Craig,
Thanks. That helped.
Scott
________________________________
From: Craig Hancock <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Fri, February 25, 2011 9:52:10 AM
Subject: Re: grammar question--clause analysis
Scott,
The pattern is a very common one, and you are right that it differs from
other adjective complements without the "so." Here's the more normal pattern:
I am happy that you graduated on time.
I am pleased that you made it here safely.
Both of these show the reasons or causes of the state described by the
adjective.
The so x that y construction, though, gives us results or extent. I think it
helps to remember that adjectives are generally scalar: there are degrees of
hunger, cold, happiness, ardentness, and so on, and these can in part be
measured by their effects.
I'm so hungry that I could eat a horse.
It was so cold that the pipes in our kitchen froze for the first time.
In your example, I think "avoiding the campgrounds of the masses" is both a
result of their degree of ardentness and a measure of its extent.
These lower level constructions often take on a unique grammar of their own.
The clause looks like a noun clause in structure, but it's a complement, not
just of the adjective, but of the so x [that] construction. The "that" is just a
complementizer, so it can be dropped.
Hope that helps.
Craig
On 2/25/2011 11:10 AM, Scott Woods wrote:
Dear List,
>
>How would you explain the clause bracketed clause in the following sentence?
>
> Some in this group are so ardent [that they avoid the campgrounds of the
>masses.]
>
>Does the clause start at so? Or does it modify ardent?
>
>It seems like a very common type, but it doesn't seem to fit the normal pattern
>of a noun clause, an adjective clause, or an adverb clause.
>
>
>Thanks,
>
>Scott Woods
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