Predication Subjunct

Question

"She is really an intelligent child."Dr. Quirk says that "really" in that sentence is a predication subjunct.Would you please explain in simple English what that means?THANK YOU

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

I believe that you have already had this question answered for you:

http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/linguistics/171702-predication-subjunct.html

Do not double-post: it wastes our time and we are not paid for our time here.

Anonymous · Answer

If anyone is interested in this question, I am happy to share my ideas with you. I have received two courteous answers from other grammar helplines, and I have done some research on Google.

1. I believe that "predication subjunct" is an elegant word for an adverb that modifies the predicate.

2. In "Tom is a courteous teacher," the subject is "Tom." All the other words ("is a courteous teacher") are the predicate.

3a. "Tom really is a courteous teacher."
3b. "Tom is really a courteous teacher."

I am satisfied that "really" modifies the predicate ("is a courteous teacher").

NOTES:

1. Some languages do not have linking verbs. So the predicate would simply be "a courteous teacher." In fact, if you said,

"Tom really a courteous teacher," native speakers would have no trouble understanding you.

2. One expert, August Western, wrote that adverbs often come after "weak verbs" such as "to be."

It was a labor of love taking the time to type this. Have a nice day!

Terryxpress · Answer

Whilst you await an official response, I wish to comment as a native speaker contributing to this forum.
(However, during the writing of this, and posting, your post was deleted or moved. Nevertheless, I still wish to inform you of my feelings on the matter you raised:

A large number of responses to questions require more than a cursory look and a 'yes, that's correct' response.
They require an appreciable amount of time in formulating the clearest explanation that I can, particularly when a native speaker sees complexity in the issue that could be beyond the learner's needs, or current level of English acquisition to comprehend.

Your outrage is matched equally by mine, at the thought that I am willing to give of my understanding and time - time that is wasted as it is likely to be merely a duplication of the responses you have obtained from other forums.

I could understand if you had posted in ONE forum, and the responses had not completely removed uncertainty. I would expect that you might post in a second forum, stating your original question, and adding something like, "I've been told that Past Perfect is used only....but I still can't understand..."

James - let me inform you that once I find that someone in a forum is blithely posting questions across forums, with the expectation that I am there as just one of many contributors to a smorgasbord of responses for his perusal and delectation, then I ignore all of his further requests for help.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you, Terryxpress, for your courteous post. (I asked that my "I humbly apologize" post be deleted, for I now realize that I have nothing to apologize for.) I explained the situation in a post to the "Help" form, but an administrator decided to delete that post. I understand, of course, that it is her right to do so.

I shall be very careful in this post; otherwise, it might also be deleted.

I am very interested in the adverb "really." I posted the same very technical question in four helplines (including EF) because I wanted a wide selection of answers. Well, I had better stop before this post is also deleted.

Yes, you are 100% correct. Everyone has the choice of answering a post or not answering it. I like it that way, too.

Thanks again for being respectful of the people who come here for guidance on grammar.

Predication Subjunct

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