Michael, In my grammar I take it as a non-restrictive adverbial (of place) modification to Laodicea. Without ellipsis the noun phrase would read: "Laodicea, (which is) about eleven miles (far) away (from it)." This makes _from_ (relation) the head, with the adverb (direction) _away_ modifying it, which in turn has the adverb (distance) _far_ modifying it, which in turn has the adverbial noun (extent) _miles_ modifying it, and then the adverbial noun (number) _eleven_ modifying _miles_ (many varieties of adverbs!). However, the idiom _away from_ seems to be moving in the direction of a prepositional phrase modifying _away_. If you can't live with ellipsis, then perhaps you will have to have some of these basic syntactic functions taken over by the parts that do appear. Maybe _miles_ would then take over as the head with _away_ modifying it, or prossibly better vice versa. They are both adverbial with very similar meaning, one being simply more specific than the other. I hope this helps. Bruce ----- Original Message ----- From: "R. Michael Medley (GLS)" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2005 7:52 PM Subject: what kind of phrase > In the sentence: > > "Colosse has never been either rebuilt or excavated, unlike its neighbor > Laodicea, about eleven miles away." > > What kind of phrase is "about eleven miles away"? I realize it is > performing an adverbial function, but what is the head word of the phrase? > > Thanks in advance for your advice. > > > R. Michael Medley, Director > Intensive English Program > Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA 22802 > [log in to unmask] (540) 432-4051 > > To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: > http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html > and select "Join or leave the list" > > Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.8.4 - Release Date: 2/1/05 > > -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.8.4 - Release Date: 2/1/05 To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/