nha2 - clauses 2

8/3/2019 NHA2 - Clauses 2

1/27

I> DEFINITONII> STRUCTURESIII> CLASSIFICATION &

FUNCTIONS


2/27

I> Definition

Clauses are constructions with one phraseconstituent, typically a noun phrase thatbears the subject relation, and anotherconstituent, the verb phrase, bearing thepredicate relation [Jacobs, 1995:49]. The

distinctive feature of clauses is that theyhave a subject-predicate structure.

E.g.: The cat is running down the ladder

Subject Predicate


3/27

II> Structure

Clauses are composed of phrases. In Englishthere are 7 basic clause types:


4/27

1. Subject + verb (SV)

The baby cried2. Subject + verb + adjunct (SVA)

A doctor lives in that house3. Subject + verb + complement (SVC)That sounds a great idea4. Subject + verb + object (SVO)He missed the bus5. Subject+verb+object+adjunct (SVOA)He sent the letter to Paris

6. Subject+verb+object+object (SVOO)They have given her a surprise7. Subject+verb+object+complement (SVOC)We always consider him our elder brother.


5/27

Notes

Type 1 is an intransitive clause type. (the verb

refers to an action carried out by the subjectdoesnt affect anybody or anything else)

Type 2 may also be regarded as intransitive.

(the verbs involved take an obligatory adjunct ofplace, position, or direction,)

Type 3 is the intensive clause type. (the

complement and subject are in an intensiverelation: subject & complement are not distinct

entities but refer to the same thing)


6/27

Type 4 is a transitive clause type.(=mono-transitive, having only 1 object)

Type 5 is a transitive type. (with anobligatory adjunct of place, manner, orextent,.. in addition to an object)

Type 6 is the di-transitive clause type.(has 2 objects: direct & indirect objects)

Type 7 is the complex-transitive clausetype. (a complex of an object & acomplement follows the verb)


7/27

Exercise 18, page 331. The old fellow(S:NP) forgot about(V:VP)

Jim(O:NP) yesterday(A:NP). Type 5.2. I(S:NP) wouldnt make(V:VP) rice (O:NP) in that

saucepan(A:PrepP). Type 5.

3. Your Madras curry(S:NP) smells(V:VP)appetizing(C:AdjP). Type 3.

4. You(S:NP) may not deposit (V:VP) yourboots(O:NP) on top of mine(A:PrepP). Type 5.

5. They(S:NP) rolled(V:VP) the barrel(O:NP) into thecourtyard(A:PrepP). Type 5`.

6. You(S:NP) must not walk(V:VP) on thegrass(A:PrepP). Type 2.


8/27

7. They(S:NP) consider(V:P) poor oldAndrei(O:NP) insane(C:AdjP). Type 7.

8. Barry(S:NP) sent(V:VP) Mary(IO:NP) abunch of carnation(DO:NP). Type 6.

9. Your luggage(S:NP) weighs(V:VP) seventy

kilos(A:NP). Type 2.10. The children(S:NP) played(V:VP) in the

garden(A:PrepP) all yesterday

afternoon(A:NP). Type 1.


9/27

III> Classification & functionsIII.1> Independent/Coordinating clauses

An independent clause does not dependon another clause, although it may belinked to another independent clause, or

to a dependent clause. [Richards, Platt &Weber, 1987:77]

E.g.: David washed the dishes.

David washed the dishes, and Marycleaned the floor.

David washed the dishes before Mary

came home.


10/27

III.2> Dependent/Subordinating clauses

A dependent clause is a clausewhich must be used with anotherclause to from a complete

grammatical construction. It dependson the other clause and is subordinateto it [Richards, Platt and Weber,

1987:77]E.g.: The man reported that he himself

witnessed the robbery

Dependent clause


11/27

Dependent clauses may be either

finite or non-finite.3 broad categories of dependent

clauses: nominal clauses,relative clauses, and adverbialclauses.


12/27

III.2.1> Nominal clauses

Nominal clauses function in the

same place as noun phrases. Noun

phrases function as subject of aclause, object of a clause, or acomplement of a clause.

4 types of nominal clauses: 2 finite& 2 non-finite.


13/27

Finite nominal clauses

A finite dependent clause contains averb phrase which is marked for tenseand modality. There is regularly a

subject except under conditions ofellipsis. Finite dependent clauses areregularly marked by a clause link

[Biber et al, 1999:193]Finite dependent clauses may be either

subordinate or embedded. They

include that clauseand wh-clause.


14/27

That clause- are introduced by the conjunction that.- may function as either subject, object or

complement.E.g.:That people throw away money on gamblingnever ceases to amaze me.

SUBJECT

Sally believes that roses are the best gift to girls.DIRECT OBJECT

The possibility is that he was hit in the accident.

SUBJECT COMPLEMENTWe entertained a suspicion that Mink had beencheating COMPLEMENT OF NOUN

He was hopeful that a change would occur

COMPLEMENT OF ADJ


15/27

-When a that clause functions assubject, it is normally the case

that a dummy itfunctions in subjectposition, and the that clause isextraposed.

