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Park sang joon Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
The analyses of a text #2
The narrator recalls his adolescence.
He, his great aunt Miss Trotwood and his friends came to Ham's office to meet Mr. Micawber who is the clerk for local lawyer Uriah Hip, whom he struck in the cheek because of his mean behavior.
Uriah Hip is the partner of Mr. Wickfield, who is very sick now, whose only daughter Agnes is narrator's old friend, whom Uriah Hip has an affection for.
Mr. Micawber just now exposed Uriah Heep's illegal deeds, reading a prepared letter.
Traddles is the narrator's best friend and a lawyer.
Chapter 52 I ASSIST AT AN EXPLOSION
.................................
Uriah, without lifting his eyes from the ground, shuffled across the room with his hand to his chin, and pausing at the door, said:
'Copperfield, I have always hated you. You've always been an upstart, and you've always been against me.'
'As I think I told you once before,' said I, 'it is you who have been, in your greed and cunning, against all the world. It may be profitable to you to reflect, in future, that there never were greed and cunning in the world yet, that did not do too much, and overreach themselves. It is as certain as death.'
'Or as certain as they used to teach at school (the same school where I picked up so much umbleness), from nine o'clock to eleven, that labour was a curse; and from eleven o'clock to one, that it was a blessing and a cheerfulness, and a dignity, and I don't know what all, eh?' said he with a sneer. 'You preach, about as consistent as they did. Won't umbleness go down? I shouldn't have got round my gentleman fellow-partner without it, I think. - Micawber, you old bully, I'll pay YOU!'
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
1. I'd like to know what "that labour was a curse" qualifies.
2. I'd like to know what "that it was a blessing and a cheerfulness, and a dignity" qualifies.
3. I'd like to know why it is "consistent," not "consistency."
4. And I'd like to know what "won't umbleness go down?" means.
Thank you in advance for your help.
He, his great aunt Miss Trotwood and his friends came to Ham's office to meet Mr. Micawber who is the clerk for local lawyer Uriah Hip, whom he struck in the cheek because of his mean behavior.
Uriah Hip is the partner of Mr. Wickfield, who is very sick now, whose only daughter Agnes is narrator's old friend, whom Uriah Hip has an affection for.
Mr. Micawber just now exposed Uriah Heep's illegal deeds, reading a prepared letter.
Traddles is the narrator's best friend and a lawyer.
Chapter 52 I ASSIST AT AN EXPLOSION
.................................
Uriah, without lifting his eyes from the ground, shuffled across the room with his hand to his chin, and pausing at the door, said:
'Copperfield, I have always hated you. You've always been an upstart, and you've always been against me.'
'As I think I told you once before,' said I, 'it is you who have been, in your greed and cunning, against all the world. It may be profitable to you to reflect, in future, that there never were greed and cunning in the world yet, that did not do too much, and overreach themselves. It is as certain as death.'
'Or as certain as they used to teach at school (the same school where I picked up so much umbleness), from nine o'clock to eleven, that labour was a curse; and from eleven o'clock to one, that it was a blessing and a cheerfulness, and a dignity, and I don't know what all, eh?' said he with a sneer. 'You preach, about as consistent as they did. Won't umbleness go down? I shouldn't have got round my gentleman fellow-partner without it, I think. - Micawber, you old bully, I'll pay YOU!'
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
1. I'd like to know what "that labour was a curse" qualifies.
2. I'd like to know what "that it was a blessing and a cheerfulness, and a dignity" qualifies.
3. I'd like to know why it is "consistent," not "consistency."
4. And I'd like to know what "won't umbleness go down?" means.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Top answer
park sang joon 1. I'd like to know what "that labour was a curse" qualifies. I don't understand your question.
- park sang joon 1.
- I'd like to know what "that labour was a curse" qualifies.
- I don't understand your question.
- " They used to teach that labour was a curse.
- (This was taught from 9:00-11:00) park sang joon 2.
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6 Answers
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park sang joon1. I'd like to know what "that labour was a curse" qualifies.I don't understand your question. The clause is a complement of the verb "teach."
They used to teach that labour was a curse. (This was taught from 9:00-11:00)
park sang joon2. I'd like to know what "that it was a blessing and a cheerfulness, and a dignity"
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1. "That labour was a curse" is what they used to teach (from 9 to 11).
2. "That it was a blessing and a cheerfulness, and a dignity" is also what they used to teach (from 11 to 1).
3. It should be "consistently."
4. I think it is colloquial language. I would read "won't humbleness go down" to mean something like "You swallowed all that preaching but you won't swallow my humbleness"
2. "That it was a blessing and a cheerfulness, and a dignity" is also what they used to teach (from 11 to 1).
3. It should be "consistently."
4. I think it is colloquial language. I would read "won't humbleness go down" to mean something like "You swallowed all that preaching but you won't swallow my humbleness"
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Thank you, AlpheccaStars, for your so very kind answer. 
Thank you, Doctor D, for your so very helpful answer.
Thank you, Doctor D, for your so very helpful answer.
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It is preach about a subject, just as you talk about a subject.
He preached about sin and ****.
Or, indirect: He preached a sermon about sin and ****.
To say "preach on" you would have to word the sentence like this:
He preached on the subject of sin and ****.
He preached about sin and ****.
Or, indirect: He preached a sermon about sin and ****.
To say "preach on" you would have to word the sentence like this:
He preached on the subject of sin and ****.
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Thank you, Doctor D, for your continuing support.
"You preach, about as consistent as they did."
Then I was wonde
"You preach, about as consistent as they did."
Then I was wonde
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The phrase, "about as consistent(ly) as they did," modifies "preach" by explaining how he preaches.
the word "about" modifies "as consistently as."
You could substitute "nearly" or "almost" for "about" to make the same meaning.
the word "about" modifies "as consistently as."
You could substitute "nearly" or "almost" for "about" to make the same meaning.
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