Syntax 3 types of clauses

Week 11: Types of Clauses


Types of clauses
•

In term of clause types
SV, SVC, SVA, SVO, SVOO, SVOC, SVOA

•

In term of verb phrase
finite; non-finite & verbless clauses

•

In term of clause connection
independent & dependent clauses

•

In term of clause function
nominal, adverbial & adjectival clauses


Overview


A clause is a unit formed around a lexical verb,
including

all

optional

and

obligatory

elements

associated with the verb.


Constituent structure: Subject (NP) + predicate (VP)



Sentence elements: S, V, O, C, A (They selected him
chairman yesterday)


Types of clauses
•

In term of clause patterns
SV, SVC, SVA, SVO, SVOO, SVOC, SVOA

•

In term of verb phrase

finite; non-finite & verbless clauses

•

In term of clause subordination
independent & dependent clauses

•

In term of clause functions
nominal, adverbial & adjectival clauses


Types of clauses
according to clause patterns


SV

:

She smiles.



SVC

:

He is a genius.



SVA

:

They were out of cash.



SVO

:

I lost my key.



SVOO

:

They gave him a black box.



SVOC

:

She found him crying.



SVOA

:

He put the vase on the table.


Types of clauses
•

In term of clause patterns
SV, SVC, SVA, SVO, SVOO, SVOC, SVOA

•

In term of verb phrase
finite; non-finite & verbless clauses

•

In term of clause subordination
independent & dependent clauses

•

In term of clause functions
nominal, adverbial & adjectival clauses


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Types of clauses

By verb phrase

Finite clause
Nonfinite clause
Verbless clause


Types of clauses

By verb phrase

Finite clause
Nonfinite clause

- contains a subject and a predicate
- verb phrase having tense, person & number concord, & mood
Verbless clause


Types of clauses
By verb phrase

Finite clause
Nonfinite clause
Infinitive with to

-ing participle

Infinitive without to

-ed participle


Types of clauses
By verb phrase

Finite clause
Nonfinite clause
Infinitive with to

Without S:
With S:

-ing participle

Infinitive without to
-ed participle
The best thing would be to tell everybody.
The best thing would be for you to tell everybody.


Types of clauses

By verb phrase

Finite clause
Nonfinite clause
Infinitive with to

-ing participle

Infinitive without to
-ed participle
Without S: Leaving the room, he tripped over the mat.
With S:
Her aunt having left the room, I declared my
passionate love for Celia..


Types of clauses
By verb phrase

Finite clause
Nonfinite clause

Without S:
With S:

Infinitive with to

-ing participle

Infinitive without to

-ed participle

All I did was hit him on the head.
Rather than John do it, I’d prefer
to give the job to Mary.


Types of clauses
By verb phrase

Finite clause
Nonfinite clause

Without S:
With S:

Infinitive with to

-ing participle

Infinitive without to

-ed participle

Covered in snow, he looked like a snowman.
We left the room and went home, the job finished.


Types of clauses

By verb phrase

Finite clause
Nonfinite clause
Verbless clause

1. Ellipsis of the verb ‘be’
- Dozens of people died in the accident, many of them children.
- Whether right or wrong, he always dominates the arguments.


Types of clauses
By verb phrase

Finite clause
Nonfinite clause
Verbless clause

2. Reduction of non-finite clauses
- Too nervous to reply, he stared at the book in front of him
and dared not look up.


Types of clauses
•

In term of clause patterns
SV, SVC, SVA, SVO, SVOO, SVOC, SVOA

•

In term of verb phrase
finite; non-finite & verbless clauses

•

In term of subordination
independent & dependent clauses

•

In term of clause functions
nominal, adverbial & adjectival clauses


Types of clauses
1. Independent clause


A clause that can form a sentence itself



Can be conjoined by means of a conjunction.
E.g.
−

She loves him.

−

He doesn't love her.

−

She loves him but he doesn't love her.


Types of clauses
2. Dependent/Subordinate clause


A clause that is part of another clause, which may be
introduced by a subordinating marker.
E.g



−

She think (that) she will win.

−

If you try, you'll make it.

−

He earns as much as you do.

A subordinate clause can function as S, O, Cs, Co, A,
complement of NP or Adj.


Types of clauses
•

In term of clause patterns
SV, SVC, SVA, SVO, SVOO, SVOC, SVOA

•

In term of verb phrase
finite; non-finite & verbless clauses

•

In term of clause subordination
independent & dependent clauses

•

In term of clause functions
nominal, adverbial & adjectival clauses


Types of clauses

By function

Nominal clause

Adverbial clause

Adjectival clause


Types of clauses

By function

Nominal clause
S: That you were wrong is undeniable.
Adverbial clause
Od: Do you know if the teacher has come yet?
Oi: She gave whoever came into the store a handful
of sweets.
clauseto speak in court.
Cs: The problem isAdjectival
that he refuses
Co: You can call me whatever you like.


Types of clauses

By function

Nominal clause

Adverbial clause

Time: When I am retired, I will travel the world.
Place: Where they had been, we saw nothing.

Adjectival clause

Condition: If you’re kind to her, she will do anything for
you.
Reason: I didn’t call him because I totally forgot.


Types of clauses

By function

Nominal clause

• Pizza,which most people love, is not very healthy.
• The people whose names are on the list will stay.
Adverbial clause
• He remembers the old days when there was no TV.

Adjectival clause