An Exercise in Punctuation
The Original Text Sammy stopped eating the nut, and looked up to see who was talking to him. He saw Blacky Crow sailing round and round over his head. “I am eating my breakfast,” he answered. “Would you like to have a nut to eat, too?” “Oh, no,” answered Blacky Crow. “I can find something better than that.” Complete Analysis Key Sammy stopped eating [#1] the nut (DO), and looked up to see [#2] [DO who was talking {to him}]. | He saw Blacky Crow (DO) sailing [#3] round and round {over his head}. | [DO [#4] “I am eating my breakfast (DO),”] he answered. | “Would you like to have [#5] a nut (DO) to eat [#6], too?” | “Oh [Inj], no,” (DO) answered Blacky Crow. | “I can find something (DO) better [#7] {than that}.” | Notes 2. The infinitive "to see" (another verbal) functions as an adverb (of purpose) to "looked up." The "who" clause is the direct object of "to see." 3. "Sailing" is a verbal (a gerundive) that functions as an adjective to "Blacky Crow." At KISS Level Five, some people will prefer to see "Blacky Crow sailing" as the core of a noun absolute construction that functions as the direct object of "saw." 4. In an alternative explanation, the "I am ..." clause is the main S/V/C pattern, and the "he answered" is a subordinate clause that functions as an interjection. 5. Alternatively, "to have" is an infinitive that functions as the direct object of "would like," and "nut" is the direct object of the infinitive. 6. The infinitive "to eat" functions as an adjective to "nut." 7. "Better" is a post-positioned adjective, a reduction of "something *that is* better...." |