Week 9 The Complex Sentence

E_English Grammar Course
Unit 8
The Complex Sentence
Issues
1. Subordination
2. Classifications of subordinate clauses
3. Subordinators
4. Nominal clauses
5. Adverbial clauses
6. Comparative and Comment clauses
1/1
1 Subordination
Subordination - Non-symmetrical relation held

between two clauses: one clause is
a constituent/ part of the other
1/2
1 Subordination
-i.e. one clause is relation held
Non-symmetrical
Subordination -between
Non-symmetrical relation,
two clauses: one clause is
aa constituent/
constituent/ part
part of
of the
the other
other
1 2 21
[I like John [because John likes me] ]
1 1
[superordinate/ independent/ main clause ]
2 2
[subordinate/ dependent clause]
1/3
1 Subordination
Subordination Hierarchy of clauses
X- Y- Z-
( I think [ that you can do it { if you try} ] )
S V O A
X = subordinate to Y
Y = subordinate to X
Y & Z = dependent clause
X = independent clause
2/1
2 Classifications of subordinate clauses
Classifications of subordinate clauses
By structural type By functional type

2/2
By structural type Finite clause
Nonfinite clause
Verbless clause
2/3
Nonfinite clause
- contains a subject and a predicate
- verb phrase having tense, person & number concord,
Verbless clause& mood
2/4
Nonfinite clause
Infinitive with to -ing participle
Infinitive without to -ed participle

2/5
Nonfinite clause

Without S: The best thing would be to tell everybody.
With S: The best thing would be for you to tell everybody.
2/6
Nonfinite clause
Without S: Infinitive without

Leaving the room,tohe tripped over
-ed the
participle
mat.
With S: Her aunt having left the room, I declared my
passionate love for Celia..
2/7

Nonfinite clause
Without S: All I did was hit him on the head.

With S: Rather than John do it, I’d prefer
to give the job to Mary.
2/8

Nonfinite clause
Without S: Covered in snow, he looked like a snowman.

With S: We left the room and went home, the job finished.
2/9

Nonfinite clause
Verbless clause
1. Ellipsis of the verb ‘be’

- Dozens of people died in the accident, many of them children.
- Whether right or wrong, he always dominates the arguments.
2/10

Nonfinite clause
Verbless clause
2. Reduction of non-finite clauses

- Too nervous to reply, he stared at the book in front of him
and dared not look up.
2/11
By function Nominal clause
Adverbial clause
Comparative clause
Comment clause
3/1
3 Subordinators
Subordinating Simple subordinators

conjunctions
Compound subordinators
Correlative subordinators
3/2
3 Subordinators

conjunctions
after, though,subordinators
Compound although, as,
because, before, if, once
since, that, until, when
where, while,
Correlative etc.
subordinators
3/3
3 Subordinators

conjunctions
- ending with ‘that’: in that, so that, such that …

- ending with optional ‘that’:Correlative
now (that), subordinators
provided (that),
supposing (that), seeing (that)…
- ending with ‘as’: so far as, as long as, so as (to do sth)…
- ending with ‘than’: sooner than, rather than…
- others: as if, as though, in case
3/4
3 Subordinators
conjunctions
Correlative subordinators
if… then, although… yet, as… as, so… as, so… that
no sooner… than, more/ less… than, the… the, whether… or
3/5
3 Subordinators
Other indicators of Wh-element initial markers

subordination
Subject-operator inversion
No marker
3/6
3 Subordinators

subordination
I don’t know who knocked at the door last night.
No marker
3/7
3 Subordinators

subordination
No marker
Had it not been for your help, I would have died.
3/8
3 Subordinators

subordination
No marker
1. nominal clause
e.g. I suppose (that) you’re right.
2. comment clause
e.g. You’re right, I suppose.
4/1
4 Nominal clauses
Nominal Clauses
Finite Non-finite
that clause to-infinitive nominal clause
wh-interrogative clause nominal –ing clause
Yes - No interrogative clause bare infinitive
Nominal relative clause

4/2
4 Nominal clauses
Finite Nominal Clauses
that clause
- S: That you were wrong is undeniable.
- Od: I knew that I was wrong.
wh-interrogative clause
- Cs: The problem is that he refuses to
speak in court.
Yes - No interrogative clause - Appositive: The fact that he hates English
makes it hard for him to study it.
Nominal relative clause - Cadj: I’m sure that things will improve.
4/3
4 Nominal clauses
that clause
- Function as S, Od, Cs, Ap, Cadj,

wh-interrogative clause & Cprep (They haven’t decided on who
wins the cup.)
Yes - No interrogative clause - Leave a gap of unknown information

4/4
4 Nominal clauses
that clause
wh-interrogative clause - Is formed with if/ whether

e.g. Do you know if/ whether the teacher
has come yet?
Yes - No interrogative clause

4/5
4 Nominal clauses
that clause - S: What he is pursuing is fame.

