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Question

Please label the form and function of the underlined clauses, phrases and words:

a. I'm going whether you like it or not. (?)
b. I don't know whether I should go or whether I should stay. (Form: 2 Noun clauses; Function: 2 Direct Objects)

c. Most companies have suffered a drop in their profits, even very large companies. (fo?)
d. It was quite difficult to see, even with the light on. (?)

e. Most companies have suffered a drop in their profits, even very large companies. (?)
f. It was quite difficult to see, even with the light on. (?)

Thank you

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I HAVE CHECKED MY GRAMMAR BOOKS BEFORE POSTING.

(1) I feel that whether you like it or not is not a noun clause in

your sentence (a). For example, you could say: Whether you like it or

not, I am going. Look at this sentence from one of my grammar books:

Whether we like it or not, Jane has been selected for the leading role.

That book calls it an adverbial-looking clause that is used absolutely.

That is, it has no actual grammatical function in that sentence. The

book admits, however, that "some grammarians" feel that it is a "loose

modifier" of the main sentence. In any case, I think that most people

would agree that it is not a noun clause in (a). [I believe that it is a

noun clause in your (b) sentence.]

*****

"Most companies have suffered a drop in their profits, even very large

companies."

After checking my books, I feel that some people would agree with this

explanation:

(a) "even very large companies" is a so-called parenthetical

element. That is, it is some words (in this case, a noun phrase

introduced by the adverb "even") that gives some extra but non-

essential information, and it interrupts the smooth flow of the

sentence. This is more clearly shown if we rewrite it as:

"Most companies (even very large companies) have suffered a drop

in their profits." It is added information that is not essential to the

main idea of the sentence.

In one English usage book used by many people, there is this

example of a somewhat similar parenthetical phrase:

"But the general tenor of life, even in Amsterdam, is peaceful

and well organized."

(b) even is an adverb that "focuses" on the words "very

large companies." I did not say that it "modifies" those

words.

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