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I have four questions regarding classifying phrases complementing adjectives. I start with some examples:

(1) She was hesitant to tell her parents. (2) The boss was anxious to promote sales. (3) Are you afraid of spiders? (4) We were shocked by the news. (5) I was delighted that she was chosen. (6) I am curious what color it is.

For (5) and (6), because of that- and what- clauses, I classify them as Noun Phrases. If there are any Conjunctions such as where and when, the phrases that containt them will be considered Noun Phrases?

For (1) and (2), I am wondering whether or not should I classify them as Verb Phrases or to-Infinitive Clauses instead?

For (3) and (4), except for to, any prepositions showing up on these phrases will help me to identify them as Prepositional Phrases. However, is there any possibility that some of them might belong to another group of phrases?

Please help me.

I forgot to post the last question. I will post it when the three first questions are answered.

Hồ Quang Trung
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    A very nice question +1). It would be better if you could split the question into three so that you can have a more definitive answer. One question per post is better. –  May 24 '16 at 12:21
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    For the OP, you may find this page useful: https://www.tu-chemnitz.de/phil/english/sections/linguist/real/independent/eafrica/Diss_Diana/dissch4-1.htm – Damkerng T. May 24 '16 at 12:26
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    Where we used to live was better. When my sister died was a hard time for us all. – Alan Carmack May 24 '16 at 13:32
  • @Rathony Sorry about the combination, I didn't think of this before. – Hồ Quang Trung May 24 '16 at 17:53
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    Don't worry. You have a great answer below and next time when you have a question, try to be more specific focusing on what bothers you most with what you understand and you don't. You can ask as many questions as you want. Good luck. –  May 24 '16 at 17:54
  • @DamkerngT. Your page is so helpful but I just need some of them. My research is quite narrow compared to that of the page you provided. Thanks for your great help. – Hồ Quang Trung May 24 '16 at 17:54
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    @Rathony Thanks again for your kindness. I have been surfing the forum for years but rarely posted questions. It is great to be given such helpful advice and warm welcome. – Hồ Quang Trung May 24 '16 at 17:56
  • @AlanCarmack Thanks for your examples, however, I wonder which adjectives should I use so I can use both where- and when- clauses? – Hồ Quang Trung May 24 '16 at 17:57

1 Answers1

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The adjectives in 1 and 2 have non-finite clauses as Complements. The clauses are realised as verb phrases. In other words they are clauses with verb phrases inside them.

4 and 5 include preposition phrases. They cannot be any other type of phrase, because they are headed by prepositions!

In example 5, delighted has a declarative content clause as a Complement.

In example 6, the adjective curious is taking an interrogative content clause as a Complement.

Araucaria - Not here any more.
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    In the first place, I intended to classify Complements of Adjective(s) according to word patterns such as Adj + about and I wondered maybe I should divide them into 2 groups, 1 with finite clauses (what/ that clauses) and 1 with non-finite clauses (to-Infinitive clauses and clauses with the other prepositions).

    However, as I read your explanations of examples 5 and 6, should I try to describe their functions/ natures (for example, a declarative content clause)? If yes, can you tell me any source of information that tells me about such contents that you mentioned?

     – Hồ Quang Trung May 24 '16 at 18:04
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    @HồQuangTrung A students introduction to English grammar Huddleston & Pullum, 2005 is a very good place to start. I'd definitely buy it! But you can read it at Slideshare here – Araucaria - Not here any more. May 24 '16 at 20:28
  • Fortunately, I have managed to find one e-book.On page 118 (126/ 320), the authors mentioned two examples that I wanted to ask a question about them, I write it right here. – Hồ Quang Trung May 25 '16 at 01:44
  • In the cases of: busy making cakes and difficult for us to see, which groups of phrases that you think they belong to?The authors classified them as Subordinate Clauses compared with Prepositional Phrases but in my study I only prefer phrases (which is for the theoretical background part). – Hồ Quang Trung May 25 '16 at 01:49
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    @HồQuangTrung well there is no preposition in busy making cakes, so making cakes cannot be a preposition there. The word for in for us to see isn't a preposition either, it is a subordinator used to introduce an infinitival clause. So in both of those two cases there is no preposition phrase. [However in something like I'm scared of flying you have a preposition phrase complement which contains a subordinate clause]. – Araucaria - Not here any more. May 25 '16 at 10:33
  • Great thanks for your explanations. I still got stuck with for us to see. However, which group of phrase that you put (busy) making cakes in, Noun Phrase like that- and what-clauses? – Hồ Quang Trung May 26 '16 at 15:30
  • @HồQuangTrung Busy making cakes is an ajdective phrase. Making cakes is a non-finite gerund-participle clause. – Araucaria - Not here any more. May 26 '16 at 16:37
  • I use the examples of Cambridge:

    We often use for to introduce the person or people receiving something: She bought a teapot for her sister.

    Is for still Conjunction as in the example above?

     – Hồ Quang Trung May 26 '16 at 18:33