7/31/2019 5_complex Sentences (Nominal&Relative)

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Mihai ION Basic English Syntax

COMPLEX SENTENCES

(Nominal Clauses)

Type of Clause

(Function)

Introduced by Examples

Subject

(S)

that, wh-word That she has achieved such fame surprises her.

Its true (that) shes never had cookery lessons.How she wrote her first bookis a story in itself.

Where to startwas a problem. [non-finite]

Predicative

(SC)

that, wh-word Her belief isthat preparing good food is a matter of

taste and patience.

The problem was which would be better.

The problem is which to choose. [non-finite]

Appositional

(Appo)

that, wh-word You cant deny the factthat shes brilliant.The question where she gets her recipes is now solved.

The question where to startis a worry. [non-finite]

Direct Object

(DO)

that, wh-word She believes (that) vegetables are best eaten in season.You can see why Toms parents are so proud of him.

Do you know whether shes writing another book?Im wondering what to do. [non-finite]

Indirect Object

(IO)

wh-word Ill give whoever wants one a copy.

Object

Complement

(OC)

wh-word He can call his new bookhowever he wants.Kate painted her roomhow she wished.

Adjectival

Complement

(AC)

that, wh-word Shes glad (that) people like her paintings.

Im not sure who gave me this pencil.

I am uncertainhow to cook this. [non-finite]

Prepositional

Complement

(PC)

prep + wh-word From what you say, shes brilliant.

Its a questionof which to choose. [non-finite]

7/31/2019 5_complex Sentences (Nominal&Relative)

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Mihai ION Basic English Syntax

COMPLEX SENTENCES

(Relative Clauses)

Type of Clause

(Function)

Introduced by Examples

A. Defining

[no commas](a) Personal

(S)

(O)

(PC)

(Possessive)

that, who, (prep) whom,

whose

The girlthat/who lives next dooris a friend of mine.

Is that the man __/that/who(m) you met on holiday?

The boy __/that/who I was telling you aboutis in Spain.

The boyof whom I was talking is now in Spain. [fml]

The young man whose car was stolen went to the police.

(b)Non-personal

(S)

(O)

(PC)

(Possessive)

that, (prep) which,

whose, noun + of which

A dogthat/which barks all nightis a nuisance.

Im enjoying this book__/that/which I borrowed from the

library.This cat __/that/which Im so fond ofbelongs to my aunt.

This cat of which Im so fondbelongs to my aunt. [fml]

Last year they stayed in some Irish village whose name

theyve now forgotten.

Last year they stayed in some Irish villagethe name of

which they have forgotten. [fml]

B. Non-defining

[with commas]

(a) Personal

(S)

(O)

(PC)

(Possessive)

who, (prep) whom,

whose

Susan, who came on holiday with us, is now in Scotland.

My brother, who(m) you met last year, has got a new job.

His girlfriend Jane, who(m) we were talking about, is

coming tonight.

His girlfriend Jane,about whom we were talking, iscoming tonight. [fml]

The Grants, whose house has been burgled six times,never go on holiday now.

(b)Non-personal

(S)

(O)

(PC)

(Possessive)

(prep)which, whose,

noun + of which

I dont like the Grants dog, which barks all night.Im re-reading Great Expectations, which I havent read

for years.St. Pauls Cathedral, which the guide was referring to,

was designed by Sir Christopher Wren.

St. Pauls Cathedral,to which the guide was referring,

was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. [fml]

Canterbury, whose cathedral is famous, is in Kent.

Canterbury,the cathedral of which is famous, is in Kent.

[fml]