E.g.: It never ceases to amaze me thatpeople throw away money on

gambling (=That people throw awaymoney on gambling never ceases toamaze me)


16/27

Wh-clause

-are introduced by who, when, where, how, why,

whether, if.-2 kinds: indirect question or nominal relative clause. Indirect questions are relatable to direct questions.E.g.: I wonder whether he loves memay be related to

Does he love me?She told us what the news was aboutis related to Whatwas the news about?

Nominal relative clause:

What might happen next surprised me (=That whichhappened)-function as subject, object, complement, e.g. What

you had done did not bother us; I like what you havedone; The matter is what we will do


17/27

Non-finite nominal clauseInfinitive clause

2 kinds: to-infinitive & bare infinitive.

E.g.I require them to be present in my office at 9She saw him walk down the stairs few minutes ago. may function as subject & complement.E.g.: To live is to eat

S SC-as complement of noun, modifier, or complement of

adjectiveHis offer to buy the whole lot was accepted

CN (Complement of noun-a word group that behaveslike a direct of the verb corresponding to the noun)I know the man to answer this question

Post-nominal modifierHe was hesitant to see her

Complement of adjective


18/27

Most commonly, function as objector as part of the object.

E.g.: They told us to arrive soon.

IO DO

I want her to post the letter.O (to post the letter-part

of the object)


19/27

Participle clauses- participle clauses, mainly with present

participle or gerund, can function assubject, object or part of the object, andcomplement.

E.g.: Seeing is believingS SC

Monkeys like eating bananas

DOThe zookeeper found the elephantmunching peanuts

Part of the object


20/27

III.2.2> Relative clauses

- function as post nominal modifiers- are linked to the head of the noun

phrase by means of a relative

pronoun.E.g.: The man whom I met last night

was very handsome

2 factors can help to determine theform of the relative pronoun.


21/27

(1) The head noun (the antecedent) is personal(who) or non-personal (which). Who is used for

antecedents that refer to persons; which forantecedents referring to other than persons.

(2) the function syntactically of the relative

pronoun within the relative clause: genitive(whose), subject (who, which), object of theverb or of the preposition (whom, which)

E.g.: The man whom we visited yesterday is theformer president

The girl whose mother is a famous doctor isstudying in our class


22/27

The words when, where, why, etcare alsoused as relative pronouns, but only after the

suitable head nouns like the time when, thehouse where, the reason why

These noun phrases are often reduced byomitting the head noun.

E.g.: The time (when) I arrived was predicted

The house (where) I was born is nowdestroyed

The reason (why) she left him is understood.


23/27

III.2.3> Adverbial clauses- are identified by conjunctions which join the

adverbial clause to the main clause

- function as adjunct- can include:

Clauses of condition: Are introduced by if, unless,in case(that), in the event (that), whether or not,even if, only if, providing (that), provided (that)

E.g.: If the weather is fine, well go swimming.

We hired a substitute for the night in case you felt too

illClauses of comparison: Are introduced by than,

or asas.

E.g.: Jane looks more beautiful than Mary does.

He works as efficiently as I do.


24/27

Clauses of reason: Are introduced by because,since, as, now that

E.g.: Since we have won $1,000,000, we can gotraveling to many places

Now that the semester is over, Im going to rest a fewdays and then take a trip (Now that is used forpresent causes of present or future situations)

Clauses of contrast: Are introduced by though,although, even though.

E.g.: Although she is wealthy, she is not arrogant.

I still love him though he has nothing now.Clauses of purpose: Are introduced by so that, in

order that.

E.g.: The students are learning hard so that they can get

the best results.

Clauses of result: Are introduced by


25/27

Clauses of result: Are introduced bysothat

E.g.: The movie was so exciting that everyone

stayed till the end to watch it.Clauses of time: Are introduced by when.E.g.: She always sings loudly when she gets

out of bed.Clauses of place: Are introduced by

where.E.g.: He likes going where he is not allowed

toClauses of manner: Are introduced by

how.

E.g.: He always knows how he can do the job.


26/27

Exercise 19, page 36 (Analyzing English)1. That people throw away money on gambling (S:that-cl)never (A:adv P) ceases (V:VP) to amaze me (O: inf cl)

2. I (S:NP) cannot imagine (V:VP) how the mistake couldhave happened (O:wh-cl)

3. He (S:NP)doesnt seem (V:VP) to suffer much (C:infcl)

4. You (S:NP) cannot order (V:VP) me (IO:NP) to jumpinto the river (DO:inf-cl)

5. I (S:NP) think (V:VP) that you will catch him stealingthe apples (O:that-cl)

6. They (S:NP) reported (V:VP) to the police (Oi:prep P)what the prisoner had said (Od:wh-cl)7. It (dummy) disappointed (V:VP) the candidate (O:NP)

that few people came to hear him (S:that-cl)8. We (S:NP)dont know (V:VP) who will be his successor

(O:wh-cl)


27/27

Exercise 20, page 39

nha2 - clauses 2

Documents