Reply
Wed 2 May, 2012 05:49 pm
Context:
A century later Laplace's concept of precise scientific deter-
minism was overturned, not by theological arguments but by
scientific insights. The revolution known as quantum mechan-
ics began, simply enough, as an effort to explain an unsolved
problem in physics concerning the spectrum of light. Based on
a number of observations, Max Planck and Albert Einstein
demonstrated that light did not come in all possible energies,
but that it was "quantized" in particles of precise energy, known
as photons. At bottom, therefore, light is not infinitely indivisi-
ble, but comprises a flow of photons, just as the resolution of a
digital camera cannot be any finer than a single pixel.
@oristarA,
You've got several sentences there, Ori.
1st sentence -- subj.:
concept; pred.:
was overturned; no dir. object.
2nd sentence -- subj.:
revolution; pred.:
began; again, no dir. obj.
3rd sentence: (this is a complex sentence, so you're going to have two subjects and two predicates): 1st phrase -- subj.:
Max Planck and Albert Einstein; pred.:
demonstrated; 2d phrase -- subj.:
it, i.e. 'light'; pred.:
comprises; obj.:
flow(of photons). That's a very convoluted sentence, that last one. And there's a general lack of direct or indirect objects in any of them. Adverbial and adjectival phrases seem to cover that.
@Lustig Andrei,
Lustig Andrei wrote:
You've got several sentences there, Ori.
1st sentence -- subj.: concept; pred.: was overturned; no dir. object.
2nd sentence -- subj.: revolution; pred.: began; again, no dir. obj.
3rd sentence: (this is a complex sentence, so you're going to have two subjects and two predicates): 1st phrase -- subj.: Max Planck and Albert Einstein; pred.: demonstrated; 2d phrase -- subj.: it, i.e. 'light'; pred.: comprises; obj.: flow(of photons). That's a very convoluted sentence, that last one. And there's a general lack of direct or indirect objects in any of them. Adverbial and adjectival phrases seem to cover that.
Thank you. But I already knew all that you explained above. I only asked the sentence that I have underlined there:
The revolution known as quantum mechan-
ics began, simply enough, as an effort to explain an unsolved
problem in physics concerning the spectrum of light.
@oristarA,
...revolution (subj.)...began (pred.)...[as an effort etc. etc.](obj. prepositional phrase).
@oristarA,
The sentence you have underlined doesn't have any objects, just a subject and verb and a couple of adjective and adverbial phrases.
@Lustig Andrei,
Lustig Andrei wrote:
...revolution (subj.)...began (pred.)...[as an effort etc. etc.](obj. prepositional phrase).
"The
revolution known as
quantum mechanism
a mechanism is a revolution, which sounds a bit tilted.
@oristarA,
The 'verb' is the action word, also called a 'predicate' when discussing sentence structure. A predicate is always a verb.
@Lustig Andrei,
Lustig Andrei wrote:
The 'verb' is the action word, also called a 'predicate' when discussing sentence structure. A predicate is always a verb.
It is not the point that I wanted to know (actually I've known it very well long before). I just inquired him to confirm that the predicative verb was "began" once more.
@McTag,
Thank you McTag.
Do you agree that "a mechanism is a revolution, which sounds a bit tilted"?
@oristarA,
No. I don't know where that sentence came from.
The original sentence
Quote:The revolution known as quantum mechanics began, simply enough, as an effort to explain an unsolved problem in physics
is perfectly okay, though.
"revolution" in this context just means a breakthrough in scientific thinking, a new way of looking at things.
O, the revolution referred to here is not the mechanic one (as is RPMs), it is "Revolution" as in "sudden turning point" "radical point of change"
Quantum Mechanics was a completely new way of looking at light.(particle~wave~both~neither~wow)
The revolution known as quantum mechan-
ics began, simply enough, as an effort to explain an unsolved
problem in physics concerning the spectrum of light.
So,
The revolution (subject) began (verb) as an effort (object) to explain .... .(prepositional phrase)
Joe(okay?)Nation
@oristarA,
I hate that Joe (how come he always gets his answer selected?) Nation
@McTag,
McTag wrote:
I hate that Joe (how come he always gets his answer selected?) Nation
Sincerely, I've followed what my conscience calls me to do.
Both of you are excellently skilled in English, but Joe may have put more energy and more time in replying when he decided to answer my question. Just take a look at how he patiently edited my crappy homework on writing in those early days and you will have a clearer picture of it.
@oristarA,
No, its no good, I'm in the huff now, and I'm going to sulk.
@McTag,
We have a deal, McTag, whatever I post is selected or I expose O's biggest secret.
Joe( yes. it is what you think)Nation
@McTag,
McTag wrote:
No, its no good, I'm in the huff now, and I'm going to sulk.
English is, you know very well, a great and noble liguistic engineering that deserves a lifelong effort.
Please give us your concrete analysis on Joe's postings. Not only we'll learn more from you, but you will also be honored.
Go ahead now. We're all ears.
Selected Answer
Stumble It!
Tweet This
Bookmark on Delicious
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace