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Park sang joon Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
The analyses of a text #3
The narrator recalls his adolescence.
His old nurse Peggotty's niece Emily fled away with his best friend Mr. James, leaving her fiance behind.
Peggotty's elder brother Mr. Peggotty has sought for her niece Emily after her leaving.
His conviction remained unchanged. So far as I know - and I believe his honest heart was transparent to me - he never wavered again, in his solemn certainty of finding her. His patience never tired. And, although I trembled for the agony it might one day be to him to have his strong assurance shivered at a blow, there was something so religious in it, so affectingly expressive of its anchor being in the purest depths of his fine nature, that the respect and honour in which I held him were exalted every day.
His was not a lazy trustfulness that hoped, and did no more. He had been a man of sturdy action all his life, and he knew that in all things wherein he wanted help he must do his own part faithfully, and help himself. I have known him set out in the night, on a misgiving that the light might not be, by some accident, in the window of the old boat, and walk to Yarmouth. I have known him, on reading something in the newspaper that might apply to her, take up his stick, and go forth on a journey of three- or four-score miles.
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
1. I'd like to know if refers to "to have his strong assurance shivered at a blow."
2. I'd like to know if "be" means "go."
3. I'd like to know why it is "help," "to help," and if "for God" is implied before "help."
4. And I'd like to know why it is "him," not "he."
Thank you in advance for your help.
His old nurse Peggotty's niece Emily fled away with his best friend Mr. James, leaving her fiance behind.
Peggotty's elder brother Mr. Peggotty has sought for her niece Emily after her leaving.
Chapter 50 Mr. PEGGOTTY'S DREAM COMES TRUE
.................................His conviction remained unchanged. So far as I know - and I believe his honest heart was transparent to me - he never wavered again, in his solemn certainty of finding her. His patience never tired. And, although I trembled for the agony it might one day be to him to have his strong assurance shivered at a blow, there was something so religious in it, so affectingly expressive of its anchor being in the purest depths of his fine nature, that the respect and honour in which I held him were exalted every day.
His was not a lazy trustfulness that hoped, and did no more. He had been a man of sturdy action all his life, and he knew that in all things wherein he wanted help he must do his own part faithfully, and help himself. I have known him set out in the night, on a misgiving that the light might not be, by some accident, in the window of the old boat, and walk to Yarmouth. I have known him, on reading something in the newspaper that might apply to her, take up his stick, and go forth on a journey of three- or four-score miles.
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
1. I'd like to know if refers to "to have his strong assurance shivered at a blow."
2. I'd like to know if "be" means "go."
3. I'd like to know why it is "help," "to help," and if "for God" is implied before "help."
4. And I'd like to know why it is "him," not "he."
Thank you in advance for your help.
Top answer
1. In the sense that the meaning is "to have his strong assurance shivered at a blow might one day be agony to him", yes, but native speakers would not go through such a mental process, and (probably) would not consider "it" to refer to anything at all. Patterns like this, in which a dummy or anticipatory "it" is put to the front, are a common feature of English, as you have found.
- 1.
- In the sense that the meaning is "to have his strong assurance shivered at a blow might one day be agony to him", yes, but native speakers would not go through such a mental process, and (probably) would not consider "it" to refer to anything at all.
- Patterns like this, in which a dummy or anticipatory "it" is put to the front, are a common feature of English, as you have found.
- 2.
- ).
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8 Answers
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1. In the sense that the meaning is "to have his strong assurance shivered at a blow might one day be agony to him", yes, but native speakers would not go through such a mental process, and (probably) would not consider "it" to refer to anything at all. Patterns like this, in which a dummy or anticipatory "it" is put to the front, are a common feature of English, as you have found.
2. No,
2. No,
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Thank you, GPY, So Very helpful, valuable answer. 
4. I'd also like to know if the subject of "take up" is the "the newspap
4. I'd also like to know if the subject of "take up" is the "the newspap
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park sang joon4. I'd also like to know if the subject of "take up" is the "the newspaper."No; 'him'.
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park sang joon4. I'd also like to know if the subject of "take up" is the "the newspaper."No, "take up" is an infinitive; the person doing the action "take up" is the same person as "him". The pattern is "to know someone do something", meaning to be aware or have observed that someone acted in a certain way.
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Thank you, Mr. Micawber, for your so very kind answer.
Thank you, GPY, for your continuing support.
Thank you, GPY, for your continuing support.
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park sang joonThen I was wondering if this usage of "know" is idiomatic in present English.'To know someone to do something'? Yes. I have been known to give the wrong answers to questions sometimes.
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Thank you, Mr. Micawber, for your continuing support.
No.
I meant "know + object + a bare infinitive" by the usage as in "
No.
I meant "know + object + a bare infinitive" by the usage as in "
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park sang joonI meant "know + object + a bare infinitive" by the usage as in "I have known him take up his stick"Yes, this pattern is still used in modern English. I think it is mostly used in the present perfect or past perfect tenses.
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