sort of的用法及句子解構

Question

I sort of thought you might say that.

You sort of start thinking anything's possible if you've got enough nerve.
請問上面這兩句話的動詞是不是sort of之後的那一個單字( thought, start), 如果是的話是不是表示介系詞之後可以加動詞呢?

這類的用法還有那些例句？

原來sort of是副詞片語啊~

Answer 1

前述問題有關動詞部份您自己想的都對, 也就是說動詞確實是thought和start; 而且您所說的介係詞後加動詞當然可以, 例如
the concept of building a bridge over the river; the thery of moving an object....等等極多的例子證明介係詞後可接動詞, 但均應該使用動名詞

上述您的例子中所使用的sort of是較為口語的說法, 在正式文法中並不適用, 但已有語言學家漸漸接受這種說法, (雖說並不是大多數); 他們的解釋是sort of應為副詞形式--來修飾動詞的---意思為[[有點]]或是類似的意思!
Hopefully you can understand and appreciate my answer!

Answer 2

thought 是動詞 但是start是開始的意思
第二句的動詞 我覺得是think

sort of 有很多不同的用法

1 - particular kind (特種)
EG. - to develop a new 'sort of' painting.
- they are nice people, of course, but not really our 'sort'.

2 - character, quality, or nature (品質,特性)
EG. - young people of a nice sort.

3 - manner, fashion, or way(態度,方式,風格)
EG. - We spoke in this 'sort' for several minutes.

4 - to arrange according to sort, kind, or class(整理,安排)
EG. - to sort T-shirt by colur.

5 - in a way; somewhat; rather (非正式-相當,頗,有點兒)
EG. - Their conversation was 'sort of' tiresome.

....etc,

PS - 第一次post, 請多包含!!