CLAUSE TYPES

(SENTENCE STRUCTURES/ SENTENCE PATTERNS)

The various units that make up the structure of a clause or a simple sentence are usually
given functional labels, such as Subject (S), Verb (V), Complement (C), Object (O), and
Adverbial (A). A number of clause types can be identified in this way, such as:

S+V The girl + is dancing.

S+V+O The girl + kissed + her dog.

S+V+C The girl + is + sick.

S+V+A The girl + lay + on the ground.

S + V + O + O The girl + gave + her dog + a bone.

S + V + O + C The girl + called + her dog + Honey.

S + V + O + A The girl + put + her dog + on the sofa.

Beside these seven basic sentence patterns for active sentences, there are four patterns
for passive sentences which in fact come from the patterns for active sentences with O.

S + V pass The boy was hit by a car running at a very high speed.

S + V pass +O The girl was given a nice doll on her last birthday.

S + V pass +C His father has just been appointed Director.

S + V pass +A The wallet was laid under the blanket.

Notes: * Many verbs can be restricted to one clause type.

E.g. seem (type SVC), elect (type SVOC), sit (type SVA)

* Many other verbs may enter more than one clause type

E.g. find (types SVOC, SVO), put (types SVOA, SVOC), open (types SV, SVO)

* The verb get can belong to all types except SV

E.g. The manager is getting furious. (SVC)

The boy got through the window. (SVA)

He has just got a $1.000 reward. (SVO)

She got her shoes and socks wet. (SVOC)

1
 The man got himself into trouble. (SVOA)

She got her mother a nice present. (SVOO)

* Some clause types can be transformed into some other types.

E.g. She sent him a card. (SVOO) She sent a card to him. (SVOA)

He is jobless. (SVC) He is without a job. (SVA)

The baby is sleeping. (SV) The baby is asleep. (AVC)

He hurried. (SV) He ran fast. (SVA)

PRACTICE EXERCISES: &

1. Identify each clause type (sentence structure) in the following sentences:

Example: He/ seems/ nice. (Answer = SVCs)

1. They arrived at the hotel and sat on the terrace.

2. What an extraordinary dancer she is!

3. I warn you that a villa in that area is not cheap.

4. Passing through the sound barrier doesn’t affect the passengers.

5. The precise number of heart attacks from using cocaine is not known.

6. The authorities claim that everything possible has been done.

7. The doctor gave the injured man treatment for shock.

8. The party will have to draw on whatever resources it can.

9. The government’s import policy has made the farmers furious.

10. Can you imagine yourself the owner of a luxury yacht?

11. Somebody snatched her bag in the park.

12. Sierra Leone is one of the world’s biggest producers of diamonds.

13. Save your brother a piece of your birthday cake.

14. She felt her face turn red.

15. He has become what he always wanted to be.

2
2. Identify each clause type (sentence structure) in the following sentences:

1. George’s father greeted the headmaster.

2. The headmaster put George into the second class.

3. That made Stanley angry.

4. His annoyance did not last.

5. He was really a lawyer.

6. He grew himself a great soldier.

7. The manager is not in.

8. May I offer you a cup of coffee?

9. After the war, M. gave him back his saddle-bag.

10. He threw himself from his horse.

11. I remember the reasonableness of my father’s argument.

12. The parson’s cat is an abominable animal.

13. We are in a bit of a mess.

14. I have always lived in the country.

15. Could you call me a porter, please!

3. Identify types of phrases in the following sentences and indicate their

functions.

1. They found her presentation on global warming quite persuasive.

2. What colour is she going to dye her hair?

3. Young people are now surprised at the belief that people should give the company
their unconditional loyalty.

4. The data used by the “green” groups were collected decades earlier.

5. Stocks of fish are declining at a much faster rate.

6. I considered him the best art critic to have emerged in London.

7. He is in a good mood.

3
 8. They are painted in a variety of methods.

9. She has written me a very nice letter.

10. I shall never forget the immense sensation of space the first moment we entered that
room.

11. A full moon was rising over Godrevy.

12. The surprisingly increasing price of petrol is one of the reasons for the city’s
economic crisis.

4. Indicate the clause types of the following passive sentences:

1. People are killed on the roads every day.

2. We were each handed a leaflet.

3. The walls were painted bright pink.

4. He has often been looked upon as slightly mad.

5. All my cards have been laid on the table.

6. Has all this food been paid for?

7. The prisoner was found guilty.

8. His children were found a suitable school.

9. This house has been lived in for two hundred years.

10. Surely, I cannot be refused a proper hearing?

4
 SENTENCES AND CLAUSES

I. Sentences

Traditional grammar defines a sentence in one of two ways:

By meaning, a sentence is a complete thought.

By function, a sentence consists of a subject and a predicate.

In this course, we follow a definition which includes both functional and formal
characteristics of a sentence: ‘a sentence is a full predication containing a subject plus a
predicate with a finite verb.’

Its arrangement may be symbolized by such formulas as S V O (subject + verb + object)

…

A sentence that cannot be subdivided into constituent sentences is known as simple

sentence. And a complicated sentence contains in it combined simple sentences. A sentence
within a sentence is sometime called in modern term an embedded sentence. The traditional
term is clause.

II. Clauses

Analyzing by structural type, we arrive at the three main clauses:

1. Finite clause: a clause whose verb element is a finite verb phrase.

E.g. John has visited New York. (1sentence = 1 finite clause)

Because John is working, he may not hear what you say. (1sentence = 2 finite clauses)

The finite clause always contains a subject and a predicate, except in the case of
commands and ellipsis. The finite clause can be used independently or dependently.

