0
Park sang joon Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
The analyses of a text #1
The narrator recalls his adolescence.
He and his friend Steerforth just now made a surprise visit at his old nurse's elder brother Mr. Peggotty's when Mr. Peggotty's nephew and adopted son Ham announced he proposed to Mr. Peggotty's niece Em'ly.
Mr. Peggotty tells him and Steerforth about the situation.
Ham staggered, as well he might, under the blow Mr. Peggotty dealt him in his unbounded joy, as a mark of confidence and friendship, but, feeling called upon to say something to us, he said, with much faltering and great difficulty:
"She warn't no higher than you was, Mas'r Davy?when you first come?when I thought what she'd grow up to be. I see her grow up?gent'men?like a flower. I'd lay down my life for her?Mas'r Davy?Oh! most content and cheerful! She's more to me?gent'men?than?she's all to me that ever I can want and more than ever I?than ever I could say. I?I love her, though there's many a common man?would say better?what he meant."
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
I'd like to know if the antecedent of the relative adverb "when" in blue is "when" in red.
I'd like to know why it is "most content and cheerful!," not "how content and cheerful!".
And I'd like to know what role the "that" clause "that ever I can want" plays here.
Thank you in advance for your help.
He and his friend Steerforth just now made a surprise visit at his old nurse's elder brother Mr. Peggotty's when Mr. Peggotty's nephew and adopted son Ham announced he proposed to Mr. Peggotty's niece Em'ly.
Mr. Peggotty tells him and Steerforth about the situation.
Ham staggered, as well he might, under the blow Mr. Peggotty dealt him in his unbounded joy, as a mark of confidence and friendship, but, feeling called upon to say something to us, he said, with much faltering and great difficulty:
"She warn't no higher than you was, Mas'r Davy?when you first come?when I thought what she'd grow up to be. I see her grow up?gent'men?like a flower. I'd lay down my life for her?Mas'r Davy?Oh! most content and cheerful! She's more to me?gent'men?than?she's all to me that ever I can want and more than ever I?than ever I could say. I?I love her, though there's many a common man?would say better?what he meant."
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
I'd like to know if the antecedent of the relative adverb "when" in blue is "when" in red.
I'd like to know why it is "most content and cheerful!," not "how content and cheerful!".
And I'd like to know what role the "that" clause "that ever I can want" plays here.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Top answer
park sang joon I'd like to know if the antecedent of the relative adverb "when" in blue is "when" in red. I don't know what you mean by 'antecedent', but the two 'when' clauses are in parallel as adverbials of the main clause. ".
- park sang joon I'd like to know if the antecedent of the relative adverb "when" in blue is "when" in red.
- I don't know what you mean by 'antecedent', but the two 'when' clauses are in parallel as adverbials of the main clause.
- ".
- 'Most' = very.
- ) park sang joon And I'd like to know what role the "that" clause "that ever I can want" plays here.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
3 Answers
0
park sang joonI'd like to know if the antecedent of the relative adverb "when" in blue is "when" in red.I don't know what you mean by 'antecedent', but the two 'when' clauses are in parallel as adverbials of the main clause.
park sang joonI'd like to know why it is "most content and cheerful!," not "how content and cheerful!".
00
Thank you, Mr. Micawber, for your so very kind answer. 
'Most' = very. (Note that in standard English, the adjective
00
park sang joon"I'd like to know why there "that" clause is."?Hmm. Well, I'm still not sure what bothers you, but—
she's all to me that ever I can want
— 'that...want' is a relative clause modifying 'all'.
0
Related Questions