Seemed to advance
The trees seemed to advance—to close ranks—as if in menacing formation, branches flailing, trunks forming cavities resembling huge distorted mouths from which the most horrifying and ungodly screams seemed to issue, filling the swamp with a hellish cacophony (Guerrero 210).
http://www.professorguerrero.com/2008/08/chapter-1-absolute-phrases-make-your.html?m=1
If "seemed " is the main verb and "the trees" a subject, what is the grammatical form and function of "to advance " and "to close ranks"?
Top answer
The trees seemed to advance—to close ranks—as if in menacing formation, branches flailing, trunks forming cavities resembling huge distorted mouths from which the most horrifying and ungodly screams seemed to issue, filling the swamp with a hellish cacophony. Yes, the matrix (main) clause has "the trees" as subject and "seemed" as verb. " is its catenative complement.
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The trees seemed to advance—to close ranks—as if in menacing formation, branches flailing, trunks forming cavities resembling huge distorted mouths from which the most horrifying and ungodly screams seemed to issue, filling the swamp with a hellish cacophony.
Yes, the matrix (main) clause has "the trees" as subject and "seemed" as verb.
This is a catenative construction wher
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