An adjective phrase[clauses] or an adverbial phrase[clauses]

Question

1) The only way we can do that is if we can stay in one area.2) It is because Jimmy uses food color to dye Toady.3) It is only recently that I got settled on the job.4) This is so that all the people of the earth may know that the LORD's hand is mighty.The above sentences, the phrase or clauses in bold are complements in those.Then, are the phrase and clauses in bold adjective phrase[clauses] or adverbial phrase[clauses]?Thank you in advance for your help.

Park sang joon · Accepted Answer

I want to revive this thread.

Anonymous · Answer

These are challenging questions for a native speaker. My view on this is:

1. The group of words, "if we can stay in one area," would normally be used in an if-then type of statement, for example: "If we can stay in one area, then we can do that, and it is the only way we can do that." The quoted sentence is essentially the same as this, but rearranged and shortened.

2. The group of words, "because Jimmy uses food color to dye Toady", functions as an adjective. It modifies the subject of the sentence,"it", and is linked to it by the linking verb "is." (This is essentially like saying: "It is bizarre.")

3. The words "only recently" function adverbially and modify "is." (Note: "that I got settled on the job" functions as a predicate noun, with the linking verb "is," and means the same thing as the subject "it".)

4. The group of words, "so that all....is mighty", functions adjectivally and modifies the subject "this," and is linked to it by the linking verb "is." (This is essentially like saying: "This is informative.")

Park sang joon · Answer

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CalifJim · Answer

park sang joonThen, are the phrase and clauses in bold adjective phrase[clauses] or adverbial phrase[clauses]?

They are all adverbial in nature.

3) shows a cleft structure clearly with "only recently" as the highlighted element.

I got settled on the job only recently.
+
It is _____ that ______________.
=
It is only recently that I got settled on the job.
______________

2), in my opinion, is an incomplete cleft structure. It lacks the 'that' clause. In any case I believe the sentence may be analyzed as such.

[Something (not mentioned) happens] because Jimmy uses food color to dye Toady.
+
It is _____ that ______________.
=
It is because Jimmy uses food color to dye Toady (that something ... happens).

There may be other interpretations of this one.
_____________

1) and 4) cannot be shown to be related to cleft structures, at least not easily. It's enough to explain 4) as a form of

This is done so that all the people of the earth ....

CJ

Park sang joon · Answer

Thank you, Mr.Jim, for your valuable opinions.

CalifJim 3) shows a cleft structure clearly with "only recently" as the highlighted element.I got settled on the job only recently. ____ that ______________.=It is only recently that I got settled on the job._____________

Oh, I didn't think of that; I have been enlightened by your teaching.

An adjective phrase[clauses] or an adverbial phrase[clauses]

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