Analysis of a function of a prepositional phrase
Hi Everyone,
I just came across the following sentence and did a quick analysis on it. I found that the sentence can convey two different meanings depending on the function of the prepositional phrase, which can be either an adjective or adverb. However, I'm not sure if my analysis was correct or not.
Original sentence: I just arranged the tables on the stage for the next scene.
The prepositional phrase of interest in this post is "on the stage".
Scenario 1 (functioning as an adverbial):
The phrase modifies the verb "arranged" and tells the reader where I did this action of arranging the tables. The PP, "for the next scene", explains the purpose of it.
Scenario 2 (functioning as an adjective):
The phrase modifies the noun phrase "the tables" and tells the reader which tables I just arranged. In addition, the second PP, "for the next scene", functioning as an adverbial adds the information that they are for the next scene to the sentence.
I would very much like to improve my English. Would you please also help me correct my grammatical mistakes in this post? 
Thank you very much for your time
Kenny
Top answer
I agree with your analysis that "on the stage" can be adjectival or adverbial, in the way that you describe. However, in both cases I naturally read "for the next scene" as describing the purpose of the arranging. Are you are suggesting an alternative interpretation in which "the tables (that are) on the stage for the next scene" is a noun phrase?
- I agree with your analysis that "on the stage" can be adjectival or adverbial, in the way that you describe.
- However, in both cases I naturally read "for the next scene" as describing the purpose of the arranging.
- Are you are suggesting an alternative interpretation in which "the tables (that are) on the stage for the next scene" is a noun phrase?
- If so, while it is grammatically possible, this is not an interpretation that comes very naturally to me in the context of this sentence.
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I agree with your analysis that "on the stage" can be adjectival or adverbial, in the way that you describe. However, in both cases I naturally read "for the next scene" as describing the purpose of the arranging. Are you are suggesting an alternative interpretation in which "the tables (that are) on the stage for the next scene" is a noun phrase? If so, while it is grammatically possible, thi
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