Complex Sentences Complex Sentences with Nominal Clauses

1. Subject clauses, which are subordinated by the conjunctions that, if, whether, because, but that, the way, the conjunctive pronouns who, whoever, what, whatever, which, the conjunctive adverbs where, wherever, when, whenever, how, why

That this world is a place of horror must affect every serious artist and thinker <…>. (I. Murdoch)

Main Clause

That		must … thinker
	this world … horror

Subject Clause

What I obscurely (and rather shamefacedly) felt, communicated itself to Mrs. Hudson <…>. (S. Maugham)

Main Clause

		communicated … Mrs. Hudson
	What … felt,

Subject Clause

It always surprised her when people raved about something she had done <…>. (S. Maugham)

Main Clause

	It always	surprised her
	when … something

Subject Clause

she had done

Attributive Clause

2. Predicative clauses, which are subordinated by the conjunctions that, because, whether, as if, as though, the way; the conjunctive pronouns who, whoever, what, whatever, which; conjunctive adverbs where, wherever, when, whenever, how, why

The proposal now is that we exchange Mars, not for the typescript but for a document that guarantees me a suitable compensation for its use. (I. Murdoch)

Main Clause

		that
The proposal … is	we… a document

P redicative Clause

that … its use

Attributive Clause

That was how I best remembered her. (S. Maugham)

Main Clause

That was	how … her	Predicative Clause

The talent for a gentler world which Palmer had remarked upon was precisely what had now died in me. (I. Murdoch)

Main Clause

T he talent … was		Predicative Clause
	what … in me

which … had remarked upon

Attributive Clause

3 . Object clauses, which are subordinated by the conjunctions that, if, whether, lest; the conjunctive pronouns who, whoever, what, whatever, which; the conjunctive adverbs where, wherever, why, how; and the correlatives (in case there are several object clauses) either … or, whether … or or asyndetically

(i) non-prepositional object clauses

I was uncertain whether I could control my voice sufficiently to produce the right sort of cry <…>. (I. Murdoch)

Main Clause

I was uncertain

O bject Clause

whether

I … cry

He told Mrs. Driffield where she ought to get certain varieties that she absolutely must have and how perfectly lovely were certain others. (S. Maugham)

Main Clause

H e … Mrs. Driffield

Object Clause Object Clause

w here … varieties

how … others

that … have

Attributive Clause

(ii) prepositional object clauses, introduced by the prepositions after, about, before, beyond, for, near, of, as to, but, etc.

After luncheon we went into the drawing room and I noticed again with what perfect tact Mrs. Driffield had arranged it. (S. Maugham)

1^st co-clause 2^nd co-clause

After … the drawing room

and

I … again

O bject Clause

with … it

“I’m scarcely a shadow of what I was three weeks ago”. (W. Saroyan)

Main Clause

I’m … a shadow