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Guest Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

Diagram question

How should I diagram this sentence:

Seven volunteers, armed with hoes and rakes, cleaned the border around the courthouse.

I'm having problems knowing what to do with the "armed....." phrase.

Thank you!
  

Top answer

Hello Guest I'm a mere English learner from Japan, but I like this kind of quiz. Could you allow me to try? Seven volunteers, armed with hoes and rakes, cleaned the border around the courthouse.

  • Hello Guest I'm a mere English learner from Japan, but I like this kind of quiz.
  • Could you allow me to try?
  • Seven volunteers, armed with hoes and rakes, cleaned the border around the courthouse.
  • My guess is 'armed with hoes and rakes' is an ellipsis of 'being armed with hoes and rakes'.
  • Seven volunteers, (being) armed with hoes and rakes, cleaned the border around the courthouse.
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2 Answers
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Hello Guest

I'm a mere English learner from Japan, but I like this kind of quiz. Could you allow me to try?

Seven volunteers, armed with hoes and rakes, cleaned the border around the courthouse.

My guess is 'armed with hoes and rakes' is an ellipsis of 'being armed with hoes and rakes'.
Seven volunteers, (being) armed with ho
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Yes, a nonfinite clause, with either 'being' or 'who were' elided. I don't see the commas as critical, Paco-- I'd think it modifies 'volunteers' in any case, hence adjectival.

Maybe Casi will stop by with an opinion-- she loves adverbials.

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