extraposed subject love

extraposed subject

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  • Term used in the CGEL for the clause that can be equated to a dummy subject 'it', e.g.

    It is a mistake to eat eclairs in bed.

    In most cases it might have been the subject instead:

    To eat eclairs in bed is a mistake.

    It has been extraposed from subject position to the end of the clause, after other complements. This distinguishes it from the displaced subject of a dummy 'there' clause, which is merely displaced past the verb:

    There are three men in the garden.

    December 20, 2010

  • It is a mistake to eat three men in the garden. So there.

    December 20, 2010

  • There there.

    Look! Now they're sitting in chairs to eat their eclairs.

    December 20, 2010

  • Why is it a mistake to eat eclairs in bed?

    December 20, 2010

  • Because of the bedcrumbs.

    December 20, 2010

  • I can live with bedcrumbs.

    December 20, 2010