an adjectival and adverbial modifier in a long sentence

Question

Hi All,I have a problem to identify an adjectival and adverbial modifier in a long sentence. Could you help me to check this, please?"Geoengineering is seen by some in the science community and the general public as a necessary way to offset the negative effects of climate change, and by others as an extreme measure that should only be used if and when it becomes immediately obvious that taking no such action would cause harmful societal effects." ( A literature review of CO 2 capture directly from ambient air, Joshua Fabian, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.)"in the science community and the general public",a preposition phrase, is an adjectival modifier of "some"."as a necessary way",a preposition phrase, is an adjectival modifier of "Geoengineering"."to offset the negative effects of climate change", an infinitive phrase, is an adjectival modifier of "a necessary way"."as an extreme measure", a preposition phrase, is an adjectival modifier of"Geoengineering"."that should only be used", a relative clause, is an adjectival modifier of "an extreme measure"."if and when it becomes immediately obvious", a relative clause, is an adverbial modifier of "used"."that taking no such action would cause harmful societal effects", a relative clause, is an adverbial modifier of"obvious".Thank you,

Avangi · Accepted Answer

"Geoengineering is seen by some in the science community and the general public as a necessary way to offset the negative effects of climate change, and by others as an extreme measure that should only be used if and when it becomes immediately obvious that taking no such action would cause harmful societal effects." ( A literature review of CO 2 capture directly from ambient air, Joshua Fabian, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.)

"in the science community and the general public",a preposition phrase, is an adjectival modifier of "some".OK

"as a necessary way",a preposition phrase, is an adjectival modifier of "Geoengineering". ("as" is not a preposition)

"to offset the negative effects of climate change", an infinitive phrase, is an adjectival modifier of "a necessary way". OK

"as an extreme measure", a preposition phrase, is an adjectival modifier of"Geoengineering". ("as" is not a preposition)

"that should only be used", a relative clause, is an adjectival modifier of "an extreme measure". OK

"if and when it becomes immediately obvious", a relative clause, is an adverbial modifier of "used". OK

"that taking no such action would cause harmful societal effects", a relative clause, is an adverbial modifier of"obvious". OK

Sorry, I'm not sure how to help you out of the two "red ones."
The main verb "is seen" is in the passive voice. I'm inclined to group "as" with the verb, but that may be incorrect.
"a necessary way etc." and "an extreme measure etcl" are both direct objects of the main verb, "is seen (as)."

Welcome to English Forums, Iboon. Thanks for joining us!

Best wishes, - A.

RandomGuy · Answer

iboon"in the science community and the general public",a preposition phrase, is an adjectival modifier of "some".

Yes, but forget ‘adjectival’: as you said, it’s a preposition phrase.

iboon"as a necessary way",a preposition phrase, is an adjectival modifier of "Geoengineering".
"to offset the negative effects of climate change", an infinitive phrase, is an adjectival modifier of "a necessary way".
"as an extreme measure", a preposition phrase, is an adjectival modifier of"Geoengineering".

Those are complements, not modifiers. The infinitival clause is licensed (or selected) by the noun way, and the as phrases by the verb see. By contrast, the modifier necessary is not licensed by way; it could be used with any noun.

iboon"if and when it becomes immediately obvious", a relative clause, is an adverbial modifier of "used".

That is not a relative clause.

iboon"that taking no such action would cause harmful societal effects", a relative clause, is an adverbial modifier of"obvious".

That’s not a relative clause, either, nor is it a modifier. It’s a content clause functioning as extraposed subject.

RandomGuy · Answer

Avangi("as" is not a preposition)

It looks like a preposition to me, with a predicative complement (I don’t know where you got direct object).

Avangi · Answer

Aspara GusI don’t know where you got direct object

Nor do I. I really have no business here.
I haven't taken an English course in sixty years, and the meanings of the terms have all changed. It's a different language now. - A.

How about "Christmas is seen as a joyous holiday" ? Okay. Same thing. Sorry.
Never thought of "as" as a preposition before, but the dictionary confirms it.

Obviously passive verbs don't take direct objects. I know better!

(Thinking too far outside the box!)

an adjectival and adverbial modifier in a long sentence

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