36. Complex sentences. Noun clauses.

A complex sentence is made from an independent clause and a dependent clause joined together.

Some examples:

After I came home, I made dinner.(dependent clause: "After I came home")(independent clause: I made dinner)

We visited the museum before it closed.(dependent clause: before it closed.)(independent clause: We visited the museum)

Since a noun clause does the work of a noun in a complex sentence, it can be:

1. The subject of a verb.

2. The object of a transitive verb.

3. The object of a preposition.

4. In apposition to a noun or pronoun.

5. The complement of a verb of incomplete prediction.

In each of the following complex sentences, the noun clause is the subject of the verb: How he could assist me was his concern.

In each of the following complex sentences, the noun clause is the object of a transitive verb: Please tell me why you did this.

In each of the following complex sentences, the noun clause is the object of a preposition:

In each of the following complex sentences, the noun clause is in apposition to a Noun or Pronoun: You shall never forget this, that honesty is the best policy.

In each of the following Complex sentences, the noun clause is used as the complement of a verb of in complete predication: Her constant belief was that the infant might live.

A clause coming after a construction consisting of an intransitive verb (particularly the verb to be) and an adjective does the work of noun and is, therefore, treated as a noun clause.

In each the following complex sentences, the noun clause comes after an intransitive verb construction:

• The sick man was sure that he would recover someday.

37. Complex sentences. Adjective clauses.

A complex sentence has at least one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses. The subordinate clause may be a noun clause, an adjective clause (relative clause) or an adverb clause.

introduced by the relative pronouns who, which, that, but, as

by the conjunctions when, where, whither, whence, wherein, whereby

asyndetically, a relative pronoun being understood.

The boy was caught. He had stolen the purse.

These two simple sentences can be combined into a complex sentence by using an adjective clause.

38. Complex sentences. Adverbial clauses.

A complex sentence must have a principal clause and one or more subordinate clauses. The subordinate clause may be a noun clause, an adjective clause or an adverb clause. We can form a complex sentence by combining two simple sentences using a subordinating conjunction like when, as, since, till, where, if, though, unless, that, lest, weather, whereas etc. Study the following sentences.

• I went there. The door was locked.

• When I went there the door was locked.

TIME: when, after, as, as soon as, before, by the time (that), once, since, until / till, while

PLACE: where, wherever, anywhere, everywhere

REASON, or CAUSE: because, as, seeing that, since

MANNER: as, like, (in) the way (that), (in) the same way, as if, as though

DEGREE, or COMPARISON: as…as

PURPOSE: so that, in order to /that, in case

RESULT, or CONSEQUENCE: so that, such that

CONDITION: if, if not, unless

CONCESSION: though, although, while; indefinite relatives, adverbs, and adverbial conjunctions,- whoever, whatever, however