Upon this, I began to consider with myself what innumerable multitudes of people lay confused together under the pavement of that ancient cathedral.
看到这个情景,我暗自思忖,在这座古老教堂甬道下面混埋着何等海量的人呀.
这里what是引导的一个感叹句吗?若是的话,从句主语是innumerable multitudes of people ,谓语是lay ,主语补足语是confused,从句应该不缺成分吧,为何用what呢?
网友的理解是正确的。这里what引导的是感叹分句。what引导感叹句时为限定词,其句式为:
what + a (形容词)+ 单数名词;
what + (形容词)+ 复数或不可数名词。
本句中,what(限定词)+innumerable(形容词)+ multitudes (复数名词)+of people.