- Od: I want to see whoever in charge of
this department.
wh-interrogative clause - Oi: She gave whoever came into the store
a handful of sweets.
- Cs: University is where you train for your
Yes - No interrogative clause future career.
- Co: You can call me whatever you like.
- Ap: Tell me your nickname, that is, the
way your friends often call you.
- Cprep: Vote for whichever candidate you
like.
4/6
4 Nominal clauses
Non-finite nominal clauses
to-infinitive nominal clause - S: To become an MC has always

been my dream.
- Od: John wanted her to open the door.
nominal –ing clause
- Cs: My wish is to stay here one
more week.
bare infinitive - Ap: His ambition to be a famous
writer was fulfilled.
- Cadj: I’m glad to help you.
4/7
4 Nominal clauses
to-infinitive nominal clause - Function as S, Od, Cs, Ap, Cprep,

& Cadj
- Genitive case in formal style
e.g. I’m surprised at his making
that mistake.
bare infinitive - Objective or common case:
e.g. I’m surprised at him making
that mistake.
4/8
4 Nominal clauses
to-infinitive nominal clause - ‘to’ is optional in case of ‘do’ proform.

E.g. All I did was (to) turn off the gas.
- bare infinitive is obligatory when the
infinitive clause is initial
bare infinitive
E.g. Turn off the gas was all I did.
5/1
5 Adverbial clauses
Time Purpose
Place Result
Condition & concession Manner & Comparison
Reason or cause Proportion & Preference
Circumstance
5/2
5 Adverbial clauses
Time Purpose
Place Result
- after, before, until, since, when + finite clause
Condition & concession
- after, before, since, until, when(ever), whileManner & Comparison
+ V-ing
- once, until, when(ever), while + V-ed
Reason or cause Proportion
- as soon as, once, when(ever), while + Verbless clause& Preference
Circumstance
5/3
5 Adverbial clauses
Time Purpose
Place Result

- Introduced by ‘where’/ ‘wherever’
E.g.Reason
Whenor Icause
retire, I will travel wherever I like.
Proportion & Preference
Where the fire had been, we saw nothing but rubble.
Circumstance
5/4
Adverbial clauses
5
Time Purpose
Place Result

- Conditional clauses state the dependence of one circumstance
on another.
Circumstance
- Introduced by if, unless, provided that, providing that…
E.g. If you’re kind to her, she will do anything for you.
5/5
5 Adverbial clauses
Time Purpose
Place Result
Reason clauses
- Concessive or causeimply a contrast betweenProportion & Preference
two circumstances.
- Introduced by though, although, while, whereas, even if
Circumstance
E.g. Although he isn’t good-looking, people are still attracted to him.
5/6
5 Adverbial clauses
Clauses of condition
or concession
Alternative conditional-concessive clauses
Universal conditional-concessive clauses

5/7
5 Adverbial clauses
Alternative conditional-concessive clauses
or concession
Combine conditional meaning with

subjunctive meaning
E.g. Whether they beat us or we beat them,

we’ll celebrate tonight.
5/8
5 Adverbial clauses
Universal conditional-concessive clauses
or concession
Indicate a free choice from among any

number of conditions
E.g. No matter how hard he tried, he could

never summon enough courage to tell her
the truth.
5/9
5 Adverbial clauses
- introduced
Timeby because, since, as Purpose
- I didn’t lend him the book because I needed it for my assignment.
Place (adjunct) Result
- They’ve lit a fire, because I can see smoke rising.
(disjunct of reason)
Circumstance
5/10
5 Adverbial clauses
Time Purpose
- express a fulfilled condition/ a relation between a premise
Place
(in the subordinate clause) and the conclusion (in theResult
main clause)
- introduced by because, since, as, & seeing that
Condition
E.g. Seeing& concession
that the weather has improved, Manner & enjoy
we shall Comparison
our game.
= The weather having improved, we shall enjoy our game.
Circumstance
5/11
5 Adverbial clauses
Time Purpose
Place Result
- are adjuncts
-Condition & by
introduced concession
(in order) (for N) to, so as to,Manner
so that & Comparison
E.g. I tiptoed into the room so as not to wake the baby up.
Reason or cause
He tried to improve his English so that Proportion
he could & Preference
study abroad.
- has ‘putative’ meaning (modal auxiliaries are used)
Circumstance
5/12
5 Adverbial clauses
Time Purpose
Place Result
-Condition
are more & concession
factual than putative  may containManner & Comparison
an ordinary verb form
without a modal auxiliary
- introduced by so that/so (informal)
E.g. We planted many shrubs, so (that) the garden looked beautiful.
Circumstance
5/13
5 Adverbial clauses
Time Purpose
Place Result

