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More Level 3 Exercises

Joke # 7
Answer Key for Level 3
     Subordinate clauses are in brackets [ ]. / represents the vertical line at the end of a main clause.  The font size of words aleady analyzed has been decreased. The color codes for adjectives, adverbs, and prepositional phrases have been deleted because too many colors seemed distracting. Words which remain to be analyzed are still in 14-point black

Spaces Missing between Words? (Click here for an explanation.)

 

        Two men, members {of a religious order}, wanted[CNE]

to smoke [Adverbial, either to "to smoke," or to "wanted" while 

walkingNote #1 {in the garden}.] /  They agreed  [DO of

"agreed" that each would ask his superior {for permission}.] /

     The first one returned to find the second one smoking

and complained indignantly: [DO of  "complained" "I was 

refused!"] /

     [DO of  "inquired" "What did you ask?"] inquired the 

second one. /

     "I asked [DO of  "asked" if I could smoke [Adverbial to

"could smoke," while meditating."]] /

     "Oh," [Note #2 said the other, blowing his smoke reflectively,] 

"I asked [DO of  "asked" if I could meditate [Adverbial to

"could meditate," while smoking!"]] / Note # 3
 

Baude's Handbook of Humor for All Occasions
Compiled by Jacob M. Braude. 
Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1958. p. 166

Notes:

1. The clause is semi-reduced -- "while *they were* walking...." The same thing occurs later in "while meditating."

2. I prefer to consider this clause as an interjection, but you could consider "said" as the main verb and the quotation as its direct object.

3. This joke demonstrates that, in spite of what some teachers of grammar think, main ideas are usually embedded in the main S/V/C pattern -- that is the way that they are interpreted. The first member was refused because he asked "Can I smoke while I meditate?" His superior responded to "Can I smoke?" -- and said "No." The second asked "Can I meditate while I smoke?" Again, the response was to the main S/V pattern. See MIMC.
 
 

Progress
Total Words = 73 Words %
L1: In Prep Phrases  9  12
L1: + Adj & Adverbs 12 29
+ L2: S / V / C 33 74
+ L3: Clauses 9 86

 
Some Basic Statistics on Style
# of Sentences: 7 Words per: 10.4
# of Main Clauses: 8 Words per 9.1
# of Sub Clauses: 7 SC / MC .88

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