Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[hiromi525]

this passage is taken from the novel, The DEVIL WEARS PRADA
I have a question about the grammatical structure.
Where is the main verb in here?
or in this sentence the subject and the verb are inverted?
or using substantive ending.

Deep, pouty perfumes mixed with the smell of fresh leather to turn those elevators from the merely functional to the almost erotic.

Regards

[Bob S.]

The subject is perfumes.

The verb is mixed.

With the smell is an adverbial prepositional phrase modifying mixed (answers the question "how?").

To turn those elevators is an infinitive adverbial phrase modifying mixed (answers the question "why?").

From functional and to erotic are adverbial prepositional phrases modifying turn.

[hiromi525]

Thank to you, I almost understand this.

You are saying that main verb is mixed which means past tense.
Now, I comprehend what the author says.

Would it be possible to intend to use mixed as the past participle.

Deep, pouty perfumes (which is) mixed with the smell of fresh leather to turn those elevators from the merely functional to the almost erotic.
I've ever heard "which is" can be omitted in some cases.

Regards

[Bob S.]