CHAPTER XIV

SENTENCE ANALYSIS

REVIEW EXERCISE 203.

     242.   While studying the building up of sentences we have had some practice in Analysis, or the taking apart of sentences: for we have pointed out their principal parts, and have shown how each is modified.
     243.   Analysis is the process of separating a sentence inot its parts, and of showing what they have to do with one another.
     244.   Method.   If, in analyzing a simple or a compound sentence, we treat modifying phrases as single words, the structure of it can be made clear either orally or in writing, by telling in this order —
1.   The kind of sentence.
2.   The kind of sentences united to form it.
3.   The base of the first assertion, question, or command.
4.   The subject and its modifiers.
5.   The verb and its modifiers.
6.   The complement and its modifiers.
7.   The base of the second, — subject, verb, complement.
8.   The conjunctions.
9.   The independent expressions.
     Model for Analysis   “A fool speaks all his mind, but a wise man reserves something for afterwards”
1.   This is a compound declarative sentence.
2.   Formed by uniting two simple assertions.
3.   The base of the first assertion is fool speaks mind.
4.   The subject fool is modified by the adjective an.
5.   The verb speaks is modified only by its object mind.
6.   The object mind is modified by the adjective all, and by the possessive his.
7.   The base of the second, assertion is man reserves something.
8.   The subject man is modified by the adjectives an and wise.
9.   The verb reserves is modified by the prepositional phrase for afterwards.
10.   The object something is unmodified.
11.   The conjunction but unites the two assertions.
     245.   A phrase may be analyzed by telling —
1.   Its kind.
2.   What it modifies.
3.   Its base (i.e., the word from which it is named, and the complement of it, if there is one).
4.   The modifiers of its base.
     Thus, in the sentence —
De Soto, ( the discoverer of the Mississippi ) was buried [ in its waters ], —
we may say that the discoverer of the Mississippi is —
1.   An appositive phrase.
2.   Modifying the noun De Soto.
3. & 4.   The base discoverer is modified by the adjective the and by the prepositional phrase of the Mississippi.
     246.   A simple form of written analysis is that already given on page 138 [footnote to Ex. 190]. Thus: —
( A ) fool speaks < all > < his > mind, | but | ( a ) ( wise ) man reserves something [ for hereafter ].
     247.   Secondary modifiers may be joined to what they modify by lines, straight or curved, an arrow head showing the modified word. Thus: —

Inverted Order.

     248.   Although the form and the meaning of the words that make a sentence help us to understand the construction of it, yet we depend chiefly upon the arrangement of its parts, which is commonly much the same in different sentences.
     The usual order, however, is often changed or inverted for the sake of emphasis or clearness, and, in poetry, for many other reasons.

EXERCISE 204.

     249.   The subject often follows the verb —
     ( a )   In assertive sentences, as: —
     Flashed all their sabres bare.   Dark was the night.   Fiercely blew the wintry wind bare.   Down the hillside ran a brook.   There was a dense fog.   There is no help for us.
     ( b )   In interrogative sentences, especially when the interrogative word forms no part of the subject; as in, —
     Were others present?   Whom did you see?   When shall we be free?   Which island do the French own?   For what are they contending?   Is there no hope?
     Such sentences of course almost always begin with the interrogative expression, whether pronoun, adjective, adverb, or prepositional phrase.
     ( c )   In sentences expressing a condition or a wish, like, —
     Were that to happen, I could not go.   May nothing prevent.   May there be enough for all.  
     As shown in these examples, it is not the verb that is ordinarily put first in inverted sentences, but rather some complement or modifier of it, if there is one. And, as shown in the last examples in each group, we frequently begin a sentence with the adverb “there” when it is pronounced ther, and used without its original place meaning.
     When the real subject follows the verb, the temporary subject “it” often precedes; as, It is best to wait. (§ 598 (a).)

EXERCISE 205.

     250.   When there is reason for the change, modifiers of almost every kind may be placed in inverted order, or they may be separated from that part of the sentence to which they belong; e.g.: —
       A maiden fair.     And I the victor slew.     Lean thou this staff upon.     Slowly the day declines.     For us the sun ne’er sets.
     In analysis, we must be careful to transpose every part to its more usual place.
      ( a ) When modified (or complemented) by a phrase, an adjective usually follows its noun. Thus we say, “a man ready for work,” not “a ready for work man.”

EXERCISE 206.

EXERCISE 207.

EXERCISE 208.

Works of Wonder | Table of Contents