relative 14

creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.” (Rev [r]

English Grammar 101

Parts of Speech

 Nouns

 Pronouns  Verbs

 Adjective  Adverbs

Parts of Speech (2)

 Nouns: words that name persons, places, things, or ideas  Pronouns: words that stand in for a noun

 Verbs: words that express action or state of being  Adjectives: words that describe nouns or pronouns  Adverbs: words that describe verbs

 Prepositions: words that connect a noun and its modifiers to

another component of the sentence

 Conjunctions: words that join nouns, verbs, or other parts of

a sentence

Parts of a Sentence

 Every sentence has a subject and a predicate.

 The subject is the noun or the pronoun that the

sentence says something about;

 The predicate is what is said about that noun or

pronoun, i.e., what that noun does or what that noun is

 “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35 NIV)

Subjects and Predicates

 “And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it.” (Rev 5:3 NRSV)

 “no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth” is the

subject; the main subject would be “one”; the rest is composed of modifiers (or descriptors)

 “was able to open the scroll or to look into it” is the

Subjects and Predicates (2)

 “When he had taken the scroll, the four living

creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” (Rev 5:8 NRSV)

 The subject is in italics; all the rest is predicate (“when he

had…” tells when the elders “fell”)

 Predicates can be split up; subjects not always come

first

 In this sentence, we find a “compound subject” (more

Subjects and Predicates (3)

 “And the elders fell down and worshiped.” (Rev

5:14b NRSV)

 In this example, we find a “compound predicate”: the

subject governs more than one verb – (1) “fell down” and (2) “worshiped”

 “Then I saw between the throne and the four living

creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.” (Rev 5:6 NRSV)

Subjects and Predicates (4)

 Sentences starting with “there” or “it”: these

words are often used as a kind of “place marker” for the real subject of a sentence

 “There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be

famines.” (Mk 13:8 NRSV)

 Grammatically speaking, the sentence is: “Earthquakes will

be [=will occur] in various places; famines will be [=will

Subjects and Predicates (5)

 “But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin

year after year.” (Heb 10:3 NRSV)

 Grammatically speaking, the sentence is: “But a

reminder of sins is in these sacrifices year after year.” The real subject is “reminder.”

 “It is senseless to give a pledge, to become surety

for a neighbor.” (Prov 17:18 NRSV)

 Grammatically speaking “to give a pledge” is the

Complements

 Alongside the verb, the predicate often

contains other essential parts of the sentence These may include:

 Direct objects  Indirect objects

Complements (2)

 Direct Objects and Indirect Objects occur

with “action” verbs:

 The direct object receives the impact of the

action Put another way, the subject enacts the verb upon the direct object

 “I baptize you with water for repentance.” (Mt

3:11 NRSV) The subject (“I”) enacts the verb

Complements (3)

 “He went and took the scroll.” (Rev 5:7 NRSV)  The Lamb (“he”) does the going and taking; “the

scroll” is the object affected by the Lamb’s actions “The scroll” is the direct object

 “Bear fruit worthy of repentance.” (Mt 3:8 NRSV)  In this imperative sentence, “fruit” is the thing

Complements (4)

 Indirect Objects: nouns or pronouns that are the indirect recipients of the action, often the

“beneficiaries” of the action (“to” or “for” whom the action happens)

 “By your blood you ransomed for God saints from every

tribe and language and people and nation.” (Rev 5:9 NRSV)

 The subject is “you”; the main verb of the predicate,

Complements (5)

 “God is able from these stones to raise up

children to Abraham.” (Matt 3:9 NRSV)

 Looking at the infinitive “to raise up,” the direct

object of the infinitive is “children,” the entities actually raised up; the indirect object is

Complements (6)

 Predicate nominatives and predicate

adjectives occur with verbs expressing being or a state of being (also called

“linking verbs”)

 “God is able” (Matt 3:9 NRSV).

 Subject: “God”; verb: “is”; “able” is a predicate

Complements (7)

 “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals.”

