Sentence Structure 12
The below sentences have been broken down into subject, verb, and modifiers. Since there are hardly any specific rules around objects, I’ve clubbed objects into modifiers to reduce complexity.
One common confusion students face is regarding prepositional phrases following a noun that comes after a verb (…verb noun PP). In such cases, many students almost always associate those prepositional phrases with the nouns preceding them. However, many a time, such prepositional phrases are modifying the verbs. One way to test that a prepositional phrase is modifying a verb is by putting that prepositional phrase immediately after the verb and then putting the noun. If the sentence still makes sense, the prepositional phrase is modifying the verb.
Please note that the abbreviation ‘PP’ has been used for a prepositional phrase in the below sentence structures.
Sentence 1
The 355 genes ascribable to Luca include some that metabolize hydrogen as a source of energy as well as a gene for an enzyme called reverse gyrase, found only in microbes that live at extremely high temperatures.
- The 355 genes (Main subject)
- ascribable to Luca (modifies “355 genes”)
- include some (Main verb “include”)
- that metabolize hydrogen (DC modifies “some”)
- as a source of energy (PP modifying “metabolize”)
- that metabolize hydrogen (DC modifies “some”)
- as well as a gene (Parallel to “some”)
- for an enzyme (modifies “gene” above)
- called reverse gyrase, (modifies “enzyme”)
- found only in microbes (modifies “enzyme” or “reverse gyrase”)
- that live (DC modifying “microbes”. In “that clause”, “that” is the subject and “live” is the verb)
- at extremely high temperatures, (PP modifying “live”)
- that live (DC modifying “microbes”. In “that clause”, “that” is the subject and “live” is the verb)
- found only in microbes (modifies “enzyme” or “reverse gyrase”)
- called reverse gyrase, (modifies “enzyme”)
- for an enzyme (modifies “gene” above)
Sentence 2
The new finding sharpens the debate between those who believe life began in some extreme environment, such as in deep sea vents or the flanks of volcanoes, and others who favor more normal settings, such as the “warm little pond” proposed by Darwin.
- The new finding sharpens (Main clause)
- the debate (Noun – modifies “sharpens”)
- between those (PP modifying “debate”)
- who believe (DC modifying “those”)
- life began (DC modifying “believe”. ‘that’ has been skipped here. ‘that life began’)
- in some extreme environment, (PP modifying “began”)
- such as in deep sea vents or the flanks of volcanoes, (Modifies preceding PP)
- in some extreme environment, (PP modifying “began”)
- life began (DC modifying “believe”. ‘that’ has been skipped here. ‘that life began’)
- who believe (DC modifying “those”)
- and others (Second part of “between those and others”)
- who favor more normal settings (DC modifying “others”)
- , such as the “warm little pond” (Modifies “more normal settings”)
- proposed by Darwin. (Verb-ed modifier modifying “warm little pond”)
- , such as the “warm little pond” (Modifies “more normal settings”)
- who favor more normal settings (DC modifying “others”)
- between those (PP modifying “debate”)
- the debate (Noun – modifies “sharpens”)
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