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 > > 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/