39. The criteria for classification of subordinate clauses.

The following types of subordinate clauses are usually differentiated based

on the semantic relations between the principal and the subordinate clause:

1. SubjectandPredicateClauses:

A subject clause may contain either a statement or a question. In the former

case it is preceded by that: in the latter it is introduced by the same words as

interrogative object clauses.

e.g. That she wants to help us is beyond any doubt.

When he is coming has not been decided yet.

Commoner that the patterns with the initial that are sentences introduced by

it, with the that-clause in end-position.

e.g. It is clear that he will never agree to it.

2. Object Clauses:

The simplest case of such clauses are patterns in which a sub-clause can be

replaced by a noun which could be then an object in a simple sentence.

e.g. I know what she wants.

You can take whatever you like.

3. Attributive Clauses

Like attributive adjuncts in a simple sentence, attributive clauses qualify the

thing denoted by its head word through some actions, state or situation in which

the thing is involved.

It has been customary to make distinction between two types of attributive

sub-clauses: restrictive and continuative or amplifying clauses("defining" and

"non-defining") This division is however too absolute to cover all patterns.

Restrictive clauses are subordinate in meaning to the clause containing the

antecedent; continuative clauses are more independent: their contents might often

be expressed by an independent statement giving some additional information

about the antecedent that is already sufficiently defined. Continuative clauses may

be omitted without affecting the precise understanding of the sentence as a whole.

This is marked by a different intonation, and by a clear break preceding the

continuative clause, no such break separating a restrictive clause from its

antecedent. The presence or absence of such a pause is indicated in writing and in

print by the presence or absence of a comma before as well as after the sub-clause.

• Clauses of Cause:

Clauses of cause are usually introduced by the conjunctions because, since,

and as and indicate purely causal relations.

e.g. I had to go home since it was getting dark.

As we have just bought a new house, we cannot afford a new car.

I did not arrive on time because I had missed my bus.

• Clauses of Place:

Clauses of place do not offer any difficulties of grammatical analysis; they

are generally introduced by the relative adverb where or by the phrase from where,

to where, etc.

e.g.: He went to the café where he hoped to find his friend.

6. Temporal Clauses:

Temporal clauses can be used to denote two simultaneous actions or states,

one action preceding or following the other, etc.

e.g. When we finished our lunch, we left.

- Clauses of Condition:

Conditional sentences can express either a real condition ("open condition")

or an unreal condition:

If you ask him he will help you (real condition)

If you asked him, he would help you (unreal condition)

• Clauses of Result:

Clauses of result or consequence are characterized by two patterns:

- clauses introduced by the conjunction that correlated with the pronoun

suchor the adverb so in the main clause;

- clauses introduced by the phrasal connective so that.

e.g. Suddenly she felt so relieved that she could not help crying.

- Clauses of Purpose:

Clauses expressing purpose are known to be introduced by the conjunction

thator lest and by the phrase in order that.

e.g. I avoided mentioning the subject lest he be offended.

- Clauses of Concession:

The following types of concessive clauses are clauses that give information

about the circumstances despite or against which what is said in the principal

clause is carried out:

e.g. I went to the party, though I did not feel like it.

- Clauses of Manner and Comparison:

Sub-clauses of manner and comparison characterize the action of the

principal clause by comparing it to some other action.

e.g. She was nursing the flower, as a mother nurses her child.