VIỆN NGOẠI NGỮ

TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC BÁCH KHOA HÀ NỘI

ENGLISH SYNTAX
CHAPTER 6: CLAUSES (PART 1)
 ENGLISH SYNTAX
CHAPTER 6: CLAUSES (PART 1)

CONTENTS
1. Overview of clauses
2. Overview of sentences
3. Subordinate clauses
4. Coordinating and subordinating conjunctions
5. How to recognize clauses

CHAPTER 6: CLAUSES (PART 1)

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 ENGLISH SYNTAX
CHAPTER 6: CLAUSES (PART 1)

1. OVERVIEW OF CLAUSES

Main properties of a clause:

i. Contains a finite verb (marked by tense, person, number)

ii. Finite verb accompanied by complements and adjuncts
iii. Marked for aspect
iv. Has mood
v. Change of syntax  change of emphasis
vi. Describes situations and participants
vii. The first contribution to a discourse (spoken/written)

Practice: Wickham eloped with Lydia.

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 ENGLISH SYNTAX
CHAPTER 6: CLAUSES (PART 1)

1. OVERVIEW OF CLAUSES

Example: Wickham eloped with Lydia.

i. Finite verb: eloped (tense: past, person: third person, number:
singular)
ii. Complements and adjuncts: Lydia
iii. Aspect: simple
iv. Mood: a fact
v. Change of emphasis: With Lydia, Wickham eloped.
vi. Situations and participants: Wickham and Lydia as agents carrying
out the action of running away
vii. First contribution: ‘Wickham eloped with Lydia’ is the first
contribution; ’with Lydia’ cannot be.

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CHAPTER 6: CLAUSES (PART 1)

2. OVERVIEW OF SENTENCES

• Compound: clauses joined by conjunctions

Henry Crawford loved Fanny, but Fanny loved Edmund.

• Complex: a main clause + one or more subordinate clauses

Though Henry Crawford loved Fanny, Fanny loved Edmund.

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CHAPTER 6: CLAUSES (PART 1)

3. SUBORDINATE CLAUSES

i. Complement/Noun clauses  modify verbs/nouns

• After incomplete pieces of syntax:

Elizabeth regretted that she had met Wickham.
• Occur to the left of verbs:
That Anne was in conversation with Mr Elliot dismayed Captain
Wentworth.
• Modify a noun:
Fanny was delighted by the idea that she could subscribe to a library.

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CHAPTER 6: CLAUSES (PART 1)

3. SUBORDINATE CLAUSES

ii. Relative/Adjective clauses  modify nouns

The cottage which Mrs Dashwood accepted was rather small.

The building that we liked is in Thornton Lacey.

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CHAPTER 6: CLAUSES (PART 1)

3. SUBORDINATE CLAUSES

iii. Adverbial clauses  modify verbs/clauses

a. Reason
Because Marianne loved Willoughby, she refused to believe that he
had deserted her.
b. Time
When Fanny returned, she found Tom Bertram very ill.
c. Concession
Although Mr D’Arcy disliked Mrs Bennet, he married Elizabeth.
d. Manner
Henry changed his plans as the mood took him.
e. Condition
If Emma had left Hartfield, Mr Woodhouse would have been unhappy.

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CHAPTER 6: CLAUSES (PART 1)

4. SUBORDINATING AND COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

i. Subordinators/ complementisers: words introducing complement, relative

and adverbial clauses  subordinate clauses
 that; which, who, that; although, because, as, when, if
 Though Henry Crawford loved Fanny, Fanny loved Edmund.

ii. Coordinators: join clauses that have the same status  coordinate
clauses
 Henry Crawford loved Fanny, but Fanny loved Edmund.

Conjoined subordinate clauses:

 If Henry loved Fanny and if Fanny loved Edward, Henry was going to be
disappointed.
 It was Anne Elliot who loved Captain Wentworth but who rejected his first
proposal.

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5. HOW TO RECOGNIZE CLAUSES

i. An adverbial clauses: Does it modify another clause?

When we sell the house, we’ll probably leave most of the furniture.
ii. A complement clause: Does it modify a verb?
A motorist has reported that the road is blocked by snow at Soutra Hill.
iii. A relative clause or A complement clause: Does it modify a
noun?
a. A relative clause: if the subordinate clause is introduced by a WH-
word like who, which, where, or a prepositional phrase like in which
I like the book which/ that you gave me.
b. A complement clause: if the subordinate clause is introduced by
that and this that cannot be replaced by a WH-word
We like that idea that the city centre will be pedestrianised.

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