Finite Clauses

Types of Sentences
Simple Compound Complex Compound Complex

Clauses
Word --> Phrase --> Clause --> Sentence Clauses have a verb - one main verb per clause Finite Clauses - Verb inflected for tense Non-Finite
Infinitive Participial, including Gerunds

Types of Embedded Sentences

Subordinate Clauses (Adverbial)
Indicate time, place, manner, cause, or condition Usually preceded by a subordinator

Relative Clauses (Adjectival)

Relative Pronouns Restrictive vs. non-restrictive relative clauses

Complement Clauses (Nominal)

Complement Clauses
Appear as an NP Can be the subject of the sentence [That you like bananas] is surprising. Can be an object I know [that you like bananas.] Can be replaced by a pronoun (It is surprising; I know it.) That is a complementizer.

Direct Discourse
Direct discourse is when a person is quoted: He said, You took my cheese. Indirect Discourse is when a person is paraphrased. He said that you took my cheese. In direct discourse, time, place, and participants are tied to the original utterance. She said, The treasure is buried here. He said, Is your party tomorrow.

Interrogative Complement Clauses

One of the NPs in the complement clause is replaced by an interrogative pronoun Examples:
I know [who stole my cheese]. I heard [what you said]. I wonder [how they did that].

Notice that the WH-word appears at the beginning of the clause and that no question mark is used.

Non-Finite Clauses

Non-Finite Clause: Infinitives

Introduced by to or for to.
I want [to buy the cheese]. [To err] is human. [For him to err] is terrible.

Can also appear without to:

I heard him break the cookie jar. He made me eat my spinach.

Can be nominal, adverbial (I bought it [to surprise you].), or adjectival (He was the last person [to talk to me.]). See page 357.

S
NP MVP VP NP

MV
NP

S
VP MV NP my cheese

N
Chris wants

(Chris) take

take

cheese

Chris

wants

S
NP MVP VP NP

MV
NP

S
VP MV take NP my cheese

N
Chris wants Bill

Bill take cheese

Chris

wants

To and For/To Infinitives

Sentences with infinitive clauses as subject use for if the subject is part of the clause
For you to say that is shocking. To say that is shocking.

Sentences with for/to clauses as direct objects are less direct than those with to
She sent him to buy supplies. She sent for him to buy supplies. She asked him to leave. She asked for him to leave.

Bare vs. to Infinitives

Tied to degree of likelihood that event took place She made him shave She let him shave --> He shaved She asked him to shave. She wanted him to shave. --> He might not have shaved.

Types of Verbs Taking Complement Clause

Modality Verbs want, try, begin, fixing to Manipulative Verbs make, force, beg, order, let, ask, tell Perception see, hear, watch Cognition know, understand, hope, think Utterance say, reveal, announce P-C-U verbs tend to take that complements

Reminder: Non-Finite Clauses

Infinitives
To-Infinitives For-To-Infinitives Bare Infinities

Participles
Present Participial Clauses Past Participial Clauses

Participial Clauses

Present Participial Clauses

Adverbial
Walking to work, I spotted an eagle. While walking to work, I spotted an eagle. (elliptical subordinate clause) Many people having seen the eagle, I am now satisfied.

Adjectival
The people standing on the street were watching the eagle.

Gerund (Nominal)
Watching the eagle was fun.

Usage: Dangling Modifiers

Dangling Infinitives
Eager to work, my tools lay before me. To feel rewarded, a job must be well-paying.

Dangling Present Participle

Flying high in the sky, I spotted an eagle. Standing on a cliff, the ocean inspired me.

Dangling Past Participle

Hard boiled, I took the eggs out of the water. Fed well, the entertainment began. Sauced and seasoned, I tasted the entre.

Nominative Absolutes
Actually Adverbials, but still called nominative Tensed form of the verb or auxiliary BE is deleted Examples: (pp. 395-396)
His mind on the test, Bill entered the classroom. The children fed and put to bed, Pat and Chris relaxed. My hair a mess, I wandered into the classroom. Eyes gleaming, they ran into the playground. They ran into the playground, their eyes ablaze.

Practice: Adverbial, Adjectival, or Gerund

1. The children playing in the street should be warned. 2. Visiting professors can be boring. (trick question) 3. Whistling loudly, I walked into the dark. 4. Educated as to the facts, the citizen voted. 5. My jumping into the lake amused my family. 6. The test given to the students was easy. 7. Pumped, the kids began the contest.

Adverbial Present Participle

I spotted ng eagle

work

S
NP MVP PRO

Adverbial Present Participle VP

NP ADVP

MV DET N NP PRO

S
VP MV

PREPP
work

spotted an eagle (I)

walking to

Adjectival Present Participle

I spotted eagle ng street

S
NP MVP PRO

Adjectival Present Participle VP

NP ADJP

MV DET N NP

S
VP MV

PREPP

spotted an eagle (eagle) walking on the street

song

We

enjoyed

S
NP MVP VP NP

PRO

MV
NP

S
VP MV NP

N
We enjoyed

he singing that song (his)