Homer A Week 17 Day 3

[hiddenjewel]

My companions became men again, and were even taller and handsomer than they were before.

The answer key says that "even" modifies were and my dd12 and I could not figure out how. We thought it would modify taller and handsomer.


I was also wondering why the comma was used when it is not after an introductory clause or between two independent clauses but is between a compound verb.

Thanks.

[Carolyn]

Are you looking at the diagram? 'Even' is just after the equals sign, and before the compound adjectives. That indicates that it's modifying both adjectives. If it were modifying the verb - which, thankfully, it isn't - it would needle to be placed before the equals sign.

The comma is in a non-standard position. Excellent writers often break the rules. Here, I'd guess it is to put a bit of separation between the two halves for extra emphasis.

Carolyn

[hiddenjewel]

That would make sense. Thanks. I was wondering how we were supposed to diagram it if it modified both predicate adjectives.