0
Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

grammatical difference?

This is a philosophical question for grammarians. Is there any grammatical difference between the following two sentences?

Henry's favorite shirt is the color of the sky.
Henry's favorite color is the color of the sky.

I suspect the correct answer is that there is no grammatical difference between the two.

Why is this significant? Because, as those of you who know anything about the philosophical concept of logical form (LF) can confirm, these two sentences differ fairly dramatically in logical form. If they don't differ grammatically, then contrary to what some experts have argued, grammar doesn't determine LF.

Please email replies to: <email address removed by mod. Please register and add it to your profile only.>

Thank you.
  

Top answer

Anonymous Henry's favorite shirt is the color of the sky. Henry's favorite color is the color of the sky. The issue is the dual nature of the verb "be".

— AlpheccaStars

  • Anonymous Henry's favorite shirt is the color of the sky.
  • Henry's favorite color is the color of the sky.
  • The issue is the dual nature of the verb "be".
  • The first accepts a predicate adjective, meaning "possesses the quality, or characteristic of" I am hungry.
  • I am sad.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0
AnonymousHenry's favorite shirt is the color of the sky.
Henry's favorite color is the color of the sky.
The issue is the dual nature of the verb "be".
The first accepts a predicate adjective, meaning "possesses the quality, or characteristic of" I am hungry. I am sad. (I am not hunger or sadness)

The second accepts a predicate n
0
0
Well said; well explained.
0

Related Questions