Grammar/ the way

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Grammar/ the way
Message from tatu posted on 03-07-2012 at 16:45:29 (D | E | F)
Hello,

I would like to ask you about how to analyze the grammatical role in this sentence:
" They want to hurt us the way they perceived we hurt them."

I read it in an English book and I don't know the role of " the way" that was used in this sentence.
I think that 'they want to hurt us' is clause 1, ' the way they perceived' is clause 2 and ' we hurt them' is clause 3.
Clause 1 is the most main clause, clause 3 is the second main clause and clause 2 modifies clause 3.
But this is just my opinions. What about you?
Thank you in advance!

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Edited by lucile83 on 03-07-2012 16:58

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Re: Grammar/ the way from gerondif, posted on 03-07-2012 at 16:58:30 (D | E)
Hello,
the sentence means:
They want to hurt us in the same way as (they perceive that) we hurt them.
They want to hurt us (just)as we hurt them.
the second clause would then be a subordinate clause indicating a comparison.

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