are a bull dog and pit bull.
- = A bull dog and pit bull are among the dogs lying on the floor.
- "A bull dog and pit bull" = subject Yes, you used 'is' and 'are' correctly.
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6 Answers
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Hi Believer
No, you cannot say that "among the dogs lying on the floor" is the subject of the sentence. In your sentences the subject and the verb have been inverted and the prepositional phrase has been fronted:
Among the dogs lying on the floor are a bull dog and pit bull. =
A bull dog and pit bull are among the dogs lying on the floor.
"A bull dog and pit bull"
No, you cannot say that "among the dogs lying on the floor" is the subject of the sentence. In your sentences the subject and the verb have been inverted and the prepositional phrase has been fronted:
Among the dogs lying on the floor are a bull dog and pit bull. =
A bull dog and pit bull are among the dogs lying on the floor.
"A bull dog and pit bull"
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YankeeHi Believer
No, you cannot say that "among the dogs lying on the floor" is the subject of the sentence. In your sentences the subject and the verb have been inverted and the prepositional phrase has been fronted:
Among the dogs lying on the floor are a bull dog and pit bull. =
A bull dog and pit bull are among the dogs lying on the floor.
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Can we use a prepostional phrase like "among the dogs lying on the floor" as a subject?Only if you use the trick of nominalizing it.
"Among the dogs lying on the floor" is a prepositional phrase.
But that's probably not what you were thinking of.
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I disagree. Though used very rarely, I think it's ok to use a prepositional phrase as the subject.
How about these?
After nine is a good time to ring.
With experience comes wisdom.
-Mr. Chris
How about these?
After nine is a good time to ring.
With experience comes wisdom.
-Mr. Chris
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Your first sentence is a good example, Mr Chris, but your second is not, because it exhibits S-V inversion, and its subject is 'wisdom'.
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