The Printable KISS Grammar Workbooks The KISS Workbooks Anthology
(Code and Color Key)

Palimpsest Patterns
Based on The Last of the Mohicans, by James Fenimore Cooper
Analysis Key

1. The death {of the colt} sits heavy (PA) {on the heart} {of its owner}. |

"Sits" is written over "was."
2. Munro sat utterly unconscious (PA) {of the other's presence}. |
"Sat" is written over "was."
3. The rock proved softer (PA) {on each side} {of us}. |
"Proved" is written over "was." [#1]
4. The air continued full (PA) {of horrible cries and screams}. |
"Continued" is written over "was." [#1]
5. Her whole soul seemed ready (PA) and anxious (PA) to pour 

     out its thanksgivings [#2]. |

"Seemed" is written over "was."
6. The words appeared frozen (PA) {by some new and sudden chill}. |
"Appeared" is written over "were."
7. Her soft and melting eyes grew hard (PA). |
"Grew" is written over "were."
8. The sun had now fallen low (PA) {towards the distant mountains}. |
"Fallen" is written over "become."
9. A vast range {of country} lay buried (PA) {in eternal sleep}. |
"Lay" is written over "was."
10. But the youthful Uncas continued a silent and respectful listener (PN). |
"Continued" is written over "was." [#1]
Notes
1. In some cases, an alternative explanation is to view the construction as an ellipsed infinitive, as in "The rock proved *to be* softer . . . ." The complement then becomes a complement to the "to be," and the ellipsed infinitive can be seen either as a direct object or an adverb, depending on whether one sees it as answering "what?" or "how?"
2. "Thanksgivings" is the direct object of the verbal (infinitive) "to pour." The infinitive phrase functions as an adverb to "ready" and "anxious."