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How should I analyze this sentence?

English Language & Usage Asked on July 2, 2021

The following is a line from Wordsmith by Pamela Arlov.

For all we try to show our kids and tell them how we believe people should act, how we hope they will act, it still comes as a shock and a pleasure — a relief, frankly — when they do something that suggests they understand.

I think the first part of the bold typed phrase should be analyzed as

For all (that_i) we try to show our kids [_i]

But, the second part

tell them how we believe people should act, how we hope they will act

also have to have a gap [_i] in it for the whole of the bald typed phrase to be an adverbial. But, I can’t find it.

One Answer

There's no relative construction here. For all allows the clause that follows, which contains a coordination:

we

try to show our kids [how we believe people should act, how we hope they will act]

tell them [how we believe people should act, how we hope they will act]

For all here serves a similar function to although, the whole phrase being a concessive adjunct. It also carries a meaning similar to an adjunct of degree/frequency as in very much/often. We could paraphrase it as:

Although we frequently/very much try to...

Similar examples:

For all he found Anne-Sylvie frustrating, he also found her attractive and that bothered him. (Blind Justice, S.N. Lewitt, Ace Books 1991)

For all he was so young, he had seen something of the world, and had already made notable friends. (Colonel Washington, Woodrow Wilson, Harpers: March, 1896)

For all he cares about the money, he says, he would give it to the cop on the corner, if that would serve any purpose. (THE TERRIBLE-TEMPERED DR. BARNES; McCardle, Carl W.; Saturday Evening Post: 3/21/1942)

Correct answer by DW256 on July 2, 2021

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