0
Raen Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
Adjective Prepositional Phrases vs. Adverb Prepositional Phrases
Sorry abuot this again, I fear I'm becoming somewhat of a pain. But I have to fully get it.
From what I gathered, Adjective Prepositional Phrases modifies nouns/pronouns or object of another preposition, eg.:
The book on the table in the English classroom is her book. (on the table modifies book and in the English classroom modifies on the table)
while Adverb Prepositional Phrases modifies verbs, adjectives or predicate adjectives, eg.:
The pirate map was hidden underneath a big rock. (underneath a rock modifies the verb was hidden)
The dog is troublesome in so many ways. (in so many ways modifies the predicate adjective troublesome)
So here is one practice kind of threw me off again:
In the cage we saw a juaguar from the jungle of Brazil. (A: in the cage mofidies the verb saw therefore it's a Adverb prepositional phrase)
But I thought in the cage modifies the juaguar who is in the cage therefore an Adjective prepositional phrases. Any opinions? Thanks a lot.
Raen
From what I gathered, Adjective Prepositional Phrases modifies nouns/pronouns or object of another preposition, eg.:
The book on the table in the English classroom is her book. (on the table modifies book and in the English classroom modifies on the table)
while Adverb Prepositional Phrases modifies verbs, adjectives or predicate adjectives, eg.:
The pirate map was hidden underneath a big rock. (underneath a rock modifies the verb was hidden)
The dog is troublesome in so many ways. (in so many ways modifies the predicate adjective troublesome)
So here is one practice kind of threw me off again:
In the cage we saw a juaguar from the jungle of Brazil. (A: in the cage mofidies the verb saw therefore it's a Adverb prepositional phrase)
But I thought in the cage modifies the juaguar who is in the cage therefore an Adjective prepositional phrases. Any opinions? Thanks a lot.
Raen
Top answer
I see your problem. I knew instinctively after only five words that it modifies the verb, but I don't know if I can explain it. At first, I thought it was the sentence order which made the difference.
- I see your problem.
- I knew instinctively after only five words that it modifies the verb, but I don't know if I can explain it.
- At first, I thought it was the sentence order which made the difference.
- "From the jungle" clearly modifies the jaguar, coming after it - as well as logically, or contextually.
- But then I realized that if you say, "We saw a jaguar in the cage," the prepositional phrase still modifies the verb.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
24 Answers
0
I see your problem. I knew instinctively after only five words that it modifies the verb, but I don't know if I can explain it. At first, I thought it was the sentence order which made the difference. "From the jungle" clearly modifies the jaguar, coming after it - as well as logically, or contextually.
But then I realized that if you say, "We saw a jaguar in the cage," the pre
But then I realized that if you say, "We saw a jaguar in the cage," the pre
00
Thank you very much Avangi for your explanation. But I have to confess I'm still as confused as before if not more.
For this sentence: In the cage we saw a jaguar from the jungle of Brazil, I did a little more work. After reviewing the rules more closely, it does say in the grammar book that 1) An adjective prepositional phrase will come right a
For this sentence: In the cage we saw a jaguar from the jungle of Brazil, I did a little more work. After reviewing the rules more closely, it does say in the grammar book that 1) An adjective prepositional phrase will come right a
00
RaenThe book on the table in the English classroom is her book.I've been threatening to buy an ESL text, but haven't gotten around to it.
The pirate map was hidden underneath a big rock.
The dog is troublesome in so many ways.
In the cage we saw a juaguar from the jungle of Brazil.
Taken by themselves, the two rules you q
00
(I don't know how to quote the part of your post in mine), but it's brilliant and it helped me understand the rules better. I think I have to learn to apply grammar rules as if they're a bit like mathematical teniques, dissect and analyze English texts as such.......as least to me. Thanks Avangi, you're great! Raen
00
Sorry Avangi, this idea just came to me soon after I posted the previous message.
Allow me to play with the rules again. Let's say we rearrange the sentence in such way:
"We saw the jaguar in the cage from the jungle of Brazil."
Semantcally it means the same to me. Considering the rule #1 in my other post, would you still say "in the jungle" modifies the verb "saw"? O
Allow me to play with the rules again. Let's say we rearrange the sentence in such way:
"We saw the jaguar in the cage from the jungle of Brazil."
Semantcally it means the same to me. Considering the rule #1 in my other post, would you still say "in the jungle" modifies the verb "saw"? O
00
Raen"We saw the jaguar in the cage from the jungle of Brazil."
would you still say "in thejunglecage " modifies the verb "saw"? Or would it change since it comes right after the noun "jaguar"? This is exactly the point I was trying to make about the limitation of the rules. They're useful only in eliminating the adjectival
00
AvangiThis is exactly the point I was trying to make about the limitation of the rules. They're useful only in eliminating the adjectival function, not in asserting it. An adverbial / prepositional phrase, according to the two rules, may be placed anywhere, including directly after a noun which it does not modify. That i
00
thnx a lot... for this info u gave i really really needed it...
- anonymus[Y]
- anonymus[Y]
00
The easiest way to explain is this: Adverbs and Adverbs phrases tell where, when, how, and how much (to what extent). In the cage tells where, therefore is Adverb.
00
AnonymousThe easiest way to explain is this: Adverbs and Adverbs phrases tell where, when, how, and how much (to what extent). In the cage tells where, therefore is Adverb.Perhaps it's the easiest, but it may not be the most reliable. You must still consider the context to determine that "in the cage" doesn't indicate which jaguar,
0
Related Questions