Phrases versus clauses.

Question

With fifteen escapees awaiting transfer and a Nazi infiltrator threatning to expose a theft of camp funds, the corporal has his work cut out for him.

Is the conjunction linking two clauses here or prepostional phrases ?

Could you not say:

The prisoner was revaled to be a spy, a Nazi infiltrator threatning to expose a theft of camp funds.

So it's just the nature of the verbs and subjects not being 'active' in the sentence which defines it as a phrase? As apposed to them not having subjects and verbs which 90% of the online English material suggests.

By 'active' I mean. The Nazi infiltrator 'threatned' to expose a theft of camp funds.

Common internet description:

phrase implies a set of words, that acts as a single unit but does not have a subject and predicate. The part of a sentence or clause containing a verb and stating something about the subject (e.g. went home in John went home)

Is my example still not stating something about the subject 'threatning to expose' eitherway.

Also when we say clause 'alone'. Are we suggesting independent clause. We have independent and dependent: but what does just 'clause' represent?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Note of caution: So-called 'modern grammar' and 'traditional grammar' will give you different answers to your question.

Much of what you see on the internet is traditional grammar. You may get answers of either type on this forum.

[This is not an answer to your question, of course.]

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

panda blue 483With fifteen escapees awaiting transfer and a **** infiltrator threatening to expose a theft of camp funds, the corporal has his work cut out for him.
Is the conjunction linking two clauses here or prepositional phrases ?

Two noun phrases I'd say.

It's two noun phrases joined by 'and', preceded by a preposition which governs the conjoined objects.

NP1: fifteen escapees (who are) awaiting transfer
NP2: a **** infiltrator (who is) threatening to expose a theft of camp funds

panda blue 483Could you not say:
The prisoner was revealed to be a spy, a **** infiltrator threatening to expose a theft of camp funds.

Yes, but that's a different sentence with a different meaning, and I don't see how it's relevant to the analysis of the first sentence.

CJ

AlpheccaStars · Answer

panda blue 483Is the conjunction linking two clauses here or prepostional phrases ?

With fifteen escapees awaiting transfer and a **** infiltrator threatening to expose a theft of camp funds, the corporal has his work cut out for him.

The conjunction "and" in the sentence above connects two noun phrases. The noun phrases joined together are the complement of the preposition "with."

panda blue 483Could you not say: The prisoner was revealed to be a spy, a **** infiltrator threatening to expose a theft of camp funds.

Yes, that is a different sentence. It is grammatically correct.

The noun phrase, "a **** infiltrator threatening to expose a theft of camp funds" is in apposition to the noun, spy.

panda blue 483So it's just the nature of the verbs and subjects not being 'active' in the sentence which defines it as a phrase?

I don't understand your question. A noun phrase has a head word which is a noun, plus all of its modifiers. A prepositional phrase has a head word which is a preposition plus its complement (a noun phrase).

The following are noun phrases with the head word "infiltrator:"

an infiltrator
a **** infiltrator
an arrested **** infiltrator
an infiltrator educated in Germany
a **** infiltrator threatening to assassinate the president

Both finite and non-finite clauses can be noun modifiers. These come after the noun.

There are non-finite clauses in examples 4 and 5 above. They can be converted to finite clauses with the addition of a relative pronoun (the subject), and a fully inflected verb. But the two examples below are still noun phrases because the head word is still "infiltrator."

an infiltrator who was educated in Germany
a **** infiltrator who is threatening to assassinate the president

(Cross-posted with CJ)

Phrases versus clauses.

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