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Sesquipedalian101 Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Parsing a Sentence

I am learning to parse English sentences. Could someone tell me whether my analysis of the following two sentences is correct?


1. Taking time off from work can be a good idea for those who are stressed.

"Taking time off from work”, which is a gerundial phrase, serves as a noun and complete subject of this sentence. “can be a good idea for those who are stressed” is the complete predicate. “can be” is a complex verb phrase, and “good idea” is the predicative adjective complement. “for those who are stressed” is a prepositional phrase.
  

Top answer

Taking time off from work can be a good idea for those who are stressed. taking time off from work = gerund-participle clause functioning as subject can be a good idea for those who are stressed = verb phrase functioning as predicate a good idea for those who are stressed = noun phrase functioning as predicative complement for those who are stressed = preposition phrase functioning as adjunct I wouldn’t call can be a “complex verb phrase”. It’s simply a modal verb taking a linking verb as complement.

  • Taking time off from work can be a good idea for those who are stressed.
  • taking time off from work = gerund-participle clause functioning as subject can be a good idea for those who are stressed = verb phrase functioning as predicate a good idea for those who are stressed = noun phrase functioning as predicative complement for those who are stressed = preposition phrase functioning as adjunct I wouldn’t call can be a “complex verb phrase”.
  • It’s simply a modal verb taking a linking verb as complement.
  • Also, I would forget the terms complete subject , simple predicate , etc.
  • There are only subjects and predicates.
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2 Answers
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Taking time off from work can be a good idea for those who are stressed.

taking time off from work = gerund-participle clause functioning as subject
can be a good idea for those who are stressed = verb phrase functioning as predicate
a good idea for those who are stressed = noun phrase functioning as predicative complement
for those who are stre
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Thank you very much, Aspara Gus.

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