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Syntax 3 - Types of Clauses - Revised
Syntax 3 - Types of Clauses - Revised
Types of clauses
How many ways can we divide the clause types?
What are they?
C = Complement
- word, phrase or clause necessary to complete the
meaning of a given expression
- Normally follow linking verbs: be, look, sound, smell,
feel, taste, appear, seem, become, grow, turn, prove,
remain
- Brandon is a gifted athlete. John is weak. (Cs)
- The vote made John's position untenable. We voted John
chairman (Co)
- You are amazing in gymnastics. Mary is very bright in
applied physics. He is loving to his pets. I am curious what
my surprise will be.
- (Adj Comp): a noun clause or prepositional phrase
A= Adverbials
- Normally there can be only one Subject, one
Verb, one Object and one Complement per
clause
- A can be several
- Fred had climbed /with some difficulty/ /into the
train/ /on Friday night/.
- Gives extra information to the main clause
Realization of adverbials
-To Infinitive: He plays to win I have been there
- Ed: Whenever left alone, he
cried
When I came to the
club, I saw Laura
SVOC SVOO
Determine the sentence pattern (clause structure) for each sentence given
below.
21.You are very quiet today.
SVC
SVOC
22.The personality test found Jenkins unsuitable for the position.
23.After much deliberation, Millie bought the biggest car on the lot. SVO
24.Later, Smithers became the most important person in his life.
25.The poor sailor was at sea for a year. SVC
26.Under most circumstances, we would be happySVA
with your work.
SVC
27.The professor considered the student a genius at mathematics.
28.Ulcers give people pain.
29.He waited in the rain for an hour. SVOC
SVOO
30.During my teen years, I grew tall.
SV
SVC
Determine the sentence pattern (clause structure) for each sentence given
below.
31.On the Fourth of July, people in my neighborhood meet at the park for a picnic.
32.He bought me a largeSVA
jade pin for my birthday
SVOOthis year.
33.The squadron found the enemy formidable.
34.Since last August I have been a member of that club.
SVOC
35.Out of everyone in the room, Susan is by far the laziest.
SVC
36.The rescue workers called George a hero for his actions.
37.The young woman defiantly put her books on the table. SVC
38.The cornbread tasted like mush. SVOC
39.Until 3 p.m. Uncle George will be at the bank. SVOA
40.At graduation, Joe will officially become a pilot.
SVC
SVA
SVC
Types of clauses
• In term of clause patterns
SV, SVC, SVA, SVO, SVOO, SVOC, SVOA
• In term of verb phrase
finite; non-finite & verbless clauses
• In term of clause subordination
independent & dependent clauses
• In term of clause functions
nominal, adverbial & adjectival clauses
Finite and Non-finite clauses?
To speak in class is difficult for some children but not for
Charlie. He raises his hand constantly and loves to
participate in class discussions. He does his homework and
is very well prepared. Prepared students are more
successful. And Charlie is doing well in kindergarten.
Sometimes Charlie talks a little too much. The teacher reminds
him to share the discussion time. Other students are quiet
and may think that they don't have anything important to say.
But the teacher values all the the students' opinions and
helps quiet students stand out more.
Non-finite clauses?
To speak in class is difficult for some children but not for
Charlie. He raises his hand constantly and loves to
participate in class discussions. He does his homework and
is very well prepared. Prepared students are more
successful. And Charlie is doing well in kindergarten.
Sometimes Charlie talks a little too much. The teacher reminds
him to share the discussion time. Other students are quiet
and may think that they don't have anything important to say.
But the teacher values all the students' opinions and helps
quiet students stand out more.
Finite or non-finite
Types of clauses
Nonfinite clause
Verbless clause
Types of clauses
Nonfinite clause
- contains a subject and a predicate
- verb phrase having tense, person & number, concord, & mood
Verbless clause
[1] She writes home every day (finite clause -- present tense verb)
[2] She wrote home yesterday (finite clause -- past tense verb)
………
He told me to go shopping
Nonfinite clause
Nonfinite clause
Nonfinite clause
Nonfinite clause
Nonfinite clause
(i) He asked her what made her think she could paint.
bare infinitive Co
(j) Yet he remained committed to Irish republicanism.
-en participle Cs
(k) We think that's not the best idea to raffle off guns.
to-infinitive Comp of N
(l) Half the money spent on a political campaign is wasted.
-en participle Mod of N
(m) Having been founded by the Saracens in the ninth
(c) For them to lose their son was a great tragedy. subject
Modifier of N
(d) Do we have the money to buy that car?
complement of A
(e) We were pleased to be seeing our old friends.
Comp of N
(n) He is the person wanting to see you.
Nonfinite clause
Verbless clause
Nonfinite clause
Verbless clause
1. Independent clause
A clause that can form a sentence itself
Can be conjoined by means of a conjunction.
E.g.
She loves him.
He doesn't love her.
She loves him but he doesn't love her.
Types of clauses
2. Dependent/Subordinate clause
A clause that is part of another clause, which may be
introduced by a subordinating marker.
E.g
She think (that) she will win.
If you try, you'll make it.
He earns as much as you do.
A subordinate clause can function as S, O, Cs, Co, A,
complement of NP or Adj.
Examples?
S: What you do is not my business
Cs: He is who I love
O: I would choose whoever comes first
Co: You can call me whatever you like
A: He is where he is supposed to be
NP complement: The blame that the leaders are
corrupting is controversial
Adj complement: I am interested in what he is doing
Practice
Types of clauses
• In term of clause patterns
SV, SVC, SVA, SVO, SVOO, SVOC, SVOA
• In term of verb phrase
finite; non-finite & verbless clauses
• In term of clause subordination
independent & dependent clauses
• In term of clause functions
nominal, adverbial & adjectival clauses
Types of clauses
Adverbial clause
Adjectival clause
Types of clauses
Adverbial clause
Adjectival clause
Exercise 5: Identify the non finite in each sentence
and state the functions.
(a) Williams continued driving to the corner.
(b) Mr. Shapiro clearly wants to be running this defense team. a) Od
(c) Julie admits having stolen her father's money. b) Od
(d) Having been elected as a champion of the "forgotten middle
c) Od
class", Clinton will immediately bump up against unpleasant realities.
(e) I don't recall having asked for you, Peter! d) Adverbial/Mod
(f) One of them even reported his having been seen off the coast of
the British Zone on a red yacht.
of Clinton
(g) I much preferred to be thought of as a stylish dowager. e) Od
(h) He'd never before heard her say anything remotely like okey- f) Od
dokey.
(i) All the birds seem to have disappeared from the city.
(j) New York City's budget crisis appeared to have been settled. g) Od
(k) The young star wanted to strike out on his own.
(l) Removed from the ocean, Sarbin's slick skin would quickly dry out
h) Co
and crack. i) Cs
j) Cs
k) Od
l) A/Mod of skin