request for sentence analysis

Question

Will someone please comment on the following analysis for the sentence:

“I am hoping for a chance to go on a world trip.”

(a) SVO
Subject = I
Verb = am hoping
Object = for a chance to go on a world trip

(b) SVA
Subject = I
Verb = am hoping
Adverbial = for a chance to go on a world trip

(c) SV
Subject = I
Verb = am hoping
Adjunct = for a chance to go on a world trip

Many thanks.
Donna

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Df2006Object = for a chance to go on a world trip

This is a preposition phrase, so it can't be an object. An object is a noun phrase.

'a chance to go on a world trip' is the object of the preposition 'for'.

I would call "hope for" a prepositional verb and say that 'for a chance ...' is a complement of that verb.

CJ

GPY · Answer

CalifJimI would call "hope for" a prepositional verb and say that 'for a chance ...' is a complement of that verb.

I agree about "hope for" ... But I think you meant that "a chance" is a complement rather than "for a chance"?

CalifJim · Answer

GPYI think you meant that "a chance" is a complement rather than "for a chance"?

Yup! I did. However, on second thought, there might be an argument for "for a chance ..." being a complement of "hope". Feel free to weigh in on it.

CJ

Df2006 · Answer

CJ

Thank you so much again for answering my query.

Since 'for a chance ..... ' is a prepositional phrase and therefore not an essential element of the sentence, can I say the pattern of this sentence is one of 'subject-verb', i.e. if I need to put this sentence into one of the so-called 7 patterns.

One more question:
Can I analyse "I hope to get an answer." as subject + verb + object (infinitive noun phrase) ?

Many thanks.
Donna

CalifJim · Answer

Df2006the so-called 7 patterns

Sorry. I don't know what method you're using. There are so many different methods of teaching the analysis of sentences, it's hard to keep up with them all. "Seven patterns" means nothing to me.

Df2006Can I analyse "I hope to get an answer." as subject + verb + object (infinitive noun phrase) ?

In the terminology I use, only a noun (noun phrase headed by a noun) can be an object, so I would not label the elements of that sentence in that way. See my analysis below. You may have to work with your teacher to do the analysis the way it is expected in your course work.

Constituents
[ I ]_NP [ hope [ { I } to get [ an answer ]_NP ]_C ]_VP

NP - noun phrase / VP - verb phrase / C - clause (a non-finite clause in this case)

Functions
[ I ]_subj [ hope [ { I }_subj [ to get [ an answer ]_comp]_pred]_comp ]_pred

subj = subject
pred = predicate
comp = complement

The fact that the subject of the inner clause and the subject of the outer clause are the same sanctions the use of the infinitive instead of the full finite clause (I hope that I will get an answer).

CJ

Df2006 · Answer

CJ. Thank you for your detailed analysis.

Anonymous · Answer

Df2006“I am hoping for a chance to go on a world trip.”

In my opinion, "am hoping for" is a form of the transitive prepositional verb (phrasal one) "hope for" and "a chance to go on a world trip" (a non-finite clause) is its object.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousIn my opinion, "am hoping for" is a form of the transitive prepositional verb (phrasal one) "hope for" and "a chance to go on a world trip" (a non-finite clause) is its object.

Phrasal? I can't object to your analysis, but you have a choice of "phrasal verb" or "prepositional verb", but not both. I would omit that parenthetical remark.

Phrasal prepositional verbs have three elements, e.g., "put up with", "come up with".

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJimPhrasal?

I'm a non-native, so I've got to rely on definitions found in English grammar books. Some of them define "phrasal verbs" as a 'verb + particle(s)' meaning "particle" as a preposition or an adverb.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousSome of them define "phrasal verbs" as a 'verb + particle(s)' meaning "particle" as a preposition or an adverb.

Ah. I see what you mean. Some books say that the particle that goes with the verb to form a phrasal verb is a preposition. That's a way of giving a label to "up", "across", or "out" in the phrasal verbs "look up (a word)", "come across (a reference)", and "throw out (the trash)". These particles (prepositions or adverbs) do not actually act as prepositions with objects.

When we say "prepositional verb", we really mean a verb-preposition combination in which the preposition is a normal preposition that takes an object. In "hope for (something)", "for" is not just a particle/preposition, so we can say that "hope for" is a prepositional verb, but not that it's a phrasal verb.

"hope for world peace" has "world peace" as the object of the preposition "for"; "for world peace" is a logical combination. "come across a reference" does not, on the other hand, have "a reference" as the object of the particle/preposition "across", and "across a reference" is not a coherent combination that forms a prepositional phrase.

Therefore "hope for" is a prepositional verb and "come across" is a phrasal verb. Note the groupings below.

[hope] [for world peace] / [come across] [a reference]

CJ

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