(Rev 5:9 NRSV)

 Subject: “you”; main verb: “are”; “worthy” is another

predicate adjective (followed by two complementary

infinitives, “to take” and “to open,” further describing this worthiness)

 “No one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look

into it.” (Rev 5:4 NRSV)

 “worthy” is still a predicate adjective, since “was found” (=

Complements (8)

 “Jesus Christ is Lord” (Phil 2:11 NRSV)

 Subject: “Jesus Christ”; main verb: “is”; “Lord” is a noun

that is being predicated of “Jesus Christ” – it is a predicate nominative

 Sometimes a direct object can also have a

complement in the form of an adjective or noun predicated, in effect, upon it

 “You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God.”

(Rev 5:10 ESV)

 “them” is the direct object, but “a kingdom and priests” is

Kinds of Sentences

 Declarative: sentences stating something (whether fictive or real, narrative or argument)

 “I began to weep bitterly because no one was found

worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.” (Rev 5:4 NRSV)

 Interrogative: sentences asking a question (thus calling for some declarative statement in

response)

 “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”

Kinds of Sentences (2)

 Sometimes an interrogative statement is in

transposed word order: the subject is most easily found when one reformulates the

question as a statement

 “What did you go out into the wilderness to look

at?” (Mt 11:7 NRSV)

 “What” is not the subject; it is, in fact, the object of

Kinds of Sentences (3)

 Imperative: sentences that issue

commands

 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come

near.” (Mt 3:2 NRSV)

 “Bear fruit worthy of repentance.” (Mt 3:8 NRSV)  "Do not weep.” (Rev 5:5 NRSV)

 In all these examples the subject – You – is not

Kinds of Sentences (4)

 There are 1st and 3rd person commands as well, in

which the subject will be expressed

 1st person plural: ”Let us hold fast to our

confession.” (Heb 4:14 NRSV)

 3rd person singular: “Let him who is without sin

among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” (Jn 8:7 ESV)

 3rd person plural: “If any want to become my

Nouns

 Words that denote a person, place, thing, or idea  Can be “proper” nouns (e.g., Peter, Judea) or

“common” nouns (e.g., disciple, region)

 Can have “number”: singular, “disciple”; plural, “disciples” (note: usually there is a change of

form)

Nouns

 Then I saw between the throne and the

four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth

 He went and took the scroll from the

Nouns

 Then I saw between the throne and the

four living creatures and among the elders a

Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth

 He went and took the scroll from the

right hand of the one who was seated on the

Pronouns

 Words used in place of a proper or

common noun A pronoun generally has an antecedent – a specific noun named

Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns have “person,” “number,” and “case.”

 Singular (nominative): I (1st) , you (2nd) , he, she, it

(3rd)

 Plural (nominative): we (1st) , you (2nd) , they (3rd)

Personal Pronouns

And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it

Personal Pronouns

And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it

Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that

Possessive Pronouns

 Singular: mine, yours, his, hers, its  Plural: ours, yours, theirs

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours [= our sins] only but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2) “My beloved is mine and I am his.” (Song

Possessive Pronouns

vs Possessive Adjectives

 Pronouns: stand in for nouns – “he atoned

not only for their sins, but ours.” “Ours” stands in for the noun “sins.”

 Adjectives: describe nouns – “he atoned for

Intensive and Reflexive Pronouns

 Singular: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself  Plural: ourselves, yourselves, themselves

Intensive: “He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.” (John 1:8)

Reflexive: "Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, 'Where I am going, you

Definite Relative Pronouns

 Introduce subordinate clauses that, as a whole, function as adjectives (supplying additional

information about some noun or pronoun) As

with most pronouns, the definite relative pronoun points back to some antecedent (some noun to

which it is referring)

Relative Clauses

 The relative pronoun introduces a relative clause with a verb and, often, objects, modifiers, and

prepositional phrases The entire clause modifies some noun or pronoun in the main sentence (the antecedent of the relative pronoun)

 A relative clause generally could have been written as a separate sentence:

 You love Lazarus.  Lazarus is sick.

Relative Pronouns (and relative clauses)

 “He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne.”

