elliptical relative clause

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Joon
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elliptical relative clause

Post by Joon »

I have nothing left to live for.



Can I call "left" an elliptical relative clause (which is left)?


Can I call "to live for" a post-modifier of nothing?
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Alan
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Post by Alan »

No. An elliptical relative clause is one where the relative pronoun has been omitted but which is otherwise intact, such as 'he lent you' in Is this the book he lent you?.

'Left' here is a simple participial postmodifier of 'nothing'. The infinitive phrase also postmodifies 'nothing'.
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