Celebrity English

Sentence parsing can be helpful in understanding the ways words function in sentences, making it easier to identify errors and enhance the quality of your writing.

"This is a most adroit, confident film, calmly understated and never sentimental." - Philip French, Observer (UK)

This simple sentence contains one subject, one linking verb, a predicate nominative, and several modifiers.

This entry continues with an analysis and description of all the words in the quote.

main structure:
subject = "this" [singular demonstrative pronoun]
verb = "is" [linking verb]
predicate nominative = "film" [common noun]

additional words:
"a" = article (modifying "film")
"most" = adverb (modifying the noun phrase "adroit, confident film"
"adroit" = adjective (modifying "film")
"confident" = adjective (modifying "film")
"calmly" = adverb (modifying "understated")
"understated" = participle (modifying "film")
"and" = coordinating conjunction
"never" = adverb (modifying "sentimental")
"sentimental" = adjective (modifying "film")