entirely an idiot

[ademoglu]

Hi.

The young Lord Louis Partridge gets shot in the chest by his grandpa. Enola approaches him crying because she thinks that he is dead. But suddenly he opens his eyes and says, showing her that he has had a steel vest: 'I am not entirely an idiot, you know.'

Taken from the movie 'Enola Holmes.'

As far as I know, an adverb is used before an adjective but in the sentence above, it is used before the noun 'an idiot'. Can you help me with that?

 

[Tarheel]

Hi.

The young Lord Louis Partridge had been shot in the chest by his grandpa. Enole approaches him crying because she thinks that he is dead. But suddenly he opens his eyes and says, showing her that he was wearing a steel vest: 'I am not entirely an idiot, you know.'

Taken from the movie 'Enole Holmes.'

As far as I know, an adverb is used before an adjective, but in the sentence above, it is used before the noun 'an idiot'. Can you help me with that?

Do you understand the sentence?

 

[GoesStation]

Your question is really about the phrase not entirely an idiot.

 

[ademoglu]

Your question is really about the phrase not entirely an idiot.

How is it possible? Is it the same in meaning as 'I am not completely an idiot'? I mean, I think 'entirely/completely' modifies the verb 'to be (am)'. Am I right?

 

[PeterCW]

Colloquial English doesn't always follow the rules of grammar. It is a stock phrase.

 

[Tarheel]

Look at it as:

I am not an idiot--not entirely.

He is saying, perhaps:

I'm smarter than you think I am.

(How do you open your eyes suddenly?)

 

[Skrej]

How is it possible? Is it the same in meaning as 'I am not completely an idiot'? I mean, I think 'entirely/completely' modifies the verb 'to be (am)'. Am I right?

Yes, and yes.

 

[jutfrank]

It seems to me that not entirely is modifying the noun phrase an idiot.

I'd like to hear a grammarian's analysis of this.

 

[Tdol]

Adverbs can modify all sorts of things- not just adjectives.

 

[Tdol]

https://www.usingenglish.com/glossary/adverb.html