I. Modal-predicative structures.

Analyse modal-predicative structures in bold type fromExtract VI from S.W.Maugham’s “The Razor’s Edge” (p.72-73):

"But Larry," she smiled. "People have been asking those questions for thousands of years. If they could be answered, surely they'd have been answered by now."

Larry chuckled.

"Don't laugh as if I'd said something idiotic," she said sharply.

"On the contrary I think you've said something shrewd. But on the other hand you might say that if men have been asking them for thousands of years it proves that they can't help asking them and have to go on asking them. Besides, it's not true that no one has found the answers.

There are more answers than questions, and lots of people have found answers that were perfectly satisfactory for them. Old Ruysbroek for instance."

"Who was he?"

"Oh, just a guy I didn't know at college," Larry answered flippantly.

Isabel didn't know what he meant, but passed on.

"It all sounds so adolescent to me. Those are the sort of things sophomores get excited about and then when they leave college they forget about them. They have to earn a living."

"I don't blame them. You see, I'm in the happy position that I have enough to live on. If I hadn't I'd have had to do like everybody else and make money."

"But doesn't money mean anything to you?"

"Not a thing," he grinned.

''How long d'you think all this is going to take you?"

"I wouldn't know. Five years. Ten years."

''And after that? What are you going to do with all this wisdom?"

"If I ever acquire wisdom I suppose I shall be wiseenough to know what to do with it."

Isabel clasped her hands passionately and leant forwards in her chair.

"You're so wrong, Larry. You're an American. Your place isn't here. Your place is in America."

"I shall come back when I'm ready."

"But you're missing so much. How can you bear to sit here in a backwater just when we're living through the most wonderful adventure the world has ever known? Europe's finished. We're the greatest, the most powerful people in the world. We're going fonvard by leaps and bounds. We've got everything. It's your duty to take part in the development of your country. You've forgotten, you don't know how thrilling life is in America today. Are you sure you're not doing this because you haven't the courage to stand up to the work that's before every American now? Oh, I know you're working in a way, but isn't it just an escape from your responsibilities? Is it more than just a sort of laborious idleness? What would happen to America if everyone shirked as you're shirking?"

"You're very severe, honey," he smiled. "The answer to that is that everyone doesn't feel like me. Fortunately for themselves, perhaps, most people are prepared to follow the normal course; what you forget is that I want to learn as passionately as—Gray, for instance, wants to make pots of money. Am I really a traitor to my country because I want to spend a few years educating myself? It may be that when I'm through I shall have something to give that people will be glad to take. It's only a chance, of course, but if I fail I shall be no worse off than a man

who's gone into business and hasn't made a go of it."

"And what about me? Am I of no importance to you at all?"

"You're of very great importance. I want you to marry me."

"When? In ten years?"

"No. Now. As soon as possible."

"On what? Mamma can't afford to give me anything. Besides, she wouldn't if she could. She'd think it wrong to help you to live without doing anything."

"I wouldn't want to take anything from your mother," said Larry. "I've got three thousand a year. That's plenty in Paris. We could have a little apartment and a bonne а tout faire. We'd have such a lark, darling."

"But, Larry, one can't live on three thousand a year."

"Of course one can. Lots of people live on much less."

"But I don't want to live on three thousand a year.

There's no reason why I should."

II. Multi-word verbs: travel and transport

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 701