I agree with Kathleen, but perhaps the problem with analyzing the sentence, at least on first pass, is the independent relative that serves as the object of the preposition "by."  We don't think of clauses as agents, but the by-phrase can also be instrumental, as in

The window was smashed by a wind-borne tree limb.

However, instruments tend to be inanimate objects, with the well-known exception of cases like

James Bond broke the window with the Russian.

There is, however, a broader semantic category that works here, called "source."  "...where the speaker needs to breathe" is the source whatever "these" refers to.

Herb

From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kathleen M. Ward
Sent: 2009-04-16 17:47
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: object of a preposition?

And "were determined" is passive voice, making the "by" phrase what is sometimes called the "agent" phrase.  So I don't think "determined" is a phrasal verb.  It occurs a lot in the passive voice, however.

KMW
On Apr 16, 2009, at 1:46 PM, Castilleja, Janet wrote:


Hello

How would you analyze this sentence?

These were determined by where the speaker would need to breathe.

Is 'where the speaker would need to breathe' the object of the preposition 'by'?  Is 'determined by' possibly a phrasal verb?  I checked Longman's Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. It wasn't in there.  In either case would 'where the speaker would need to breathe' be a nominal?  I guess it could be.  We can say 'where we go to dinner is up to you,'  for example.

Janet
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