Savoring Syntax

Decoding Sentences in the English Language

In honor of Halloween, I have chosen the following sentence to analyze: “By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes”

Source: Macbeth, Act IV, Scene 1

Discussion:

Approach             Description

Organization: 1 comma, separating an initial (adverbial) phrase from rest of the sentence.

Syntax: 4 constituents: How? (adverbial phrase), subject, Where? (adverbial phrase), and the predicator (in present simple)

Phrase: 3 phrases: 2 adverbial, 1 noun

Clause: 1 subject/predicator pair: 1 independent clause

Sentence: 1 independent clause = 1 sentence

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