The Clauses and Phrases used in Complex sentences

Now in the second phase we’ll try to learn about the clauses and phrases used in a complex sentence, so that we can examine them during analysis of sentence.

Clause:

A clause is a division of a sentence, containing a verb with its subject. Hence the term clause may refer to the main division of the complex sentence, or it may be applied to the others,-the dependent or subordinate clauses. A principal, main, or independent clause is one making a statement without the help of any other clause. A subordinate or dependent clause is one which makes a statement depending upon or modifying some word in the principal clause.

With concern to complex sentence we discuss three types of clauses one by one

(1) Noun Clauses.

Examine the group of words in italics in the following sentences:

1. I expect to get a prize. [Expect what?]

2. I expect that I shall get a prize [Expect what?]

The first group of words, to get a prize, does not contain a Subject and a Predicate of its own. It is therefore a phrase. This phrase is object of the verb expect and hence does the work of a noun. It is therefore a noun phrase. The second group of words, that I shall get a prize, contains a subject and a predicate of its own. It is therefore a clause. This clause is the object of the verb expect and so does the work of a noun. We therefore call it a Noun Clause. Noun clauses have the following uses:-

• Subject: "That such men should give prejudiced views of America is not a matter of surprise."
• Object of a verb, verbal, or the equivalent of a verb: (a) "I confess these stories, for a time, put an end to my fancies;" (b) "I am aware [I know] that a skillful illustrator of the immortal bard would have swelled the materials."
• Just as the object noun, pronoun, infinitive, etc., is retained after a passive verb (Sec. 352, 5), so the object clause is retained, and should not be called an adjunct of the subject; for example, "We are persuaded that a thread runs through all things;" "I was told that the house had not been shut, night or day, for a hundred years."
• Complement: "The terms of admission to this spectacle are, that he have a certain solid and intelligible way of living."
• Apposition. (a) Ordinary apposition, explanatory of some noun or its equivalent: "Cecil's saying of Sir Walter Raleigh, ' I know that he can toil terribly,' is an electric touch." (b) After "it introductory" (logically this is a subject clause, but it is often treated as in apposition with it): "It was the opinion of some, that this might be the wild huntsman famous in German legend."
• Object of a preposition: "At length he reached to where the ravine had opened through the cliffs."

(b) Adjective Clauses:

Look at the words in italics in the following sentences:

1. The umbrella with a broken handle is mine. [which umbrella?]

2. The umbrella which has a broken handle is mine. [which umbrella?]

The first group of words, with a broken handle, describes the umbrella; that is, it qualifies the noun umbrella, and does the work of an adjective. It is what we call an Adjective phrase. The second group of words, which has a broken handle, also describes the umbrella and so does the work of an Adjective. But because it contains a Subject and a Predicate of its own, it is called and Adjective Clause. So, An Adjective Clause is a group of words which contains a Subject and a Predicate of its own, and does the work of an Adjective. The adjective clause may be introduced by the relative pronouns who, which, that, but, as; sometimes by the conjunctions when, where, whither, whence, wherein, whereby, etc. Frequently there is no connecting word, a relative pronoun being understood. Adjective clauses may modify:-

• The subject: "The themes it offers for contemplation are too vast for their capacities;" "Those who see the Englishman only in town, are apt to form an unfavorable opinion of his social character."
• The object: "From this piazza Ichabod entered the hall, which formed the center of the mansion."
• The complement: "The animal he bestrode was a broken-down plow-horse, that had outlived almost everything but his usefulness;" "It was such an apparition as is seldom to be met with in broad daylight."
• Other words: "He rode with short stirrups, which brought his knees nearly up to the pommel of the saddle;" "No whit anticipating the oblivion which awaited their names and feats, the champions advanced through the lists;" "Charity covereth a multitude of sins, in another sense than that in which it is said to do so in Scripture."

(c) Adverb Clauses:

Look at the groups of words ihn italics in the following sentences:

1. They rested at sunset. [Rested when?]

2. They rested when evening came. [Rested when?]

It is evident that both the group s of worked in italics, in 1 and 2, do the work of an Adverb as they modify the verb rested, showing when the action was performed. Since the clause, when evening came does the wok of an Adverb, it is called an adverb clause. So, an Adverb Clause is a group of words which contains a Subject and a Predicate of its own, and does the work of an adverb. The adverb clause takes the place of an adverb in modifying a verb, a verbal, an adjective, or an adverb. The student has met with many adverb clauses in his study of the subjunctive mood and of subordinate conjunctions; but they require careful study. Adverb clauses are of the following kinds:

• TIME: "As we go, the milestones are grave-stones;" "He had gone but a little way before he espied a foul fiend coming;" "When he was come up to Christian, he beheld him with a disdainful countenance."
• PLACE: "Wherever the sentiment of right comes in, it takes precedence of everything else;" "He went several times to England, where he does not seem to have attracted any attention."
• REASON, or CAUSE: "His English editor lays no stress on his discoveries, since he was too great to care to be original;" "I give you joy that truth is altogether wholesome."
• MANNER: "The knowledge of the past is valuable only as it leads us to form just calculations with respect to the future;" "After leaving the whole party under the table, he goes away as if nothing had happened."
• DEGREE, or COMPARISON: "They all become wiser than they were;" "The right conclusion is, that we should try, so far as we can, to make up our shortcomings;" "Master Simon was in as chirping a humor as a grasshopper filled with dew [is];" "The broader their education is, the wider is the horizon of their thought." The first clause in the last sentence is dependent, expressing the degree in which the horizon, etc., is wider.
• PURPOSE: "Nature took us in hand, shaping our actions, so that we might not be ended untimely by too gross disobedience."
• RESULT, or CONSEQUENCE: "He wrote on the scale of the mind itself, so that all things have symmetry in his tablet;" "The window was so far superior to every other in the church, that the vanquished artist killed himself from mortification."
• CONDITION: "If we tire of the saints, Shakespeare is our city of refuge;" "Who cares for that, so thou gain aught wider and nobler?" "You can die grandly, and as goddesses would die were goddesses mortal."
• CONCESSION, introduced by indefinite relatives, adverbs, and adverbial conjunctions,- whoever, whatever, however, etc.: "But still, however good she may be as a witness, Joanna is better;" "Whatever there may remain of illiberal in discussion, there is always something illiberal in the severer aspects of study."
• These mean no matter how good, no matter what remains, etc.

PHRASE:

There are tree types of phrases which we should know before the interpretation of complex sentences, i.e;

(A) Adjective Phrases:

An Adjective Phrase is a group of words that does the work of an Adjective. For example;

Adjectives	Adjective Phrases
A golden crown	A crown made of gold
A deserted village	A village without any inhabitants
The longest day	The day of greatest length

(b) Adverb Phrases:

An Adverb Phrase is a group of words that does the work of an Adverb. For example;

Adverbs	Adverb Phrases
Bravely	IN a brave manner, or with bravery
Unwisely	In an unwise manner, or without wisdom
Soon	Before very long, or at an early date

(c) Noun Phrases:

A Noun Phrase is a group of words that does the work of a Noun. For example;

・ Early to bed is a good maxim.

・ We enjoy playing cricket.

・ Did you enjoy reading this book.

・ Standing about in a cold wet wind did me no good.