2. Non-finite clause: a clause whose verb element is a non-finite verb phrase.

A. Structure of non-finite clause:

Non-finite clauses can be constructed without a subject and usually are. The four classes
of non-finite verb phrase serve to distinguish four classes of non-finite clause:

+ Infinitive without To

E.g. Without subject: The best thing would be tell everybody.

With subject: The best thing would be for you tell everybody.

5
+ Infinitive with To

E.g. Without subject: The best thing would be to tell everybody.

With subject: The best thing would be for you to tell everybody.

+ ING participle

E.g. Without subject: Leaving the room, he tripped over the mat.

With subject: Her aunt having left the room, I declared my passionate
love for Celia.

+ ED Participle

E.g. Without subject: Covered with confusion, I left the room.

With subject: We left the room and went home, the job finished.

B. Functions of non-finite clauses

a. Non-finite clauses functioning as Subject:

E.g. To go out late at night is very dangerous.

Sitting in front of the computer for 4 hours tires her eyes.

It is a very educational experience to travel alone in a foreign country. (extraposed

S/real S)

b. Non-finite clauses functioning as Object:

E.g. She refused to show me where she lived.

We are considering organizing a barbecue.

Non-finite clauses as O can be infinite clauses (after verbs like want, expect, hope, refuse,
decide, attempt, intend, manage, fail, …) or ING clauses (after verbs like admit, avoid,
consider, deny, finish, imagine, mind, practice, risk, can’t stand, …)

c. Non-finite clauses functioning as subject complement:

E.g. His only good point is helping other people sincerely.

The aim of this course is to improve the students’ pronunciation.

d. Non-finite clauses functioning as object complement:

E.g. They would not allow us to interview the Vice-chancellor.

6
 The headmaster asked that naughty boy to leave school immediately.

Non-finite clauses used with this structure are infinitive clauses after O and verbs like advise,
command, enable, encourage, order, tell, permit, persuade, allow, urge, ….

E.g. Don’t make him work too hard.

They never let their daughter go out alone at night.

Non-finite clauses used with this structure are bare infinitive clauses after O and verbs like
help, let, make, have, ….

E.g. Did you see anyone crawl under the bed?

I overheard them gossiping about the Ambassador’s illness.

Non-finite clauses used with this structure are bare infinitive clauses or –ING clauses after O
and verbs like see, hear, watch, feel, notice,,….

E.g. The young woman had her hair cut once a month.

We had the whole building repainted in pink.

Non-finite clauses used with this structure are –ED clauses after O and verbs like have, get,
like, get, ….

e. Non-finite clauses functioning as adverbial:

* To infinitive clauses as Adverbial of purpose

E.g. The little girl got up early to catch the first train to Tokyo.

He did it to relieve his anger.

* -ING clauses as Adverbial of attendant circumstance

E.g. The young couple strolled along the river bank, holding each other’s

hands.

Helped by favourable weather, the country produced a record harvest.

f. Non-finite clauses functioning as Post modifier in a Noun phrase

E.g. He is always the first person to come to work and the last one to leave the

office.

The new system suggested by the Prime Minister proves to be very successful.

7
 Any driver not having a license should be arrested right away.

g. Non-finite clauses functioning as Adjectival and Prepositional complement

* Adjectival complement:

E.g. They are quite ready to take part in the election campaign.

The manager is eventually hesitant to agree on the staff training scheme.

* Prepositional complement:

E.g. Children are interested in throwing snow at each other.

They are talking about raising money to help people in the natural disaster-struck
areas.

3. Verbless clause: a clause containing no verb element.

E.g. Although always helpful, he can't help you now.

Too nervous to reply, he stared at the floor.

John, then in New York, was quite an ordinary man.

PRACTICE EXERCISES: &

1. Underline all nonfinite subordinate clauses. Identify their functions.

1. He's interested in learning Maths.

2. Flattering your boss doesn't ensure career advancement.

3. This is something for you to eat after your ballet lesson.

4. The old man stood silently, sipping his cappuccino.

5. She loves any dish involving cheese.

6. He wore a suit to please his parents.

7. She had no desire to flatter his parents.

8. Ms. Jacobs will be the best person to oversee the project.

9. She uses her computer to do all her banking.

10. His decision to use an all-female cast surprised all of us.

8
11. Any article left by students in this office will be taken to the Lost Property Office.

12. She stood in the middle of the shop, looking around with interest.

13. We didn't receive any instruction to open the gate.

14. He has been dieting these days to lose weight.

15. For a bridge to collapse like that is unbelievable.

16. She's very glad to help us with the housework.

17. His ambition, to become a famous writer, was never fulfilled.

18. The children were on the beach, busy building sand castles.

19. Discouraged by the failure, he became an alcoholic.

20. She opened the door for Gypsy to go out.

21. This will involve moving all the furniture.

22. He wrote Ms. Chew a friendly letter, thanking her for her help.

23. It won’t hurt you to eat more fruit.

24. I caught him reading your diary.

25. A test doesn’t always give you an opportunity to demonstrate your ability.

26. Older adults who are healthier and living longer than previous generations are powerful
societal forces shaping future employment practices.

27. We need the air-conditioner repaired in three hours.

28. She hopes to get a job within the next three weeks.

29. His advice has always been to consult an astrologer.

30. To put things off until the last minute is a mistake.