 “This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke.” (Matt 3:3)

 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me,

Indefinitive relative pronouns

 The relative pronoun can also be used

where there is no antecedent, sometimes generalized (“whoever, whatever”)

 “Whoever denies me before others, I also

will deny before my Father in heaven.” (Matt 10:33)

 “Remember then what you received and

Interrogative Pronouns

 Used to ask questions; no antecedent  Who? What? Which?

 “Who is worthy to open the scroll and

Demonstrative Pronouns

 Used to “point out” particular objects.  This, these; that, those

Demonstrative Pronouns

 “This [= “this person”] is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke.” (Matt 3:3)

 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying,

"Who are these [=“these people”], robed in white, and where have they come from?“ (Rev 7:13)

Indefinite Pronouns

 These pronouns not refer to specific

persons or things, but rather to general types or classes

 Anyone, anybody, anything; someone,

somebody, something; everyone,

Indefinite Pronouns

 “Blessed is anyone who takes no offense at

me.” (Matt 11:6)

 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared

to someone who sowed good seed in his field.” (Matt 13:24)

 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Reciprocal Pronouns

 Pronouns indicating that the individual

members of a collective subject act back on other members of the group

 One another, each other

 “I give you a new commandment, that you

love one another.” (John 13:34)

 “What are you discussing with each other

Appositives

 Nouns or pronouns can be used simply to rename another noun or pronoun in the sentence The

second noun or pronoun is said to stand in “apposition” to the first, and is like a

parenthetical comment

 “A Savior, Christ, the Lord, is born for you today in

David’s city” (Luke 2:11)

 “Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the

saints….” (Phil 1:1)

 “Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney, a

Verbs

 Action

 Jesus wept.

 I saw a mighty angel

 He went and took the scroll

 State of being

Verbs (2)

 English verbs are often formed by a combination of one or more “helping verbs” with a “main

verb.”

 The Lion … has conquered  You were slaughtered.

 They will reign on earth.

Helping Verbs Listed

 Common Helping Verbs:

 Do, does, did  Has, have, had

 Am, are, is, were, was, be, being, been

 Modal Helping Verbs

 Can, could  May, might  Must

Verbs: Person and Number

 1st Person

 Singular: I heal.  Plural: We heal.

 2nd Person

 Singular: You heal.

 Plural: You (Y’all) heal.

 3rd Person

Verbs: Voice

 Active: The subject of the sentence performs the action of the verb, often upon one or more objects

 He went and took the scroll.  They will reign on earth.

 Passive: The action of the verb is done to the Subject of the sentence

 You were slaughtered.

Verbs: Tense

(all examples are in active voice)

 Present

 Simple: I baptize.

 Progressive: I am baptizing.

 Past

 Simple: I baptized.

 Progressive: I was baptizing

 Future

 Simple: I will baptize.

Verbs: Tenses (2)

 Present Perfect

 Simple: I have baptized.

 Progressive: I have been baptizing.

 Past Perfect (Pluperfect)

 Simple: I had baptized.

 Progressive: I had been baptizing.

 Future Perfect

 Simple: I will have baptized

Verbs: Tenses (Passive Examples)

 Present

 Simple: I am baptized.

 Progressive: I am being baptized.

 Past

 Simple: I was baptized.

 Progressive: I was being baptized

 Future

 Simple: I will be baptized.

Verbs: Tenses (Passive Examples)

 Present Perfect

 Simple: I have been baptized.  Progressive: N/A

 Past Perfect (Pluperfect)

 Simple: I had been baptized.  Progressive: N/A

 Future Perfect

Verbs: Moods

 Indicative: Narrating Facts or Purported Facts

 John was baptizing in the Jordan River.

 Imperative: Giving Commands

 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

 Subjunctive: Unreal Situations

 "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who

Verbal Forms

 Infinitives: the bare form of the verb

 Present Active (time contemporary with or subsequent to

main verb): “To heal,” “to save,” “to call”

 Present Passive: “To be healed,” “to be saved,” “to be

called”

 Perfect Active (time prior to main verb): “To have healed,”

“to have loved”

 Perfect Passive: “To have been healed,” “to have been

loved”

Infinitives: Uses

 As a noun:

 Subject of verb: “To live is Christ, and to die is

gain.” (Phil 1:21 ESV)

 What is?

