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to do something back - grammar

English Language & Usage Asked by frederick99 on January 25, 2021

I found these lyrics interesting.

If I told you that I miss you, would you tell me that you miss me back?

It is not obvious to me the verb that ‘back’ is modifying. Is it that the other person "misses me back" or would the other person "tell me something back"? Is this even grammatical? I cannot find anything on the web about "doing something back," as in "in return for something."

Thanks.

2 Answers

I think the author has used his poetic license to rephrase "would you tell me back that you miss me"

Correct answer by PoopsAndGiggles on January 25, 2021

Let's analyze the part tell me that you miss me back

tell is a transitive verb here and like transitive verbs are wont to take objects, it takes me as its direct object. So far so good.

What about that you miss me back? What role does it play?

You tell someone something, right? (A lie, truth, etc.)

That something must be a Noun Clause or a Noun Phrase. Thus, that you miss me back has to be a Noun Clause here because it functions as a mini-sentence within a bigger sentence (that is, it has its own Subject and Predicate and carries meaning).

What about the syntax of the Noun Clause itself? Let's see:

As pointed out earlier, it has its own Subject and Predicate— you and miss me back, respectively.

Finally, concentrate on the bit miss me back . Again, the transitive verb- direct object- modifier combo. Clearly, back here modifies the verb miss as it tells us something about the way in which the singer wants to be loved: he wants his love to be reciprocated. Thus, it serves as an adverb.

Answered by user405662 on January 25, 2021

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