"Forty years ago" seems to function much like a prepositional phrase, but with "ago" as a *post*position rather than a *pre*position. Thanks for posing this question, Janet. I look forward to being enlightened by responses from others. Dick On Tue, Oct 5, 2010 at 5:47 PM, Castilleja, Janet <[log in to unmask] > wrote: > Hello > > How do you usually analyze a structure like this: Our old beach house, > which was built forty years ago, has now vanished. What do you do with > 'forty years ago'? I learned it as a noun phrase functioning as an adverb, > but I'm not sure that's the best description, especially when working with > students. > > Thanks! > > Janet > > 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/ > 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/