 Object of verb: “I want to know Christ.” (Phil 3:10

NRSV)

Infinitive: Uses (2)

 As an adjective:

 “By faith Sarah herself received power to

conceive.” (Heb 11:11 NRSV)

 The infinitive answers the question “what kind of

Infinitive: Uses (3)

 As an adverb:

 “Abraham … obeyed when he was called to go

out.” (Heb 11:8 NRSV)

 Supplies more information about the verb “called”  “God is not ashamed to be called their God.”

(Heb 11:16)

 Supplies more information about the adjective

Participles

 Active: baptizing

 While baptizing by the river, John was arrested.

 Passive: baptized

 Baptized by John, Peter and Andrew went out to preach.

 Participles can form additional voices and tenses with helping verbs, e.g.:

 Perfect Active: having baptized

 Having baptized many, John’s reputation spread.  Perfect Passive: having been baptized

Participles: Usage

 Adjectival Participial Clauses: the

participles describes some noun or pronoun  “I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the

throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back,

sealed with seven seals” (Rev 5:1 NRSV)

 The participle “seated” introduces a clause that

further describes the “one”; the participles

Participles: Usage (2)

 Adverbial Participial Clauses: the participle gives

more information about the action of the main verb

 “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised,

but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having

acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.” (Heb 11:13 NRSV)

 “[not] having received” and “having seen … and greeted” and “having acknowledged” all describe under what circumstances “these all died.”

 “They were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing

their sins.” (Matt 3:6 NRSV)

Gerunds (Participles acting as Nouns)

 The gerund looks like the present participle

in form: baptizing, seeing, healing

 As a gerund, however, the word acts as a

simple noun, naming the particular action

 “To me, living is Christ and dying is gain” (Phil

1:21 NRSV)

 “Living” and “Dying” are both fulfilling the role

Verbals and their Complements

 Participles, Infinitives, and Gerunds can

take all the complements that a normal verb can take:

 Adverbs

 Direct Objects  Indirect Objects

Adjectives

 Words used to describe nouns or pronouns

Adjectives are words that answer questions like “what kind of ?” or “which _?” or “how many _?”

 Attributive Adjectives (simple descriptors):

 Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the

throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals; and I saw a mighty angel

Adjectives (2)

 Predicate Adjectives: the “point” of the

sentence is to link a noun or pronoun with a descriptor by means of a linking verb (a form of be, become, etc.)

 “No one in heaven or on earth or under the earth

was able to open the scroll” (Rev 5:3)

 “No one [S] … was [V] able [Pred Adj]”  “No one was found worthy.” (Rev 5:4)

Adjectives (3)

 Substantive Adjectives: Adjectives can be

used as nouns, as in the title, “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.”

 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the

earth… Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy (Mt 5:5, NRSV)

 “meek” and “merciful” are actually adjectives

Adjectives (4)

 Adjectives have “degrees”

 Positive: “holy,” “righteous,” “good”

 “you are my strong refuge” (Ps 71:7)

 Comparative: “holier,” “more righteous,” “better”

 “And the LORD made his people … stronger than

their enemies (Ps 105:24)

 Superlative: “holiest,” “most righteous,” “best”

 “The anger of God rose against them and he killed the

Adverbs

 Adverbs are words that give more information about

the action of the sentence – i.e., the verb – or about an adjective or even another adverb Adverbs often

answer questions like:

 How?  Why?  Where?  When?

 Under what circumstances?

 To what degree or extent? (This is the sense in which

adverbs generally describe adjectives and other adverbs.)

Adverbs (2)

 “I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.” (Rev 5:4 NRSV)

 How was John weeping?

 “I know you are enduring patiently and

bearing up for my name's sake.” (Rev 2:3 ESV)  How are the believers enduring?

