3. Unit 7: Clauses II
Clause and Sentence
A clause is a structure built by two main
constituents: a noun phrase (subject) and a
verb phrase (predicate). It expresses one
single idea.
Sam built a new house
NP VP
4. Main and Subordinate Clauses
Clauses
Subordinate
Main No full
Full meaning meaning
5. Properties of subordinate
clauses
Subordinate clauses:
1. They cannot stand on their own.
2. They are to a large extent
grammatically independent from the
main clause.
3. The choice of the verb and
complements aren’t controlled by the
main clause.
The farm which I bought is very small
6. Differences
Main clauses
-It allows declarative interrogative
and imperative constructions.
- It allows all distinctions of
aspect, tense and mood.
-It allows tag questions and
reflexives.
7. Subordinate clauses
-It usually does not express full
meaning by itself:
Mr. Clark asked her to write a report
-Relative and adverbial clauses are
only declarative; but complement
clauses might appear as declarative
and interrogative.
Ann asked was Sam coming to the party
Martha thought that you were upset
8. Perspectives illustrated by
subordinators
Subordinator Perspective
Before, after, until Time
, while
As if, as though Manner
So that Purpose
As……..as Comparison
Although Contrast
Even though
So Result
Since Reason or time
9. Indirect Questions
Indirect questions in tradicional
Grammar are structures somewhat
similar to direct questions; but they do
not take auxiliaries and the main verb
goes in the finite (tensed) form.
Janet knows who Martin loves
They are a type of relative clauses, and
they might function as complements of
certain verbs like: ask, tell, wonder
know, etc.
10. Some types indirect questions begin
with noun phrases like:
Whose children
I know whose kids you are teaching
Which book
I asked which car Mike liked
How many people
How many people live in that house
