Clause Type - Sentence Analysis

Question

a. Descriptive as this book was, I still struggled to picture the protagonist's face.

b. As descriptive as this book was, I still struggled to picture the protagonist's face.

Is the bold part in a the same clause as the bold part in b, but just shortened? Or is it a different type of clause? I feel it is a different type, but I can't think what else it could be.

RandomGuy · Accepted Answer

English 1b3Is the bold part in a the same clause as the bold part in b, but just shortened?

I would say so, yes.

You forgot to bold.

English 1b3 · Answer

The only reason I doubted it was the same construction but reduced is that I don`t often see the `as x as y was...` reduced

Do you (sorry, no question mark key at the moment)

RandomGuy · Answer

English 1b3Do you?

Not terribly often, no.

By the way, you can still produce a question mark by pressing Alt+63 (Num Lock must be on).

English 1b3 · Answer

Aspara GusBy the way, you can still produce a question mark by pressing Alt+63 (Num Lock must be on).

Thanks!

Can anyone else shed any light on this topic?

CalifJim · Answer

English 1b3Is the bold part in a the same clause as the bold part in b, but just shortened? Or is it a different type of clause? I feel it is a different type, but I can't think what else it could be.

I don't feel it is a different type of clause.

CJ

English 1b3 · Answer

Thanks.

Would you call it a concessive clause? Or adverbial?

As Aspara Gus and I agreed, it is uncommon to drop the first as. Are you aware of any rules or guidelines as to when it can be left off? I feel my three examples of this style below are fine and perhaps just as good as the alternatives. Would you agree?

a. As rich as he was, he never gave to charity.
b. Rich as he was, he never gave to charity
c. Even though he was rich, he never gave to charity.

d. As beautiful as she was, she still didn't get the part in the play.
e. Beautiful as she was, she still didn't get the part in the play.
f. Even though she was beautiful, she didn't get the part in the play.

g. As boring as the lecture was, I listened intently to ensure I passed the upcoming test.
h. Boring as the lecture was, I listened intently to ensure I passed the upcoming test.
i. Even though the lecture was boring, I listened intently to ensure I passed the upcoming test.

Edit: Now that I look at the example sentences more closely, I've realised they are all very similar, somewhat defeating the purpose of the post

CalifJim · Answer

English 1b3Would you call it a concessive clause? Or adverbial?

I have no idea! Can't it be both?

English 1b3As Aspara Gus and I agreed, it is uncommon to drop the first as. Are you aware of any rules or guidelines as to when it can be left off?

No, but then I haven't studied a lot of books on writing style. As far as I'm concerned, the choice between one or the other wording is a style choice and not a matter of grammar.

CJ

English 1b3 · Answer

CalifJimI have no idea! Can't it be both?

I don't know too much about the different clause types. I generally classify a clause as an adjective clause (wh-clauses), a noun clause or an adverbial clause.

A quick google search tells me a concessive clause is a type of adverbial clause, just as a temporal clause is...

Clause Type - Sentence Analysis

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