 “When the disciples heard this, they were

Adverbs (3)

 Like adjectives, adverbs can be compared:

 Positive: “bitterly”

 Comparative: “more bitterly”  Superlative: “most bitterly”

 Irregular comparisons also exist:

 Well, better, best  Little, less, least

Caution: When adverbs look like prepositions

 “And when he had looked around at

everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.” (Mark

11:11)

 “Around” is often used as a preposition, as in “I

heard the voice of many angels around the throne” (Rev 5:11 NASU) In Mk 11:11, however,

“around” describes the action of “looking” –

Prepositions

 Prepositions stand before a noun or

pronoun (and its descriptors) to create a prepositional phrase

 The entire prepositional phrase will

Prepositions (2)

 Some common prepositions in prepositional

phrases (from Mt 3:1-12):  in the wilderness

 from the coming wrath  to yourselves

 at the root  of the trees

 into the granary

Common Prepositions

 About, above, according to, across, after,

against, along, alongside [of], among, around, at, because of, before, behind, below, beneath, beside(s), between, beyond, by, concerning, despite, down, during, except, for, from, in, inside, instead of, into, like, near, of, off, on, out of, over, past, since, through, throughout, to, together with, toward, under, underneath, until, unto, up, upon, up to, with, within,

Prepositions (3)

 “I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up

children to Abraham Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Mt 3:9-10 NRSV)

 Adverbial prepositional phrases:

 “from these stones” (giving information about the “raising”)  “to Abraham” (ditto)

 “at the root” (where is the ax lying?)

 “into the fire” (where is it being thrown?)

 Adjectival prepositional phrase”

Prepositions (4a)

 “Then I saw in the right hand of the one

seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals… And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the

Prepositions (4b)

 “Then I saw in the right hand [adv.: where saw?] of the one [adj.: describes what hand] seated on the throne [adv.: where seated?] a scroll written on the inside [adv.: how or where

written?] and on the back [adv.], sealed with seven seals [adv.: sealed by what means or how?] … And no one in heaven [adj.: describes

“one”] or on earth [adj.] or under the earth [adj.] was able to open the scroll or to look into it

Caution

 Many words that can function as prepositions can also function as other parts of speech!

 “Since” can be a preposition, conjunction, or adverb  “To” can be a preposition (“to the river”), or it can be

part of an infinitive (“to come,” “to sing,” “to look”)

Conjunctions

 Conjunctions are used to link words or

phrases together (coordinating

conjunctions), set them in relationship to one another (correlative conjunctions), or subordinate one clause to another, usually giving some indication of the logical

Conjunctions (2)

 Coordinating Conjunctions: and, or, but,

so, yet:

 “No one in heaven or on earth or under the earth

was able to open the scroll or to look into it.” Rev 5:3 NRSV)

 The first two conjunctions link three prepositional

phrases together as one overarching unit of modifiers describing “one”

 The last conjunction links two infinitives,

Conjunctions (3a)

 “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its

seals, for you were slaughtered and by your

Conjunctions (3b)

 “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its

seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and

language and people and nation.” (Rev 5:9 NRSV)

 The first “and” links two infinitives as complements to

“worthy” (“worthy” of what?)

 The second “and” links two clauses as part of the

rationale introduced by “for” (“you were slaughtered and … you ransomed”)

 The last three occurrences of “and” link four nouns as

Conjunctions (4)

 Correlative (both…and, neither…nor, not only …

but also, either…or):

 “At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has

promised, ‘Yet once more I will shake not only the earth

but also the heavens.’” (Heb 12:28 ESV)

 The “not only…but also” coordinates “earth” and “heaven”

as twin objects of the verb “shake,” while also establishing a stronger relationship between the two objects

 “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where

neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves not break in and steal.” (Matt 6:20 NRSV)

 “neither” and “nor” link “moth” and “rust” as two subjects

Conjunctions (5)

 Subordinating Conjunctions (when, while,

after, before, since; where; whether; as, as if; because; though, although; if, unless; so, so that, in order that; as … as; rather than)

 Used to connect noun or adverb clauses to

Conjunctions (6)

