Dear all,
Do you mind helping me with these examples? If not, here’s
one more:
No doubt at all about that, I thought. (A
Clockwork Orange)
Ignoring the reported speech clause, how would you analyze
the first portion?
Is it correct to say that “at all” modifies the
complete phrase “no doubt about that” and is functioning
adverbially, indicating degree (i.e., how little doubt there is)?
Without the context to clarify what that specifies (this
is a student-located example), can we say that “about that”
functions adjectivally modifying the head noun “doubt”?
I’ve consulted my Longman, but I didn’t
see a clear example to use as a model.
Thanks, as ever—
Natalie
____________________
Natalie
Gerber, Ph.D.
Assistant
Professor
Department
of English
SUNY
Fredonia
ph.
(716) 673-3855
fax
(716) 673-4661
Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/