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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Does adverb clause modify infinitive phrase or main clause's verb?
In the following sentence:
I want to review this when you arrive tomorrow afternoon.
It seems that the when-clause can modify either the infinitive phrase 'to review' or the verb 'want' in the main clause. But by default, should I automatically assume that the when-clause modifies the verb in the main clause because they are both clauses?
I hope this question makes sense. Thanks.
I want to review this when you arrive tomorrow afternoon.
It seems that the when-clause can modify either the infinitive phrase 'to review' or the verb 'want' in the main clause. But by default, should I automatically assume that the when-clause modifies the verb in the main clause because they are both clauses?
I hope this question makes sense. Thanks.
Top answer
I want to review this when you arrive tomorrow afternoon. It seems that the when-clause can modify either the infinitive phrase 'to review' or the verb 'want' in the main clause. - - Your question is not clear, but the 'when'-clause modifies the whole main clause, and that's what you should presume unless common sense tells you otherwise.
- I want to review this when you arrive tomorrow afternoon.
- It seems that the when-clause can modify either the infinitive phrase 'to review' or the verb 'want' in the main clause.
- - - Your question is not clear, but the 'when'-clause modifies the whole main clause, and that's what you should presume unless common sense tells you otherwise.
- In deciding referents, I always think about what is being said, the meaning of the sentence, rather than the word order or punctuation.
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4 Answers
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I want to review this when you arrive tomorrow afternoon.
It seems that the when-clause can modify either the infinitive phrase 'to review' or the verb 'want' in the main clause. But by default, should I automatically assume that the when-clause modifies the verb in the main clause because they are both clauses?-- Your question is not clear, but the 'when'-clause modifies the wh
It seems that the when-clause can modify either the infinitive phrase 'to review' or the verb 'want' in the main clause. But by default, should I automatically assume that the when-clause modifies the verb in the main clause because they are both clauses?-- Your question is not clear, but the 'when'-clause modifies the wh
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Thank you for your reply, which answered my question eventhoug it was unclear.
I have another sentence from a book I'm reading:
I have another sentence from a book I'm reading:
Others were slain by those who had been their brothers-in-arms when they marched south with Mance Rayder, the King-Beyond-the-Wall.
Is the when-clause modifying 'had been' or 'were slain'? If it's the former, then the sentence imp
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"Want to review" altogether acts as the verb, so
do not focus on just "to review." If you eliminate "to review," the sentence still makes sense but if you take out "want" which is the main verb, the main clause doesn't make any sense. Focus on the entire verb as a whole.
do not focus on just "to review." If you eliminate "to review," the sentence still makes sense but if you take out "want" which is the main verb, the main clause doesn't make any sense. Focus on the entire verb as a whole.
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