 “And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found

worthy to open the scroll or to look into it Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep See, the Lion of the

tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that

he can open the scroll and its seven seals.’ Then I saw

between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been

slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.” (Rev 5:4-6 NRSV)

Conjunctive Adverbs

 Not to be confused with subordinating

conjunctions, these adverbs can also be used to indicate the relationship between

independent clauses:

 Accordingly, also, anyway, besides, certainly,

consequently, conversely, finally, furthermore, hence, however, incidentally, indeed, instead, likewise,

meanwhile, moreover, nevertheless, next,

Interjections

 Words usually expressing surprise or

emotion, drawing attention to something or some experience

 “And those who passed by derided him, wagging

their heads and saying, ‘Aha! You who would

destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!’” (Mk 15:29-30 ESV)

 “His disciples said, "Ah, now you are speaking

Kinds of Sentences and Clauses

 Clauses: groups of related words containing a subject and a verb

 Independent (or main) clauses: An independent

clause expressed a grammatically complete thought and can stand alone as a complete sentence

 “John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea.”

(Matt 3:1 NRSV)

 “John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt

around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.” (Matt 3:3 NRSV) – a compound of two independent

Kinds of Sentences and Clauses (2)  Dependent (subordinate) clauses: these clauses are

not complete sentences, but must always be attached to a main (independent) clause

 “because no one was found worthy to open the scroll

or to look into it.” (Rev 5:4 NRSV)

 “so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

(Rev 5:5 NRSV)

 “as if it had been slaughtered.” (Rev 5:6 NRSV)

Kinds of Sentences and Clauses (3)

 “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.” (Heb 11:11 NRSV)

 “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive.”

(Main clause; could stand alone as a complete sentence)

 “even when she was past the age” (Subordinate

clause)

 “since she considered him faithful who had

Kinds of Sentences and Clauses (4)

 Phrases:

 These are related groups of words that not contain

both a subject and a verb, e.g., prepositional phrases and participial phrases

 in the right hand  of the one

 seated on the throne  sealed with seven seals

 proclaiming with a loud voice

 having seven horns and seven eyes

Functions of Subordinate Clauses  Adjectival (most often involving relative clauses

introduced by relative pronouns)

 “This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke.” (Matt 3:3

NRSV)

 “Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and

thrown into the fire.” (Matt 5:10 NRSV)

 “One who is more powerful than I is coming after me.” (Matt 5:11

NRSV)

 These can be introduced also by “where,” “when,”

“why,” and “whose”

 “He has risen… Come and see the place where he lay.” (Matt

Functions of Subord Clauses (2)

 Adverbial

 Temporal (when does the action of the main clause take

place?)

 “When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and

the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb.” (Rev 5:8 NRSV)

 Location (where does the action of the main clause take

place?)

 “You knew that I reap where I have not sowed and gather where

I scattered no seed.” (Matt 25:26 ESV)

 Manner (by what means or in what manner does the action of

the main clause take place?)

 “I saw … a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered.”

Functions of Subord Clauses (3)  Cause (for what reason does the action of the main clause

take place?)

 “I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to

open the scroll or to look into it.” (Rev 5:4 NRSV)

 Concession (despite what does the action of the main clause

take place?)

 “Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he

suffered.” (Heb 5:8 NIV)

 Condition (under what circumstances would the action of

the main clause take place?)

 “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and

Functions of Subord Clauses (4)  Purpose (to what end does the action of the main

clause take place?)

 “They watched Him, and sent spies who pretended

to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement.” (Luke 20:20 NASU)

 Result (to what effect did the action of the main

clause take place?)

 “The Lion of the tribe of Judah … has conquered, so

Functions of Subord Clauses (5)

 Noun Clauses: the clause as a whole plays a role usually

assigned to a noun (like subject, direct object, object of a preposition)

 “When he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of

his father Herod, he was afraid to go there.” (Matt 2:22 ESV) – the whole “that” clause is the direct object of “he heard”

 “What you sow must die before it is given new life” (1 Cor 15:36

NJB) – “What you sow” functions, as a whole, as the subject of the sentence

 Note: because noun clauses often play an integral role in