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The Complex Sentence

The Complex sentence in English

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13 views3 pages

The Complex Sentence

The Complex sentence in English

Uploaded by

Коста Влъчков
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The Complex Sentence

The complex sentences are formed by joining a number of simple sentences


together. A complex sentence consists of only one main clause and has one or
more subordinate clauses functioning as an element of the sentence.

The main clause is superordinate to the subordinate clause that it contains.

For example: I’ll lend you some money | if you don’t have any money on you.

There are three main structural classes of clauses:

1. A finite clause – it has a finite verb element, has a subject, starts with a
subordinator. -I can’t go out with you because I am studying this evening.
2. A non-finite clause – it has a non-finite verb element, has no subject, has
no subordinator. For example: Knowing my temper, I didn’t reply.
- there are four structural subclasses of non-finite verb clauses:
1.) to-infinitive: The best thing would be to tell everybody. [without S]
2.) bare infinitive: All I did was hit him on the head.
3.) –ing participle: Leaving the room, he tripped over the mat.
4.) –ed participle: Covered with confusion, they apologized abjectly.
- in negative non-finite clause, negative particle is generally positioned
before the verb or the to of the infinitive.
It’s his fault for not doing anything about it.

3. A verbless clause – does not have a verb element. Verbless clauses are
always introduced by a subordinator, most commonly when / until for time
clauses, if / unless for conditionals and though / however for clauses of
concession.

a) When in trouble, ask for help.

b) If in a hurry, take a taxi.

c) Though old, he managed by himself.

In general, finite clauses can be both independent (main) and dependent


(subordinate), but non-finite and verbless clauses can only be dependent.

Subordination – marked by a signal in the subordinate clause:

1. a subordinating conjunction
2. a wh-element

3. the item that

4. subject-operator inversion [declarative clauses]

5. absence of a finite verb

- consist of a single word, but there is a range of multi-word subordinators

Subordinate clauses have three main sets of functions within the sentence:

1. Nominal clauses have a similar range of functions as noun phrases do.


They may function as: a subject, direct object, subject complement,
appositive, adjective complement, prepositional complement.

I didn't ask her what she had done with the money. (Od)

2. Relative (Adjective) clauses work like multi-word adjectives, and


function as restrictive or nonrestrictive post-modifiers of noun phrases in
independent clauses. His uncle, who is already 82, likes to play golf.
3. Adverbial clauses have the same function as the adverbial element in a
sentence or clause. They provide information about what is going on in
the independent (main) clause. Adverbial clauses modify the action,
event, or state expressed by the verb phrase in the independent clause.

Susan won't join us because she is too busy with her homework.

Types of adverbial clauses: Time clauses, Place clauses, Conditional clauses,


Purpose clauses, Result clauses, Manner clauses, Reason clauses, Concession
clauses

Restrictive and non-restrictive relative clauses

1. Restrictive: a relative clause that is essential to the meaning of a sentence


- relative pronouns, adjectives:
The paper that I have just finished is due tomorrow.
The employees who work this afternoon are late.
2. Non-restrictive: a relative clause that is not essential to the meaning of a
sentence:
The final manuscript, which was well formatted, was submitted on time.
The woman , whoever she was, left yesterday morning.

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