Sentence Adverbs

GeorgiabobBeckman beckman at davesworld.net
Sat Aug 22 12:35:48 EDT 1998



Larry Swain wrote:

> Maybe this will help:  if you actually are diagramming the sentence, the
> sentence adverbial would go in front of the subject.
>
> Like this:  (which is an off the cuff example so probably not the best,
> but perhaps you'll get the idea)
>
> Practically, to use a lexicon is best.
>
> Practically/to use/is/best
>              \
>                lexicon
>                  \
>                   a
>
> Not the best example, but I hope it helps.  Further, it has been argued
> that a sentence adverbial could be read as modifying the verb since that
> carries the main idea of the sentence, but I like the other way better.
>
>
>
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  Ok gang, this is my  first shot so I will try to embrace the spirit of inquiry that
y'all follow.

Question: Are you familiar with Fee's book NT Exegesis for Students and Pastors? And
with Walter Kaiser's Toward an Exegetical Theology? Each embraces a form of
"diagramming" that is more flexible than the traditional method. The basic principle
is to isolate the parts of a sentence through indentation & subordination. In my
personal prep. There are similarities & differences but the essence seems the same.
Grammar & Syntactical relationships, especially in Koine Greek, are less formal. By
using a less structured method I  spend less time trying to determine what a word
ought to mean, or what form the author should have used, or what "rule" he has
broken, and more time accepting what is written and allowing the structure of the
pasage to disclose itself.

A couple of final notes: I find this easier to do on a computer than diagraming. I
use Ami Pro as my main word processor and can assign not only indentation levels to
each part of speech but can also use color and textual attributes to highlight
certain elements. No drawing lines and no artistic talent needed!!
Hey thanks for listening and thanks for a good stream of exegetical reasoning to keep
those of us who preach the word weekly on the cutting edge of  conversation we
haven't had since Senior Greek!
Bob
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