1

Consider the following sentence:

As suggested is your best option.

In case the sentence is difficult to understand, consider a context as follows:

Although further opportunities may arise later, I think, for now, as suggested is your best option.

The structure seems natural, at least to me, even if uncommon, but also poses a question I find challenging.

If the sentence is accepted, then it seems to follow that the phrase "as suggested" functions as a noun. Is this inference correct?

If so, which rule or principle of grammar directly would support this function? Otherwise, how does the phrase integrate successfully with the overall structure of the sentence?

Improve this question
0

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
1

As suggested is a fronting adverbial phrase, = in the manner that was previously described to you.

The subject is “the best way [to do it]”

Subject - verb inversion can occur (mainly with to be) after a fronting adverbial: e.g.

“At the back of the house is a pond.”

(And more poetically, “Long was the road, but dearly did I love her.” though this form is now rare save for a few locative adverbs "There are lions in Africa.")

To Add - there is nothing wrong with As suggested is your best option save for the lack of context.

A: "I've got to smash up this pane of glass but I don't want to be injured. What should I do?"

B: "Wrap it in cloth and hit it with a hammer."

A: "C, what do you think I should do?"

C: "As suggested is your best option."

Improve this answer
2
  • So essentially the sentence parses, at the top level, the same as "long was the road", that is, as adj-verb-noun, a verb inversion of the plainer form, and "suggested" being an adjective, such that "as suggested", being an adverb-modified adjective, similarly functions as an adjective?
    – brainchild
    Commented Jun 8, 2021 at 22:51
  • As I see it, (i) If there were quotes (but there aren't), "As suggested" would be an NP (the equivalent of "The thing that A has just suggested"); (ii) if "is" is taken as lexically empty, i.e. merely copulative, then As suggested is adjectival; (iii) if is is taken as the existential "is" (which it probably is) then As suggested is adverbial - it describes how the option exists. I therefore am agreeing with you that as suggested = in that manner = preposition + NP = modifier.
    – Greybeard
    Commented Jun 9, 2021 at 9:47
-1

It would make more sense if you put "as suggested" in quotes or italicized it. Then it would function as a pronoun, referring to the previously suggested option.

Improve this answer
1
  • I'm not seeing any reason for this suggestion following from the normal understanding or usage of such representations.
    – brainchild
    Commented Jun 8, 2021 at 16:05

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .