Clauses

Question

Hi, I would need your help in relation to the analysis of this sentence. Is this analysis correct?

In the sentence:

The ladder on which I was standing began to slip

Standing is an intransitive verb, right? Are the phrases "The ladder on which" and "began to slip " considered as an A. A. of place?

I mean, if we changes the position of the these phrases we would have: "I was standing on a ladder which began to slip", where the underlined constituent would be not obligatory, right? Is there another way of analysing this complex sentence?

Thanks, qgagy

Doll · Accepted Answer

Here is what I think:

Standing is an intransitive verb, right? Yes.

Are the phrases "The ladder on which" and "began to slip " considered as an A. A. of place? What is A.A.?

if we ~~changes~~ change the position of ~~the~~ ~~these~~ this ~~phrases~~ clauses, we ~~would~~ have: "I was standing on a ladder which began to slip", where the underlined constituent would be not obligatory, right? I didn't get your point but I can tell you that there is a change in the meaning.

The ladder on which (on it, on the ladder) I was standing began to slip. In this sentence, the ladder is modified with which and it tells us your position with it. Which belongs to the ladder and you are on it. Emphasis is on your position here. However, this sentence doesn't sound me correct and I have doubts about using began with slip.

I was standing on a ladder which began to slip" .In this sentence which modifies the ladder , again, but the emphasis is not your position here, it is on the slipping ladder.

Qgaby · Answer

Thanks, Doll ,for your reply. I wasn't very clear when I wrote that "on a ladder which began to slip", was an A.A. of place. By this I meant " Adverbial Adjunt of place, which is not an obligatory constituent of the sentence.

Anyway,I think you 've answered my question: If "I was standing" is intransitive, then,the phrase in question is an adjunt, regardless of the position. Am I right? Only that different parts of the sentence are being emphasised. Is my argument sound? Thanks, qgaby

Doll · Answer

The only thing I can say to you ( your question is not clear for me, I am sorry) is that I was standing on the ladder doesn't change in any of the sentences you gave. You just change the meaining by changing the place of clauses.

CalifJim · Answer

I don't see how "began to slip" can be an adjunct of any kind since it's the main verb phrase.

The ladder began to slip.
I was standing on it.

So which I was standing on is a relative clause.

CJ

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