Question

posted by rfvv Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at 1:51am

1. They study the sea animals in Antarctica.
2. They study all the sea animals in Antarctica.
3. They study sea animals in Antarctica.
4. They study some sea animals in Antarctica.
[Does #1 mean #2? Does #3 mean #4? What is the difference between 'the sea animals' and 'sea animals'?]
Ms. Sue Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at 12:24pm
1 and 2 mean the same.
3 implies that they only study of the sea animals.
4 is different than the other three.

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Thank you very much for your help.

1. They study the sea animals in Antarctica.
3. They study sea animals in Antarctica.

[In #1 and in #3, What is the part of speech of 'in Antarctica'? Is 'in Antarctica' an adjective phrase or an adverbial phrase?
Does 'in Antarctica' modify 'study' or 'sea animals'?]

Answer 1

If they study only the sea animals that live in Antarctica, then it's an adjective modifying "animals."
http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/adjective.htm

If you are indicating WHERE they are studying, then it's an adverb.
http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/adverb.htm

Answer 2

Thank you for your help.
Then do you mean that in both sentences "in Antarctica" can be an adjective phrase or an adverbial phrase according to the context? What about the use of 'the'? Regardless of 'the', can "in Antarctica" mean either an adverbial phrase or an adjective phrase accoring to the context?

Answer 3

It cannot be both. You have to decide which purpose the phrase is serving.