Sentence Structure--Larger Constituents HANDOUT

I. Larger Constituents of a Sentence

We have been learning about the main sentence patterns and what normally fills the various

function slots. S is usually a noun; OC and SC are usually nouns or adjectives; DO and IO

are usually nouns. But, it is quite possible (and frequent) that something else can fill the slot

besides what we normally expect. For example, the S slot could be filled by an adjective

functioning nominally (a

nominal

is anything that is not a noun but functions like a noun

does):

“The

righteous

are bold.”

S V SC

The S slot could be filled by a prepositional phrase:

“

Above the sea

is the best place for me.”

S V SC

The S slot could even be filled by a whole clause!:

That you love me

is mystifying.

S V SC

If a prepositional phrase or a clause happens to fill a nominal function slot, you would put it

on a standard attached to the place on the base-line where that function slot would appear:

isplacethe

Aboveseathe

best

forme

II. Types of Clauses

This brings us to a very important matter about sentences that we must understand in order

to analyze properly the various clauses: some clauses can stand alone, while other clauses are

integral parts of larger clauses and not able to stand alone. Let’s provide a few terms and

definitions to help clarify matters.

A. Basic Terms

Independent clauses

: Also known as

matrix clauses

or main clauses

. These are

clauses that can stand alone, contain a predicate and at least an implied (if not explicit)

subject, and express a proposition. Exx.:

Martha burned the soup.

Martha made Jesus a meal.

You are beautiful.

Each of these clauses are independent, are able to stand alone, and form a complete

grammatical thought.

Dependent clauses

: Also known as

embedded clauses or subordinate clauses

. These

are clauses that are embedded as constituents in a larger clause and can stand for

nouns, adjectives, and adverbs. They cannot stand alone like an independent clause

can. Exx.:

We love

because He first loved us

. [adverbial clause, modifies “love”]

Paul,

who was an apostle

, wrote Galatians. [relative clause, modifies “Paul”]

I know

that Ivan loves me

. [nominal clause, the DO of “I know”]

Notice that each of these dependent clauses--

because He first loved us

who was an

apostle

that Ivan loves me

--cannot stand on its own grammatically; they each need

the rest of the independent/matrix clause to make sense.

Please notice as well that the first three sample sentences under “independent clauses”

are all

independent clauses.

Be aware that the three sample sentences under

“dependent clauses,” when taken as whole sentences, are

also

independent clauses

that

can stand alone. In the latter three sentences, it is only a

portion of the independent

clause

that, taken by itself, cannot stand alone. What this means, then, is that [1]

some independent clauses have no dependent clauses, and [2] some independent

clauses do have dependent clauses. With this in mind, we can consider a few more

definitions.

Simple sentence

: an independent clause containing

dependent clauses.

Ex.: “Jack loves Mary.”

The term

matrix clause

is usually used to refer to an independent clause that

also

contains a subordinate

clause. When the term

matrix clause

is used, it is often paired with the term

embedded clause

below.

Jack

lovesMary

sherides

motorcycles

because

Iknowmanthe

whoisterrible

Complex sentence

: an independent clause

containing

at least one dependent clause.

Ex.: “Jack

loves Mary because she rides motorcyles.”

Compound sentence

: a sentence that contains two

independent clauses joined by a

coordinating

conjunction

like “and, but, yet, however, rather” (and

not a

subordinating conjunction

like “because, when,

while, after, etc.”). In a compound sentence, each

independent clause could stand by itself. Ex.: “Jack

loves Mary, and she rides motorcyles.”

B. Types of Subordinate Clauses

Relative Clauses

: These are usually introduced by the relative pronouns

who(m),

which, or that

and usually function adjectivally to modify a noun. Consider the two

exx below, and notice what kind of grammatical unit is modifying the word

man

I know the

terrible

man. [Adjective]

I know the man,

who is terrible

. [Relative clause]

Since the relative clause serves to modify a noun, just as an adjective does, then you

would diagram such a clause by placing it

below

the noun’s base-line where you’d

normally put an adjective. The relative clause would be connected by a dotted line

to the main clause; the dotted line will connect the relative pronoun to the

antecedent of the main clause. Notice the structural similarity of the diagrams of

these two sentences:

Iknowmanthe

terrible

Nominal Clauses

: These are subordinate clauses that function as noun phrases

(nominally); that is, they fill a noun function within the sentence. As we’ve seen,

nouns usually fill the DO slot, but so could a nominal clause. Consider these two

exx.:

Iknow

Ivan

terrible

that

Icame

todayarrived

before

I know

Ivan

. [DO = noun]

I know

that Ivan is terrible

. [DO = nominal clause]

Again, to diagram the nominal clause, you’d place it on a standard in the same place

that a normal noun would go:

Adverbial Clauses

: These are subordinate clauses that are introduced by

subordinating conjunctions and serve to modify verb phrases (like an

adverb

does).

They can be subcategorized into a number of different types, just as there are a

variety of types of adverbs: temporal (indicating the timing of the action in the

subordinate clause compared to the verb of the main clause), causal (providing the

grounds/reason for the verbal action main clause), purpose, condition, etc. Consider

these two exx.:

I came

yesterday

. [Temporal adverb]

I came

before today arrived

. [Temporal adverbial clause]

yesterday

Icame