A Study in Punctuation
For the KISS view of subordinate clause breaks in quotations, see KISS Level 3.2.3 - Interjection? Or Direct Object? [Adv. (time) to "cried" When Deta saw the little party (DO) {of climbers}] [#1] she cried out shrilly: [DO "Heidi [DirA], what (DO) have you done?] | What a sight (PN) you are! | Where are your dresses and your shawl? | Are the new shoes gone (PA) [Adj. to "shoes" that I just bought {for you}], and the new stockings [Adj. to "stockings" that I made myself [#2] ? | Where are they all, Heidi [DirA]?" | The child quietly pointed down and said "There." (DO) | The aunt followed the direction (DO) {of her finger} and descried a little heap (DO) {with a small red dot} {in the middle}, [Adj. to "heap" which (DO) she recognized {as the shawl}. | "Unlucky child!" (DO) [#3] Deta said excitedly. | "What (DO) [#4] does all this mean? | Why have you taken your things (DO) all off?" | [DO "Because I do not need them (DO),"] said the child, not seeming [#5] {in the least repentant} {of her deed}. | "How can you be so stupid (PA), Heidi [DirA] ? | Have you lost your senses (DO)?" [ [#6] the aunt went on, {in a tone} {of mingled vexation and reproach}]. | "Who [ [#7] do you think] will go way {down there} to fetch those things [#8] up again? | It is half-an-hour's walk (PN). | Please, Peter [DirA], *you* run down and get them (DO). | *You* Do not stand and stare {at me} [Adv. (condition) to "stare" as if you were [#9] glued (P) {to the spot}]." | Notes 2. "Myself" is an appositive to "I." 3. Inside the quotation, "Unlucky" is an adjective to "child," and "child" is Direct Address. 4. If one considers "mean" to mean "equal," then "What" is a predicate noun. (This is a question that is not discussed in most grammar textbooks.) 5. "Seeming" is a verbal (gerundive) that modifies "child." "Repentant" is a predicate adjective after "seeming." 6. KISS explains that clause as an interjection. See KISS Level 3.2.3 - Interjection? Or Direct Object? 7. This is another fairly rare clause construction that is not usually discussed in grammar textbooks. In KISS, it can be explained either as an interjection or as an adjectival clause to "Who." 8. "Things" is the direct object of the verbal (infinitive) "to fetch." The infinitive phrase functions as an adverb (of purpose) to "will go." 9. The "you" is obviously singular, but the verb is "were" because it is in the subjunctive mood. See KISS Level 2.1.7 - The KISS Perspective on the Subjunctive Mood. |