Clauses of manner – (exactly) as, (just) as
(Just)Circumstance
as a moth is attracted by a light, (so) he was fascinated by her.
5/14
5 Adverbial clauses
Time Purpose
Place Result
Reason or cause
Clauses of comparison – as if, as though Proportion & Preference
He looks as if he is going to faint.
Circumstance
He treated me as though I were a child (unreal)
5/15
5 Adverbial clauses
Clauses of proportion express a ‘proportionality’ orPurpose
Time equivalence
of tendency between two circumstances
E.g. Place Result
As he grew older, (so) his enthusiasm for the cause decreased.
Condition
The more &heconcession
went deeper into the forest, theManner & Comparison
more scared he felt.
Circumstance
5/16
5 Adverbial clauses
Time
Clauses of preference are introduced by rather than/Purpose
sooner than
E.g. Rather than go there by air, I’d take the train.
Place Result
Rather than sitting here complaining, we should act.
Rather than a new shirt, he bought a dictionary.
Circumstance
6/1
6 Comparative & comment clauses
Comp-element S: More people eat at KFC than any other

fastfood restaurant.
Cs: I’m healthier than most people of my age.
Od: She eats much more than me.
Oi: Santa has brought more children joy

than anybody else.
A: She works harder than my brother.

6/2

Ellipsis in Comparative Clause
1. Optional ellipsis
James enjoyed the cake more than Susan enjoyed the cake.
James enjoyed the cake more than Susan enjoyed it.
James enjoyed the cake more than Susan did.
James enjoyed the cake more than Susan.
2. Obligatory ellipsis (of object)
- James enjoyed the cake more than Susan enjoyed.
+ James know more about the theatre than Susan knows.
6/3
Ambiguity through ellipsis
He loves the dog more than his wife.
with ‘too’ & ‘enough’
He’s too ill to move.

6/4
Comment Clauses Features
Forms
6/5
Forms
- can be either disjuncts or conjuncts
- may occur initially, finally, or medially
- have a separate tone unit
E.g. The Smiths, as you probably know, have

been our neighbor for twenty years.
6/6
Forms
(1) Like a main clause

At that time, I believe, he didn’t understand a thing.
6/7
Forms
(2) Like an adverbial clause (with as)

I’m a perfectionist, as you may know.
6/8
Forms
(3) Like a nominal relative clause as conjunct

What is more, we lost all our hope and courage.
6/9
Forms
(4) To-infinitive clause as style disjunct

To be honest with you, I didn’t understand a thing he said.
6/10
Forms
(5) –ing clause as style disjunct

I’m concerned, speaking as a linguist, about the language
of the young people today.
6/11
Forms
(6) –ed clause as style disjunct

Stated bluntly, he had no chance of winning.
That’s the end of unit 8.

Week 9 The Complex Sentence

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E_English Grammar Course

Subordination - Non-symmetrical relation held

2 Classifications of subordinate clauses

Classifications of subordinate clauses

By structural type By functional type

2 Classifications of subordinate clauses

By structural type Finite clause

2 Classifications of subordinate clauses

By structural type Finite clause

2 Classifications of subordinate clauses

By structural type Finite clause

Infinitive with to -ing participle

Infinitive without to -ed participle

2 Classifications of subordinate clauses

By structural type Finite clause

Infinitive with to -ing participle

Infinitive without to -ed participle

2 Classifications of subordinate clauses

By structural type Finite clause

Infinitive with to -ing participle

Without S: Infinitive without

2 Classifications of subordinate clauses

Infinitive with to -ing participle

Infinitive without to -ed participle

Without S: All I did was hit him on the head.

2 Classifications of subordinate clauses

Infinitive with to -ing participle

Infinitive without to -ed participle

Without S: Covered in snow, he looked like a snowman.

2 Classifications of subordinate clauses

1. Ellipsis of the verb ‘be’

2 Classifications of subordinate clauses

2. Reduction of non-finite clauses

2 Classifications of subordinate clauses

By function Nominal clause

Subordinating Simple subordinators

Subordinating Simple subordinators

Subordinating Simple subordinators

- ending with ‘that’: in that, so that, such that …

Other indicators of Wh-element initial markers

Other indicators of Wh-element initial markers

Other indicators of Wh-element initial markers

Other indicators of Wh-element initial markers

that clause to-infinitive nominal clause

wh-interrogative clause nominal –ing clause

Yes - No interrogative clause bare infinitive

Nominal relative clause

- Function as S, Od, Cs, Ap, Cadj,

Nominal relative clause

wh-interrogative clause - Is formed with if/ whether

Nominal relative clause

that clause - S: What he is pursuing is fame.

Non-finite nominal clauses

to-infinitive nominal clause - S: To become an MC has always

Non-finite nominal clauses

to-infinitive nominal clause - Function as S, Od, Cs, Ap, Cprep,

Non-finite nominal clauses

to-infinitive nominal clause - ‘to’ is optional in case of ‘do’ proform.

Condition & concession Manner & Comparison

Reason or cause Proportion & Preference

Condition & concession Manner & Comparison

Condition & concession Manner & Comparison