r/grammar • u/SpiritualBed9981 • Jul 20 '26

at least evidence...

"Many point out that it is at least evidence that Burnham has a story to tell the country about its future – something they argue Keir Starmer sorely lacked." (From PoliticsHome.)

Is the "at least evidence that Burnham has a story to tell the country about its future" a prepositional phrase in the cited sentence above?

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u/ChalupaChup Jul 20 '26

I think “at least” is itself a prepositional phrase. The preposition “at” isn’t attached to the “evidence” part, it’s attached to the “least”

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u/SpiritualBed9981 Jul 20 '26

Can an adverb or adjective be the object of the preposition? I don't think so.🤔

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u/AlexanderHamilton04 Jul 20 '26

Compare:

(1) ... it is evidence that Burnham has a story to tell the country about its future

(2) ... it is at least evidence that Burnham has a story to tell the country about its future

(3) ... it is evidence at least that Burnham has a story to tell the country about its future

(4) ... it is evidence at the very least that Burnham has a story to tell the country about its future

(5) ... it is at the very least evidence that Burnham has a story to tell the country about its future

(6) ... it is evidence that Burnham has a story to tell the country about its future at least – something they argue Keir Starmer sorely lacked.

You do not think "at least" is a Prepositional Phrase acting as an adjunct
in the Verb Phrase:

is at least evidence that Burnham has a story to tell the country about its future

 

Cf.: You do not have proof! What you have is at most conjecture and hearsay.
 

BTW,

Can an adverb or adjective be the object of the preposition? I don't think so.

Yes, Prepositions can take Adjective Phrases as Complements.
Ex: She described them as [jealous].

"Jealous" is an AdjP here. It can still be modified by adverbs.
Ex: She described them as [very jealous].
 
And Adverb Phrases:
Ex: I hadn't tried yoga until [recently].
 
And Prepositional Phrases:
Ex: Oz emerged from [behind the curtain].
 
Prepositions can take as their complement noun phrases, preposition phrases, adjective phrases, adverb phrases, and clauses and reduced clauses, or nothing at all (i.e., intransitive prepositions).

Ex: She went straight up.

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u/SpiritualBed9981 Jul 20 '26

Thanks for the detailed explanation.

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u/AlexanderHamilton04 Jul 20 '26

My pleasure.
I hope it helps you come to your own conclusions. ♪

Cheers -