The implicit phrase

Question

Canada was nearly completely covered by ice, as well as the northern part of the United States, both blanketed by the hugehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurentide_ice_sheet. Alaska remained mostly ice free due to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arid climate conditions. Local glaciations existed in the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Mountains and the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordilleran_ice_sheet and as http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_field and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_cap in the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SierraNevada(U.S.) in northern California.^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_glacial_period#cite_note-3}

I'd like to know whether "in the Sierra Nevada" modifies "existed" and "as ice fields and ice caps" modified "the Sierra Nevada."
Thank you in advance for your help.

GPY · Accepted Answer

park sang joonI'd like to know whether "in the Sierra Nevada" modifies "existed"

I think this is the most likely intention, though it is also possible to read it as modifying "ice fields and ice caps". The meaning is hardly affected.

park sang joon"as ice fields and ice caps" modified "the Sierra Nevada."

No, "as ice fields and ice caps" modifies "existed".

CalifJim · Answer

park sang joonI'd like to know whether "in the Sierra Nevada" modifies "existed" and "as ice fields and ice caps" modified "the Sierra Nevada."

I don't think you've parsed it correctly. Maybe this will help.

Local glaciations existed in the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Mountains
..................and (existed in) the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordilleran_ice_sheet
and
(the local glaciations also existed) as¹ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_field and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_cap
................................................................(which were located) in the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra%3Ci%3ENevada%3C/i%3E%28U.S.%29 in northern California.

¹ as ~ in the form of

CJ

The implicit phrase

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions