8. The composite sentence: the clause, classification of clauses.

The sentence (S) is considered to be composite if it has 2 or more subject-predicate structures. A constituent of the composite sentence is called a clause.

Clause

independent dependent

There are complex and compound sentences.

Composite Sentence

Complex Sentence Compound Sentence

subordination coordination

Coordination and Subordination

A compound sentence is a sentence which consists of 2 or more clauses coordinated with each other. A clause is a part of a sentence which has a subject and a predicate of its own. The clauses can be connected syndetically or asyndetically.

A complex sentence consists of a principle clause and one or more subordinate clauses.

Subordination is a non-symmetrical relation, holding between two clauses in such a way

that one is a constituent or part of the other.

Compare the coordination in:

[I like John] and [John likes me]

[independent] [independent]

with the subordination in:

[I like John [because John likes me]

independent dependent (subordinate)

Classifying dependent clauses by function:

1) According to classes of words they may substitute in syntactic position subordinate clauses are divided into:

Nominal (that-clauses, wh-interrogative clauses, etc.): I know that you mean well./ I can't imagine what they want with your address.

Attributive clauses:

— restrictive: Don 't you hate people who have no character.

— descriptive: But his lips that were twisted in a bitter smile twitched.

Adverbial clauses:

• comparative clauses: He looks as if he Is going to be sick.

• proportion and preference clauses: The harder he worked, the happier he felt. / Rather than a new car, he bought a TV-set.

• comment clauses: Food is cheap in Germany, I'd believe. / To be honest, I'd never liked him.

• time clauses: When I last saw you, you lived in Moscow.

• place clauses: They went wherever they could find work.

• conditional clauses: He must be lying if he told you that.

• concession: Although I enjoyed myself, I was glad to come home.

• cause (reason): I lent him the money because he needed it.

• purpose: I left early to catch the train.

• result: We planted many plants, so that the garden soon looked beautiful.

• manner: Please do it as I instructed.

2) According to syntactic position they fill, subordinate clauses are divided into:

1. Subject clauses: How this incident would affect Flew began to trouble Soames.

2. Object clauses:

- direct object: I know that she is pretty.

- indirect object: I gave whoever it was a cup of tea.

3. Complement clauses:

- subject complement (predicative clauses): The fact was he didn 't understand them.

- object complement: I imagined him overcome with grief.

4. Adverbial clauses:

- adjunct: When we meet, I shall explain everything.

- disjunct: To be honest. I've never liked him.

- conjunct: What is more he has lost the friends he has.

Analyzing clauses by structural type, we arrive at three main classes: finite, non-finite

and verbless clauses.

Finite clause: a clause whose V element is a finite verb phrase (showing tense, mood, aspect and voice). The finite clause always contains a subject as well as a predicate, except in the case of commands and ellipsis.

Non-finite clauses: a clause whose V element is a non-finite verb phrase (not showing tense or mood, but still capable of indicating aspect and voice).Non-finite clauses can be constructed without or with a subject, i.e. with subject or subjectless:

1. The Infinitive clauses: The best thing would be to tell everybody, (subjectless)

2. - ing-form clauses: Living the room he tripped over the carpet.

3. Non-finite clauses with Participle II: Covered with confusion I left the room.

Verbless clause: a clause containing no verb element: He went out, a shotgun in hand.