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Danilagid Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Subordinate Clause Analysis

Hi! I have a question about the analysis of a sentence including the subordinate clauses in it. I'm following Leech's theoretical principles about tenseless subordinate clauses. In this sentence we have a Comparative Clause but I'm confused because it has too many verbs and I don't know if there are other subordinations there...

This is the sentence:

I am more prepared to understand than to speak.

The SubCl should be:

I am (more prepared to understand [CCl than to speak]).

I wonder what is 'to understand' then... Any contributions to this discussion are welcome!

Thanks a lot!!
  

Top answer

The basic sentence without modifiers is: I am prepared. Then the adv. "more" is added, modifying the verb: I am more prepared.

— Anonymous

  • The basic sentence without modifiers is: I am prepared.
  • Then the adv.
  • "more" is added, modifying the verb: I am more prepared.
  • Then the phrase "to understand" is added - this functions as an adv.
  • modifying the verb.
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3 Answers
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The basic sentence without modifiers is: I am prepared.

Then the adv. "more" is added, modifying the verb: I am more prepared.

Then the phrase "to understand" is added - this functions as an adv. modifying the verb. But now the adv. "more" shifts to modifying "to understand.": I am more to understand prepared.

Then the phrase "than to speak" is added - this functions
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DanilagidLeech's theoretical principles about tenseless subordinate clauses.
I don't know what these principles are, but here's how I see the sentence:

I am

MORE prepared

to understand

THAN

(I am)

(prepared)

to speak.
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Thanks!

I understand that, but I don't know how to analyse the 'to understand' part... is that another SubCl? Or is it part of the VP? What do you think?
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