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Scythron Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Prepositional Phrase or Direct Object?
"Handing the waiter her meal, the irate customer asked for the chef."
What I know about this sentence:
"Handing the waiter her meal." = Participle phrase with Direct and Indirect object
"Customer" = Subject
"Asked" = Verb
My question is, what role does "for the chef" play in the sentence?
If you were to insert "something" in for "for the chef," it appears that "for the chef" is a prepositional phrase serving as a noun phrase serving as a direct object. Is this correct?
What I know about this sentence:
"Handing the waiter her meal." = Participle phrase with Direct and Indirect object
"Customer" = Subject
"Asked" = Verb
My question is, what role does "for the chef" play in the sentence?
If you were to insert "something" in for "for the chef," it appears that "for the chef" is a prepositional phrase serving as a noun phrase serving as a direct object. Is this correct?
Top answer
ask for is a phrasal verb (inseparable type). the chef is its direct object. Another one is 'wait for'.
- ask for is a phrasal verb (inseparable type).
- the chef is its direct object.
- Another one is 'wait for'.
- CJ
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6 Answers
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ask for is a phrasal verb (inseparable type). the chef is its direct object.
Another one is 'wait for'.
CJ
Another one is 'wait for'.
CJ
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Thanks, CalifJim. My textbook has "for the chef" diagrammed under "asked"....confusing.
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There are different methods of analyzing sentences, so don't be surprised to find different kinds of diagrams in different books. If you are taking a course, just try to adjust to the kinds of diagrams your teacher expects.
CJ
CJ
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You are very knowledgeable about this subject. I really appreciate your help. Would you be able to explain to me under what method "for the chef" would be diagrammed under "asked"? Is it an adverbial preposition?
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I really appreciate your help, CJ. Would you be able to explain to me why "for the chef" could possibly modify "asked." I'm curious about the different ways this sentence could be parsed.
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'for the chef' doesn't really modify 'asked'. It's a complement; it completes the meaning. It's like 'summoned the chef'.
'politely' could modify 'asked', however. She asked for the chef politely.
The traditional system for diagramming sentences does not show distinctions like this. Almost anything that seems to go with another word is shown 'below the line'.
'politely' could modify 'asked', however. She asked for the chef politely.
The traditional system for diagramming sentences does not show distinctions like this. Almost anything that seems to go with another word is shown 'below the line'.
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