Syntax 3 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 &

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

 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

 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

By verb phrase Finite clause

Nonfinite clauseVerbless clause

Types of clauses

By verb phrase Finite clause

Nonfinite clauseVerbless clause

- contains a subject and a predicate

- verb phrase having tense, person & number concord, & mood

Types of clauses

By verb phrase Finite clause

Nonfinite clause

Infinitive with to Infinitive without to -ed participle

-ing participle

Types of clauses

By verb phrase Finite clause

Nonfinite clause

Infinitive with to Infinitive without to -ed participle

-ing participle

Without S: The best thing would be to tell everybody.

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

Types of clauses

By verb phrase Finite clause

Nonfinite clause

Infinitive with to

Infinitive without to -ed participle

-ing 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

Infinitive with to

Infinitive without to -ed participle

-ing participle

Without S: All I did was hit him on the head.

With S: Rather than John do it, I’d prefer

to give the job to Mary

Types of clauses

By verb phrase Finite clause

Nonfinite clause

Infinitive with to Infinitive without to -ed participle

-ing participle

Without S: Covered in snow, he looked like a snowman.

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

Types of clauses

By verb phrase Finite clause

Nonfinite clauseVerbless 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 clauseVerbless 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.

− 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

By function Nominal clause

Adverbial clause

Adjectival clause

Types of clauses

By function Nominal clause

Adverbial clause

Adjectival clause

Types of clauses

S: That you were wrong is undeniable.

Od: Do you know if the teacher has come yet?

Oi: She gave whoever came into the store a handful

of sweets

Cs: The problem is that he refuses to speak in court Co: You can call me whatever you like.

By function Nominal clause

Adverbial clause

Adjectival clause

Types of clauses

Time: When I am retired, I will travel the world.

Place: Where they had been, we saw nothing.

Condition: If you’re kind to her, she will do anything for

you.

Reason: I didn’t call him because I totally forgot.

By function Nominal clause

Adverbial clause

Adjectival clause

Types of clauses

• Pizza,which most people love, is not very healthy

• The people whose names are on the list will stay

• He remembers the old days when there was no TV