0
Jigneshbharati Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

That be close

Every time there is leak like this, the powers that be close the circle of trust little tighter.
I saw this sentence at

If would be grateful if someone can break down both the sentences in terms of parts of speech , especially "that" and "be" stumped me completely that I can not find even the subject and verb?
  

Top answer

Every time there is a leak like this, the powers that be close the circle of trust a little tighter. Every time — adverb [that] there is leak like this — relative clause, modifying time . there — pronoun is — verb a leak — noun phrase, subject like this — prepositional phrase, modifying leak the powers — noun phrase, main clause subject that be — clause, modifying powers (Note "powers that be" is an idiomatic expression meaning the people or natural forces that are in control.

  • Every time there is a leak like this, the powers that be close the circle of trust a little tighter.
  • Every time — adverb [that] there is leak like this — relative clause, modifying time .
  • there — pronoun is — verb a leak — noun phrase, subject like this — prepositional phrase, modifying leak the powers — noun phrase, main clause subject that be — clause, modifying powers (Note "powers that be" is an idiomatic expression meaning the people or natural forces that are in control.
  • close — main clause verb the circle — main clause direct object of trust — prepositional phrase, modifying circle Note: Circle ot trust is an idiomatic expression meaning the people who are close to you and you trust a little tighter.
  • — adverb
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0
Every time there is a leak like this, the powers that be close the circle of trust a little tighter.

Every time — adverb
[that] there is leak like this — relative clause, modifying time.
there — pronoun
is verb
a leak — noun phrase, subject
like this— prepositional phrase, modifying le
0
Just amazing! Thank you ...... Much appreciated.

Related Questions