Nominal Clauses 7132a

The Syntax of the Complex Sentence Compound sentences are based on coordination. Complex sentences are based on subordination. Dependent or Subordinate clauses can be classified: a. according to the structural criterion: 1. Finite Clauses 2. Non-Finite Clauses: a. Infinitival Constructions; b. Participial Constructions 3. Verbless Clauses b. according to the functional criterion: 1. Nominal Clauses: 

‘that’-clauses

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Dependent ‘wh-’ interrogative clauses

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‘Yes/No’ interrogative dependent clauses

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Nominal relative clauses

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‘to’-infinitive nominal clauses

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Nominal ‘-ing’ clauses

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Short infinitive nominal clauses

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Verbless nominal clauses

2. Adverbial Clauses: 

Adverbial clause of Time

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Adverbial Clause of Place

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Adverbial Clause of Manner

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Adverbial Clause of Condition

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Adverbial Clause of Concession

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Adverbial Clause of Reason/Cause

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Adverbial Clause of Purpose

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Adverbial Clause of Result

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Alternative Conditional Concessive Clause

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Universal Conditional Concessive Clause

3. Relative Clauses 

Finite Relative Clauses: a. Dependent/Restrictive; b. Independent/ Nonrestrictive

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Non-finite Relative Clauses

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Cleft sentences

NOMINAL CLAUSES and their syntactic functions 1. ‘THAT’- Clauses can function as: 

Subject: That he is lazy is a certainty.

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Subject Complement: The problem is that we don’t know the time.

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Direct Object: You know that he has just got married.

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Apposition: Your news, that Mary is hurt, was true.

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Adjectival Complement: I am sure that you will take a good mark.

2. Dependent ‘wh-’ interrogative clauses can function as: 

Subject: What you’ve just said has been recorded.

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Subject Complement: The trouble is where we’ll go.

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Direct Object: I told you when he would come.

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Apposition: My initial question, why she left in such a hurry, wasn’t answered.

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Adjectival Complement: I was certain whose plan this was.

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Prepositional Complement: It depends on when they arrive.

3. ‘Yes/No’ interrogative dependent clauses can function as: 

Subject: Whether it rains or not is our main problem.

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Subject Complement: The question is whether he es the exam or not.

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Direct Object: We don’t know whether they have already found out the news. 1

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Adjectival Complement: They were not sure whether the play started in time.

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Apposition: The question, whether she needed both of us, required a quick answer.

4. Nominal relative clauses can function as: 

Subject: Whoever threatens you is dangerous.

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Subject Complement: Friend is whoever helps you anytime.

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Direct Object: I tried whatever came handiest at the time.

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Indirect Object: She offered a flower to whoever was coming.

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Object Complement: He could call her whatever he liked.

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Apposition: Your address, wherever you are living now, is known by the police.

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Prepositional Complement: You should vote for whichever candidate you think best.

5. ‘To’-infinitive Nominal Clauses: 

Subject: For a human to eat like that is unbelievable.

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Subject Complement: My decision was to forgive him.

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Direct Object: I expect to see them next week.

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Apposition: The task, to solve the exercise at choice, has been fulfilled.

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Adjectival complement: I’m sorry to hear that.

6. Nominal ‘-ing’ Clauses: 

Subject: Learning rules without examples is useless.

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Subject Complement: His favourite preoccupation is reading books.

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Direct Object: Lucy loves lying in the sun.

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Object Complement: I heard him leaving.

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Apposition: His wish to make the rules, being the best of us, is his right.

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Prepositional complement: Pay attention to his speaking English.

7. Short infinitive nominal clauses:

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Subject Complement: All I did was turn off the gas.

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Subject: (To) Lie in the sun was everything they needed.

8. Verbless nominal clauses: An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

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