Chapter 03-07: Phrases II – Analyzing Examples - ALIC

chapter 3: analyzing examples

The English language is messy, and many times analyzing for grammatical elements is not always as obvious as the simple examples that we use on the content pages. So to assist your ability to analyze all the different texts you may encounter as you read, we want to offer a few more sample analyses of more difficult texts. For these more complicated examples, we review some or all of the key features discussed in Chapter 4. Please review these examples closely, trying to understand the choices made for the analysis. As always, if you have any questions, please ask your instructor or start a conversation in your work group. Analyzing for Nonfinite Verb Phrases – Example #1Adapted from Walden by Henry David Thoreau: After a still winter night I awoke with the impression that some question had been put to me, which I had been endeavoring in vain to answer in my sleep, as what—how—when—where? But there was dawning Nature, in whom all creatures live, looking in at my broad windows with serene and satisfied face, and no question on her lips. I awoke to an answered question, to Nature and daylight. The snow lying deep on the earth dotted with young pines, and the very slope of the hill on which my house is placed, seemed to say, Forward! Nature puts no question and answers none which we mortals ask. She has long ago taken her resolution. “O Prince, our eyes contemplate with admiration and transmit to the soul the wonderful and varied spectacle of this universe. The night veils without doubt a part of this glorious creation; but day comes to reveal to us this great work, which extends from earth even into the plains of the ether.” For this example, we’ll analyze the form and function of the nonfinite verb phrases in the passage. Begin by identifying the key markers for nonfinite verb phrases (TO infinitive marker; -ing inflection; -en inflection; -ed inflection) without tense. And remember to pay attention to context, to who the words are “hanging out with”:

After a still winter night I awoke with the impression that some question had been put to me, which I had been endeavoring in vain to answer in my sleep, as what—how—when—where? But there was dawning Nature, in whom all creatures live, looking in at my broad windows with serene and satisfied face, and no question on her lips. I awoke to an answered question, to Nature and daylight. The snow lying deep on the earth dotted with young pines, and the very slope of the hill on which my house is placed, seemed to say, Forward! Nature puts no question and answers none which we mortals ask. She has long ago taken her resolution. “O Prince, our eyes contemplate with admiration and transmit to the soul the wonderful and varied spectacle of this universe. The night veils without doubt a part of this glorious creation; but day comes to reveal to us this great work, which extends from earth even into the plains of the ether.”

Nonfinite Verb Phrases

to answer – nominal infinitive phrase (direct object of HAD BEEN ENDEAVORING)
looking in at my broad windows – adverbial present participle phrase (can be moved or deleted)
satisfied – adjectival past participle phrase (precedes and modifies the noun FACE)
answered – adjectival past participle phrase (precedes and modifies the noun QUESTION) – NOTE: TO is a preposition
lying deep on the earth – adjectival present participle phrase (modifying SNOW)
dotted with young pines – adjectival past participle phrase (modifying EARTH)
to say – nominal infinitive phrase (direct object of SEEMED)
varied – adjectival past participle phrase (modifying SPECTACLE)
to reveal – adverbial infinitive phrase (can be moved or deleted)

Analyzing for Nonfinite Verb Phrases – Example #2Adapted from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: Charlotte assured her friend of her satisfaction in being useful, and that it amply repaid her for the little sacrifice of her time. This was very amiable, but Charlotte’s kindness extended farther than Elizabeth had any conception of; its object was nothing else than to secure her from any return of Mr. Collins’s addresses, by engaging them towards herself. Such was Miss Lucas’s scheme; and appearances were so favourable, that when they parted at night, she would have felt almost secure of success if he had not been to leave Hertfordshire so very soon. But here she did injustice to the fire and independence of his character, for it led him to escape out of Longbourn House the next morning with admirable slyness, and hasten to Lucas Lodge to throw himself at her feet. He was anxious to avoid the notice of his cousins, from a conviction that if they saw him depart, they could not fail to conjecture his design, and he was not willing to have the attempt known till its success might be known likewise; for though feeling almost secure, and with reason, for Charlotte had been tolerably encouraging, he was comparatively diffident since the adventure of Wednesday. For this example, we’ll analyze the form and function of the nonfinite verb phrases in the passage. Begin by identifying the key markers for nonfinite verb phrases (TO infinitive marker; -ing inflection; -en inflection; -ed inflection) without tense. And remember to pay attention to context, to who the words are “hanging out with”: Charlotte assured her friend of her satisfaction in being useful, and that it amply repaid her for the little sacrifice of her time. This was very amiable, but Charlotte’s kindness extended farther than Elizabeth had any conception of; its object was nothing else than to secure her from any return of Mr. Collins’s addresses, by engaging them towards herself. Such was Miss Lucas’s scheme; and appearances were so favourable, that when they parted at night, she would have felt almost secure of success if he had not been about to leave Hertfordshire so very soon. But here she did injustice to the fire and independence of his character, for it led him to escape out of Longbourn House the next morning with admirable slyness, and hasten to Lucas Lodge to throw himself at her feet. He was anxious to avoid the notice of his cousins, from a conviction that if they saw him depart, they could not fail to conjecture his design, and he was not willing to have the attempt known till its success might be known likewise; for though feeling almost secure, and with reason, for Charlotte had been tolerably encouraging, he was comparatively diffident since the adventure of Wednesday. Nonfinite Verb Phrases

being useful – nominal gerund phrase – object of the preposition INNo auxiliary, and follows directly after a preposition
to secure – nominal infinitive phrase – object of the preposition THAN
engaging them – nominal gerund phrase – object of the preposition BY
to leave Hertfordshire – nominal infinitive phrase – object of the preposition ABOUT
to escape out of Longbourn House – nominal infinitive phrase – direct object of LEDHIM is the indirect object in this context
[to] hasten – nominal infinitive phrase – direct object of LEDThe coordinating conjunction AND is coordinating a compound direct object, thus the TO infinitive marker looks to be deleted, but the coordinating conjunction signals that it is using the marker with ESCAPE
to throw himself – nominal infinitive phrase – direct object of [to] HASTEN
to avoid the notice – adverbial infinitive phrase
to conjecture his design – nominal infinitive phrase – direct object of COULD . . . FAIL
to have the attempt – nominal infinitive phrase – direct object of WAS . . . WILLING
known – adjectival past participle phrase, modifying ATTEMPT
feeling almost secure – nominal gerund phrase – object of the preposition FOR

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