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Cho7712 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Phrase question

I don't know how this phrase gets its grammaticality.

e.g. I have no idea what he meant.
I have no idea what happened.
We have no idea what might occur in Norfolk.

It seems something important is missing in this structure.
Between the noun 'idea' and the relative 'what', it must appear to be certain preposition, I think.
What is your inspection on this phrase?
  

Top answer

A common characteristic of fixed phrases and idioms is that their grammar is not so obvious, but here, it should be clear that 'of' is optionally omitted: I have no idea (of) when/where/what/how/why he is doing it. He left no clue (about) when/where/what/how/why he is doing it. It is no secret (no prep) when/where/what/how/why he is doing it.

— Mister Micawber

  • A common characteristic of fixed phrases and idioms is that their grammar is not so obvious, but here, it should be clear that 'of' is optionally omitted: I have no idea (of) when/where/what/how/why he is doing it.
  • He left no clue (about) when/where/what/how/why he is doing it.
  • It is no secret (no prep) when/where/what/how/why he is doing it.
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3 Answers
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A common characteristic of fixed phrases and idioms is that their grammar is not so obvious, but here, it should be clear that 'of' is optionally omitted:

I have no idea (of) when/where/what/how/why he is doing it.
He left no clue (about) when/where/what/how/why he is doing it.
It is no secret (no prep) when/where/what/how/why he is doing it.
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Then it is what one can call a collocation?
Thanks for your answer.
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Yes, but 'collocation' is a very general term: 'expensive jewelry' and 'sunny day' are collocations.
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