TCC
TCC
A complex sentence contains a clause as one of its constitutive parts. The constituent clause is
called embedded or subordinate clause, while the containing clause is referred to as the main
clause:
1)
[That he should have been so rude to you] is really surprising.
Subject clause
John believes [that it will rain soon].
Object clause
John, [who is tall], can play basketball [whenever he likes].
Attributive clause
Adverbial Modifier
Very often distinction is made between the terms embedded and subordinate clauses
Constituent clauses that replace arguments (i.e. obligatory constituents in the clause:
Subjects, Objects or Predicatives) are called embedded clauses, while those that replace optional
constituents (Attributes, Adverbial Modifiers) are called subordinate.
Complement clauses are finite or non-finite. Finite complement clauses are introduced by
the conjunction that and have the verb in the indicative or subjunctive mood. Non-finite
complement clauses are of three types depending on the form of the verb: infinitival, gerundial and
participial (present or past).
Complementation
Complement clauses are finite or non-finite. Finite complement clauses are introduced by
the conjunction that and have the verb in the indicative or subjunctive mood. Non-finite
complement clauses are of three types depending on the form of the verb: infinitival, gerundial and
participial (present or past).
THAT complement clauses
Syntactic properties
THAT-complement clauses participate in passivisation and undergo two syntactic
movements: extraposition and heavy NP Shift.
Passivisation
Complement clauses functioning as DO with active verbs in the main clause in (a) may may be
moved into Subject position with passive verbs in (b).
2)
Everyone assumes [CP that they will get married some day].
active voice
active DO
[CP That they will get married some day] is assumed (by everyone).
passive voice
Passive Subject
It is assumed [CP that they will get married some day].
passive voice
gr. Su
logical Su
Extraposition and it-insertion
Extraposition moves a complement clause to the end of the sentence and obligatorily inserts the
expletive pronoun it in the position left empty. The inserted pronoun it is a formal subject or object,
anticipating the real extraposed Subject or Object:
3)
[CP That I knew very little about that report] is obvious.
Subject
It
is obvious
[CP that I knew very little about that report].
gr./formal/anticipatory Su
The English newspaper disclosed [CP that the treaty had been signed].
Passive can freely apply to DO complement clauses, in most cases the clausal Subject is
then extraposed:
8)
They predicted [that a seismic shock would destroy the bulding].
[That a seismic shock would destroy the building] was predicted.
It was predicted [that a seismic shock would destroy the building].
2. Ditransitive verbs take a DO expressed by a that complement clause:
9)
They suggested to us [ that it might be better to wait].
Su
IO
DO
active voice
The clausal DO may become a passive subject if the main verb is passivized:
10)
[That it might be better to wait] was suggested to us by them.
passive voice
It was suggested to us by them [ that it might be better to wait]. extraposition
Semantically, these ditransitive verbs are mostly communication verbs;
-instrumental communication verbs: radio, wire, cable, telegraph, telephone:
11)
I had radioed Nick [that the security guards were waiting].
IO
DO
-verbal communication: permit, allow, promise, guarantee, grant, swear, suggest:
12)
They guaranteed him [ that he would be given some sort of award].
IO
DO
A few of these verbs allow only a prepositional IO: admit, articulate, confess, confide, declare,
describe, demonstrate, explain, explicate, narrate, recite, repeat, report, reveal, voice, utter.
3. Prepositional transitive verbs such as blame, beg, ask, request, require, etc. are followed by a
DO and a (personal) PO. When their DO may be realized by a that complement clause, the clause
must be extraposed:
13)
Police blamed [NP the bomb attack] on the extremists.
DO
PO
*He blamed [that there had been a bomb attack] on the extremists.
DO
PO
He blamed it on the extremists [CP that there had been a bomb attack].
gr.PO
real PO
THAT clauses as Prepositional Objects
THAT clauses function as POs after verbs or adjectives with obligatory preposition:
14)
He complained [PP of unfair treatment].
He complained (*of) [CP that he had been treated unfairly].
prepositional vb.
They were sorry [PP for their failure].
They were sorry (*for) [that they had failed the exam].
prep.adj.
When the complement clause fulfills the syntactic function of PO, the preposition cannot precede
the clause, it is omitted. However, there are two contexts in which the preposition is not deleted:
when Extraposition applies and in pseudo-cleft constructions:
15)
I will answer for it [ that this man is honest].
extraposition
[What I will answer for] is [that this man is honest].
pseudo-cleft construction
Complement clauses governed by adjectives may be extraposed and may appear in pseudo-cleft
constructions:
16)
We are sure [ that its a boy].
We are sure of it [that its a boy].
extraposition
[What we are sure of ] is [ that its a boy].
pseudo-cleft construction
The complement clause fulfills the syntactic function of PO after:
1. intransitive verbs that take a PO which alternates with a THAT clause: admit (of), ask
(for), answer (for), brag (of, about), rejoice (at, over), marvel (at), see (to), testify (to),
theorize (about, on), worry (about), wonder (at, about), vote (for), swear (to).
17)
He bragged [PP about his police contacts].
He bragged [CP that he had contacts with the police].
Some of the verbs belonging to this group allow that-deletion: conceive (of), confess (to),
decide (on), insist (up (on)), hope (for), learn (of, about).
18)
They offered help as soon as they learned [PP of the accident].
They offered help as soon as they learned [CP(that) an accident had taken place].
2. There is a class of verbs that govern a DO and a PO, where the PO alternates with a
clause: advise NP of , accuse NP of, assure NP of, congratulate NP on, forewarn NP of,
instruct, NP in, inform NP of, misinform NP of, notify NP of, persuade NP of, convince NP
of, tip sb. off that, apprise NP of, warn sb. of.
19)
He convinced them of [NP his loyalty].
He convinced them [CP that he was loyal].
3. Other verbs are followed by two POs, the first is personal and the second is either a
simple NP or a clause: argue with NP about NP, agree with NP on/about NP, pray to NP
for NP, etc.
20)
I agree [PP with him] [PP about this].
I agree [PP with him] [CP that the law is behind the times].
4. Very often a THAT complement clause originates in a PP governed by an adjective. The
preposition is deleted , but it may surface if Extraposition applies, as well as in cleft
sentences: afraid (of), alarmed (at), ashamed (of), amazed (at), annoyed (at), aware (of),
angry (about), certain (of) concerned (about), confident (in), conscious (of) , desirous (of),
delighted (at), glad (about), happy (about), irritated (at), hopeful (of), indicative (of),
sorry (for), sure (of), surprised (at), thankful (for), etc.:
21)
She became conscious [PP of his tactics].
She became conscious [CP that he had changed his tactics].
THAT clauses as Subjects