COMPLEX SENTENCE

TERM :

A Clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb

An Independent Clause  is a complete sentence. It contains the main subject and verb of a sentence (it is also called A Main Clause).

A Dependent Clause is not a complete sentence. It must be connected to an independent clause

A.      ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

An Adjective Clause is a dependent clause that modifies a noun. It describes, identifies, or gives further information about a noun (it is also called a relative clause)

A.      Adjective Clause modifies A Subject of A Main Clause

• The girl who is standing over there is Cindy
• The man whom I met yesterday is my Uncle
• The town where I was born was/is really cool
• The student whose score is the best will get a scholarship
• The bag which is bought by my daughter has green color
• The building in which he lives is very old.
• The problem why she quits the job can be understood
• The people whom I saw at the park were playing football
• The house where they live has a large yard

·         The house in which they live has a large yard

·         The house which they live in has a large yard

·         The house that they live  in has a large yard

B.      Adjective Clause modifies An Object of A Main Clause

1.        I know the boy who is talking with the Principal.

2.       She interviewed the Minister whom people talked about lately.

3.        He is visiting the hometown  where he was born in 20 years ago.

4.       We saw the woman whose purse was stolen in the bus this morning

5.       They like the movie which was viewed last night.

6.       I know the reason why she resigned from the company.

7.       A meteorologist is a person who studies weather phenomena.

8.       I have a class which begins at 8.00 A.M.

B.      ADVERBIAL  CLAUSE

An Adverbial Clause is a clause which modifies all sentence of A Main Clause. There are several kinds of Adverbial Clause, such as :

1. Clause of  Time :

It modifies the time when an event happens, usually used the preposition :

when, while, if, by, before, after, whenever, as, as long as, etc

Ø  While the cat's away, the mice will play.

Ø  When he came, it was already dark

Ø  A lie travels around the world while truth is putting her boots on.

Ø  If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.

Ø  Memory is deceptive because it is colored by today's events.

Ø  Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up.

Ø  You have to kiss a lot of toads before you find a handsome prince.

Ø  Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.

Ø  Life is what happens when you are making other plans.

Ø  As soon as you forbid something, you make it extraordinarily appealing.

Ø  Everything is funny, as long as it's happening to somebody else.

Ø  As they knew the truth, they changed their behavior.

2. Clause of Place :

It modifies where something is supposed to happen

Ø  I have put it where I can find it again.

Ø  She always follows where her boss works

Ø   They can stay where they are..

Ø  Wherever you stay, I will come to that place to live.

Ø   He led the caravan, wherever he wanted to go.

Ø  I will stop  wherever you like.

Ø   Let him be arrested wherever he may be found.

Ø   Let us go to where they asked us to wait.

3. Clause of Reason :

The Adverb-Clauses of Reason will begin with because, since, as that ,etc

Ø  People don’t like her, because she is arrogant

Ø  Because he likes his master, he helped his master.

Ø  I did this work, because this work is part of my educational project.

Ø  I did not buy it because I did not like the look of it.

Ø  Because he is rich, he thinks he can buy all of us juices.

Ø  I am glad that you like this town.

4. Clause of Purpose :

Adverb Clause of Purpose will begin with  So that,  In order that,, In order to, Lest

Ø  We have to eat so that we can live.

Ø  We study hard, so that (in order that) we can pass the exams

Ø   I will give you a map so that you can find the way to your relative’s house.

Ø   Sleep well lest you will write your exam very well.

Ø  He was extra polite to his superiors lest something adverse should be written into his records.

Ø  He was invited to the function in order to show him how wonderfully this function has been organized.

Ø  Let us go now itself so that we can catch the train.

Ø  He drew the sword so that he could defend himself.

Ø  Come here so that I could bless you.
.

5. Clause of Condition :

It is the clause of conditional if which modifies the impact of an activity

Ø  If  I have a lot of money, I will build school for orphanages

Ø  If it rains, we shall stay at home.

Ø   If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.

Ø   You must go whether you hear from him or not.

Ø   Whether he gives you what you like, you should speak the truth.

Ø   Unless you work hard you will fail in this exam.

Ø   You may forgive your friend on condition that he really regrets his mistake.

Ø  Unless you  do your best, you will get disappointed

In few sentences, the conjunctions in the Adverb-Clauses of Condition may be omitted.
There is also this kind of clause

• Had I not seen this with my own eyes, I would not have believed this.
This sentence does not have the conjunction such as ‘if’ or ‘whether’ or ‘unless’.
Examples:
• Had I the wings of the bird, I would fly away.
• He would be happier, were his friend an honest man.

6. Clause of Manner :

'As if' and 'as though' have a sense of comparison. However, the comparison can be either realistic or unrealistic. If it's realistic, we use normal tenses of the verbs to agree with the main clause. If it's not, we use 'more past'.

Ø  Good students come to class on time as the teacher tells them to.

Ø  He ate as if he were starving for months.

Ø  She acts as if it's a joke.

Ø  He acted as if he knew everything

Ø  When someone's pager goes off in the cinema, Sam looks as though he wanted to tear the owner to pieces.

Realistic Comparison

If it's realistic, we use normal tenses of the verbs to agree with the main clause.

Ø  She acts as if it's a joke.

It's possible that it's a joke. Therefore, we use the present tense to agree with the present tense in the main clause.

Ø  He cried as though he is in pain.

Maybe he's really in pain.

Unrealistic Comparison

If it's unrealistic, we use 'more past'.

Ø  He cried as though he were a baby.

He's not a baby.

Ø  He ate as if he were starving for months.

It's impossible for anyone to starve for months.

7. Clause of Contrast :

A Clause which modifies the opposite condition of the main clause.

