2. Appended Clauses

Appended clauses are used to intensify or reinforce a statement in the previous clause. The most common types of appended clauses are tag questions.

You speak Urdu, don’t you?

In non-formal style there is another form of appended clause, which is elliptical:

He is always very gloomy, is that John of yours.

In such sentences the link verb to be is generally repeated, or a form of the verb to do is used:

He never told me anything, did your brother.

3. Parenthetical (Comment) Clauses

A parenthetical clause interrupts another sentence with which it is either not connected syntactically or is only loosely connected with separate parts of the sentence. Parenthetical clauses may be patterned like independent sentences, coordinate, main, or subordinate sentences.

As you know, horses eat oats.

As was reported, the kick-off will be at 6 pm.

Mr Ford – if this was now to be his name – walked slowly up to the counter.

Although the evening was still light – we dined early – the lamps were on.

I am, you know, a good student.

Parenthetical clauses may be patterned like different communicative types of the sentence – statements, questions, imperative sentences.

It was – why hadn’t he noticed it before? – beginning to be an effort for her to hold her back straight. (a parenthetical clause patterned like a question)

The predicate

THE PREDICATE is one of the two principal parts of the sentence (the other is the subject) which expresses an action, state, or quality of the subject. It is grammatically dependent on the subject.

Structural classification of the predicate

PREDICATE

SIMPLE (It is expressed by a finite verb in a simple or analytical form or verbal phrase.)

COMPOUND (It consists of two parts: notional and structural.)

SIMPLE PROPER John runs fast. I was given a present. What are you doing? SIMPLE PHRASEOLOGICAL a) phrases denoting momentaneous actions: have a look, have a smoke, have a talk, give a look, give a laugh, give a cry, take a look, make a move, make a remark, pay a visit, etc. Did you have a sleep? It’s time we made a move. b) phrases comprising an abstract noun with no article: change one’s mind, get rid of, get hold of, lose sight of, male fun of, make up one’s mind, make use (of), take care (of), take leave (of), take part (in), pay attention (to), etc She paid little heed to it. I have never taken much interest in tennis.

COMPOUND NOMINAL (It consists of a link verb and a predicative (nominal part) She is a student. ASPECT (PHASAL) (It consists of an aspect verb and a non-finite form of the verb.) She stopped chewing and began sleeping.

COMPOUND VERBAL (It consists of a semi-auxiliary verb and a non-finite form of the verb) MODAL (It consists of a modal verb and a non-finite form of the verb.) You can’t do it.

THE COMPOUND NOMINAL PREDICATE

It consists of a link verb and a predicative.

Link Verbs:

1) of being: be, feel, look, smell, taste, sound, appear, seem, etc.

I felt better pleased than ever.

Your voice sounds cold and hostile.

He seemed bewildered.

2) of becoming: become, grow, turn, get, make, fall, go, etc.

The noise becomes intolerable.

Her face suddenly turned red.

The student will make a good interpreter.

3) of remaining: remain, continue, keep, stay, etc.

She remained vexed with him.

The students kept suspiciously silent.

The predicative can be expressed by:

1. a noun:

Mary was an astronomer.

2) an adjective or adjective phrase:

Helen’s eyes grew angry.

The teacher is difficult to convince.

3) a pronoun:

It’s me.

Who are you? She is somebody.

4) a numeral:

Will you be the third? They were five.

5) an infinitive (or an infinitive phrase or construction):

My first thought was to run away.

The only thing to do is for you to go to the lesson.

6) a gerund (or a gerundial phrase or construction):

My hobby is going by tram.

The problem is your being absent.

7) a participle (or a participial phrase):

The subject seemed strangely chosen.

8) a prepositional phrase:

She is on our side.

9) a stative:

Are you wide awake at the moment?

10) an indivisible group of words:

It’s 9 o’clock already.

11) a clause:

That is what has happened.

NOTE: The objective predicative refers to the object (not to the subject). It expresses the state or quality of the person or thing denoted by the object.

They appointed him secretary.

We painted the door green.

Leave me alone.

The objective predicative does not form part of the predicate, in this case the predicate is simple.

THE COMPOUND VERBAL ASPECT (PHASAL) PREDICATE

It consists of an aspect (phasal) verb and a non-finite form of the verb (an infinitive or a gerund). It denotes the beginning, duration, repetition or cessation of the action.

Aspect Verbs:

1) of beginning: begin, start, commence, set about, take to, fall to, etc.

Then they began to talk about nothing.

So I took to going to university.

2) of duration: continue, go on, keep, proceed, etc

They kept talking about nothing.

So I continued to go to university.

3) of repetition: used to, would

They used to talk about nothing.

4) of cessation: stop, finish, cease, give up, leave off, etc.

They ceased talking about nothing.

Then I gave up going to university.

NOTE: The choice between a gerund or infinitive depends on the verb it follows.