Embedded Clause

8.1. Embedding (review)

Embedding phrase states that several different types of phrases are embedded inside NP. In
particular, both a PP and an NP (the possessor) can be embedded inside NP.
(1) NP
NP[Poss] N PP
D N mansion P NP
The government’s on D N
The hill
8.2 Embedded clauses
The following sentences exemplify three different kinds of embedded clauses. Brackets have been
used to indicate the embedded clauses.
(2) a. John suspects [that Philomena likes him].
b. Murgatroyd will work [when he has eaten lunch].
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c. I love the music [which is broadcast by the public radio station].
In (a), the embedded clause is acting as the complement (specifically the direct object) of the verb
suspects and so is often called a COMPLEMENT CLAUSE. In (b), the embedded clause is
oblique of time and so can be called an OBLIQUE CLAUSE. (also known as ADVERBIAL
CLAUSE). In (c), the embedded clause occurs in inside a noun phrase (NP) modifying the head
and is called a RELATIVE CLAUSE.
Embedded clauses are traditionally called SUBORDINATE CLAUSES, because they are
included in some other clause. In a tree diagram, the main clause is the topmost S and the other
clauses are ‘subordinate’ to it.
(3) S main clause
John suspects that S subordinate clause
Philomena likes him
Besides embedding, there is another way of combining constituents, called CONJOINING.
Conjoining links together two constituents of the same type, to make another constituent of the
same type. It connects them with words like and and or, which are traditionally called
CONJUCTIONS. For example, the following sentences consists of two conjoined independent
clauses. The two clauses, when conjoined with and, form a larger clause.
(4) [s [s John sings] and [s Mary plays the piano]]