Курсовая работа: Complex composite sentence

Attribute Clauses

Attributive clauses are postpositive adjuncts of nouns. They are commonly divided into relative and appositive clauses. Relative clauses are introduced by pronouns (or asyndetically). They are usually subdivided into restrictive and descriptive. The former serve to restrict the meaning of the antecedent, so that when the restrictive clause is left out, the sense of the sentence is seriously impaired.

I don't like girls who can't hold their tongues. (Black). Then we had that raid when Uncle Ned was killed. (Gilbert).

I know the stories you have been feeding him. (lb.).

Descriptive clauses serve to supply some additional information which does not restrict or specify the meaning of the antecedent.

E. g. The following day, which was Wednesday, we went to a solicitor. (Jerome).

What about dining at the Embassy at Chawley, where they still brewed beer. (Gilbert).

A variety of attributive clauses is the appositive clause, which formally differs from an attributive clause in being introduced by a conjunction (that, if, whether).

The awful fact that I might never have met her is rather appalling. (Openheim).

He married you for the romantic reason that he had fallen in love with yon. (Gilbert),

Appositive subordinate clauses mostly occur after abstract nouns such as idea, thought, feeling, fact, impression, reason, doubt, question, etc.

Extension Clauses

Extension clauses are postpositive adjuncts of adjectives, adverbs and adlinks.

E. g. It is indeed doubtful how he had become aware that Roger was being buried that day. (Galsworthy).

The subordinate clause is an extension of the adlink aware.

I am happy that everything went off so nicely.

The subordinate clause is an extension of the adjective happy.

She is so pretty that all our boys are mad about her. (Heyer).

The subordinate clause is an extension of the pro-adverb so.

His head was still in such a whirl that he felt confused. (Dreiser).

The subordinate clause is an extension of the pro-adjective such.

The subordinate clauses in the last two sentences have a distinct consecutive meaning, and may be called 'extensions of result' (instead of the traditional 'adverbial clauses of result').

Parenthetical Clauses

Most authors who do not regard parenthetical elements as parts of the sentence treat It is past ten, I think as a simple sentence. We do not find this view convincing.

1. If I think is not some part of the sentence, it must be regarded as an independent sentence. But it is not independent. Its intonation, position and meaning show that it is connected with It is past ten , to which it is appended and on which it depends.

2. The sentence discussed is not simple because it contains two predications. This becomes especially evident when we compare It is past ten, I think with I think it is past ten .

3. Since we regard parenthetical elements as parts of the sentence we must treat It is past ten , I think as a complex sentence, i.e. a sentence having one of its parts (parenthetical element) expressed by a clause (a parenthetical clause).

In most cases parenthetical clauses are introduced asyndetically, though now and again the conjunctions as, if, etc. are used.

He is, as I told you, their only son. (Dickens).