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English 1b3 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

On sentence from a book: subject complements and relative clauses

They were far away, at least two hundred metres, much further than I'd guess.

Is this OK?

Are the two bolded phrases subject complements not separated by a conjunction for stylistic purposes?

Is the phrase in italics a third subject complement or reduced relative clause? If it is a reduced relative clause, should it be reduced or should we include 'which' is?

Thank you
  

Top answer

English 1b3 They were far away, at least two hundred metres, much further than I'd guess. I can't help you much with the classifications. ) Of course they're complements, and the being verb links them to the subject.

— Avangi

  • English 1b3 They were far away, at least two hundred metres, much further than I'd guess.
  • I can't help you much with the classifications.
  • ) Of course they're complements, and the being verb links them to the subject.
  • I agree that adding the second one (parenthetically, or in apposition) is stylistic.
  • " The second one can't replace the first one.
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7 Answers
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English 1b3They were far away, at least two hundred metres, much further than I'd guess.
I can't help you much with the classifications.
The structure is the same as "It is distant - remote."
(I would set off the second one with dashes.)
Of course they're complements, and the being verb links them to the subject.
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Hi Avangi,

I've always felt the rules around relative clauses are somewhat blurred. That is, when can we reduce and when can't we? For instance, why wouldn't you reduce the two examples below but you would the topic sentence? Surely there isn't a rule that decides this...

We went to the park, which was great.

We went to the park, great.

We went to the park, whi
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English 1b3 We went to the park, which was great.
We went to the park, great.
We went to the park, which was another great day for all.
We went to the park, another great day for all.
In my opinion, these would both be okay stylistically with dashes - as would the "subject sentence."

We went to the park - great!

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I too think the topic sentence is fine, more than fine actually.
AvangiIn my opinion, these would both be okay stylistically with dashes - as would the "subject sentence."
For some reason, I have forever been reluctant to accept that dashes can fix a sentence. If it is grammatical, there is no way in **** dashes can come to the rescue! Dashes are not allowed in
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Well, I have somehow managed to make myself comfortable in ****.

I've never found a satisfying answer to the question, "Is a stylistic novel considered formal writing?"
I tend to think not.
To my current way of thinking, your original example is clearly not formal writing.

Best regards, - A.
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Not that it's important now, there is a typo in my last post: it should read if it is ungrammatical...
AvangiWell, I have somehow managed to make myself comfortable in ****.

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