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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Adjunct or postmodifier

Hello, I can't really figure out if 'in weapons of mass destruction' in this sentence: 'ISIS has shown an interest in weapons of mass destruction' is and adverbial or a postmodifier. I feel like it should be an adverbial as it can be moved to the front using a cleft sentence (it is in weapons of mass destruction that isis has shown an interest) but as far as I could see it would be an adjunct and I've been taught that adjuncts are always 'of' something (time, manner, place, etc) but I can't figure out what this would be 'of'. Can anyone help?
  

Top answer

Anonymous I can't really figure out if 'in weapons of mass destruction' in this sentence: 'ISIS has shown an interest in weapons of mass destruction' is and adverbial or a postmodifier. It is a prepostional phrase complementing 'interest'. Anonymous it can be moved to the front using a cleft sentence (it is in weapons of mass destruction that isis has shown an interest) No, no one would do that.

— Mister Micawber

  • Anonymous I can't really figure out if 'in weapons of mass destruction' in this sentence: 'ISIS has shown an interest in weapons of mass destruction' is and adverbial or a postmodifier.
  • It is a prepostional phrase complementing 'interest'.
  • Anonymous it can be moved to the front using a cleft sentence (it is in weapons of mass destruction that isis has shown an interest) No, no one would do that.
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2 Answers
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Anonymous I can't really figure out if 'in weapons of mass destruction' in this sentence: 'ISIS has shown an interest in weapons of mass destruction' is and adverbial or a postmodifier.
It is a prepostional phrase complementing 'interest'.
Anonymousit can be moved to the front using a cleft sentence (it is in weapons of mass destruction
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AnonymousI feel like it should be an adverbial as it can be moved to the front using a cleft sentence (it is in weapons of mass destruction that isis has shown an interest)
I believe you have a misunderstanding about cleft sentences. Being able to place a phrase in the "highlighted element" position in a cleft sentence is not proof that it must be adverbial.
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