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I am aware that the basic grammar pattern of a sentence is subject + predicate + object, where object is optional.

In this sentence,

I want a cup of tea

"I" is a personal pronoun, which functions as a subject; "want" is a verb, which functions as a predicate; "a cup of tea" is a noun phrase, which functions as an object.

So far so good.

Consider another sentence,

He works as an architect.

"He" is a personal pronoun, which functions as a subject; "want" is a verb, which functions as a predicate.

How about the last part? Could someone please give a hint? Thanks in advance.

Note: I understand the sentence conveys someone's occupation, what does he do for a living, and that is NOT what I am asking. I am asking about its grammatical function and analysis.

Similar to "subject", "predicate", what is the term (or canonical name) to describe the component of a sentence that "as an architect" functions as? Obviously, it is not an "object".

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  • 'To work as a [whatever]' is a standard way of stating someone's occupation. That's all.
    – Kate Bunting
    Mar 21, 2020 at 12:57
  • @KateBunting Thank you. I understand the sentence conveys someone's occupation, what does he do for a living, and that is NOT what I am asking. I am asking about its grammatical function and analysis.
    – WXJ96163
    Mar 21, 2020 at 13:04
  • I meant that this is simply one of the uses of as. Cambridge English Dictionary says: ' used to describe the purpose or quality of someone or something: She works as a waitress. It could be used as evidence against him.'
    – Kate Bunting
    Mar 21, 2020 at 13:22
  • @KateBunting I guess I didn't clarify my question. Let's try it again :) Similar to "subject", "predicate", what is the term (or canonical name) to describe the component of a sentence that "as an architect" functions as, obviously, it is not an "object".
    – WXJ96163
    Mar 21, 2020 at 13:43
  • An adverbial phrase modifying 'works'?
    – Kate Bunting
    Mar 21, 2020 at 19:51

1 Answer 1

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In this context, as is a preposition and an architect is the object of the preposition.

He is a subject pronoun
works is an intransitive verb
as an architect is a prepositional phrase which modifies the verb works.

Note that prepositional phrase describes how it was constructed - it starts with a preposition. We can also describe it in terms of its grammatical function within the sentence. A prepositional phrase can function as an adverbial phrase when it modifies a verb, or as an adjectival phrase when it modifies a noun, for example

The man at the centre of the controversy is ..."

In your example, it modifies a verb, so it is functioning as an adverbial phrase.

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  • Thank you. Similar to "subject", "predicate", what is the term (or canonical name) to describe the component of a sentence that "as an architect" functions as, obviously, it is not an "object".
    – WXJ96163
    Mar 21, 2020 at 13:41
  • @WXJ96163 I have added some more information to my answer.
    – JavaLatte
    Mar 22, 2020 at 0:42

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