There are some kinds of Clause of Contrast, they are :

1.        Although, though, even though, while, whereas

a.       You still work hard, although you are very tired

b.       Though can come at the end of a sentence, although cannot:

Although I asked her, she didn't come./I asked her, (but) she didn't come, though

c.       Even though is more emphatic:

Even though I asked her, she didn't come. (Which was surprising.)

d.       While and whereas are rather formal. They contrast opposite ideas:

While United were fast and accurate, City were slow and careless.

Note :

The linking words although, though, in spite of, despite express the idea of contrast

A contrast clause needs a main clause to make a complete sentence.

                We use a subject + verb after these conjunctions  : although    though     even though 

                We use Use “in spite of” and despite  before a noun, pronoun , noun phrase 

or –ing form of a verb:

2. However

                  This is more common in formal speech and writing:

                            It's cheap. However, I don't like it./I don't like it, however.

3. Nevertheless

                  This is a very formal way of expressing however:

                  Smith says he is   poor. Nevertheless, he has bought a new car.

4. Despite and In Spite of

                  They can be followed by nouns (or gerunds), and not by clauses:

                  Despite losing, we celebrated. In spite of the rain, we went out.

8. Clause of Result :

1. So/such + adjective + that

o   Jim was so tall (that) he hit his head on the ceiling.

o   Helen is such a busy person (that) she never feels bored.

o   She was so disappointed that she almost cried.

2. So much/many/few/little + noun +that

o   There were so many passengers (that) we couldn't find a seat.

o   There are so much ambition in her life that she feels difficult to achieve

3. Too + adjective + to

o   The table was too heavy to lift.

o   The shoes are too small to put on

4. Not + adjective + enough

o   The table was not light enough to lift.

5. So + adjective + that

o   She was so disappointed that she almost cried.

9. Clause of Comparison :

There are two kinds of Adverb clauses of comparison, they are :

1.        Adverb clauses of comparison of degree

2.       Adverb clauses of comparison of manner

Adverb clauses of comparison of degree

Adverb clauses of comparison of degree are introduced by the subordinating conjunction than, or by the relative adverb as.

·         She is older than she seems

·         He works harder than I do.

·         It is later than I thought.

·         She is smarter than people guess

·         She is not so stupid as you think.

·         He is as stupid as he is lazy.

·         She is as beautiful as she is intelligent.

·         The manager should give more than most staffs expect

·         He is older than he looks.

·          You must work harder than I do.

·          He is as stupid as he is lazy.

Notes

In adverb clauses of comparison of degree, the verb is usually understood and not expressed.

·         Nobody loves you more than I (do).

·         Nobody knows it better than he (does).

In an informal style, it is more common to use object pronouns after as and than. This is particularly common when the verb is not expressed.

Compare:

She earns more than I do. OR She earns more than me.

(More natural than She earns more than I.)

Adverb clauses of comparison of manner

                These are introduced by the relative adverb as.

§  You may do as you please.

§  It ended as I expected.

§  As you have made your bed so you must lie on it.

§  As he has lived so he will die.

C.     NOUN  CLAUSE

A Noun Clause is a clause which function as a subject or an object.

A  Noun Clause is used as a subject or an object, but it is a clause which replaces a certain subject or object so that the sentence is completely understandable well.

 Example :

(a)       Her story was interesting (Noun as a subject)

(b)        What she said was interesting (Noun clause as a subject)

(c)         I heard her story (Noun as an object)

(d)        I heard what she said (Noun clause as an object)

Explanation :

(a)     Her story is a noun. It is used as the subject of the  sentence

(b)     What she said is noun clause. It is used as the subject of the sentence. The noun clause has its own subject (she) and verb  (said).

(c)     Her story is a noun. It is used as the object of the verb heard

(d)     What she said is a noun clause. It is used as the object of the   verb heard

A.      Noun Clause replaces A Subject of A Main Clause

1.        That father became angry  frightened my younger brother

2.       How she gives the speech has amazed everybody

3.       Where you live should be known by school

4.       Why I teach English here is well understood

5.       What they are talking about is important

6.       Whether he will stay or leave must be reported

7.       How far the place is wasn’t a problem

8.       What time the ceremony will start should be announced

9.       Who will be the winner is wondering

10.    Whose report is the best will be published

B.      Noun Clause replaces An Object of A Main Clause

1.        I understand what teacher explains

2.       She can remember what time it happened

3.       He told me who will become the winner

4.       Can you show us where the library is ?

5.       They don’t care how it could be

6.       Do you know why she was absent yesterday ?

7.       We confused which methods we should use

8.       Could you tell me how much the books cost ?

9.       May I know whose car it is ?

10.    She knows how old the children are

11.      I don’t know whether he will come or not

EXERCISE 1

Subject Pronouns or Object Pronouns !

Decide whether the relative pronoun is a subject pronoun or an object pronoun.

1. Do you know the girl who I danced with? - subject pronoun object pronoun
2. Do you know the girl who danced with me? - subject pronoun object pronoun
3. The apples that are lying on the table are bad. - subject pronoun object pronoun
4. The apples that we bought in the shop are bad. - subject pronoun object pronoun
5. We will stay at a hotel which is not far from the beach. - subject pronoun object pronoun
6. We will stay at a hotel which my friend has recommended to us. subject pronoun object pronoun
7. That is a museum which I like very much. - subject pronoun object pronoun
8. That is a museum which lies in the heart of the town. subject pronoun object pronoun
9. This is the man who Barbara visited in Scotland. subject pronoun object pronoun
10. This is the man who lives in Scotland.

EXERCISE 2.

Choose the correct relative pronoun (who, which, whose).

1. This is the bank _____was robbed yesterday.
2. A boy ______sister is in my class was in the bank at that time.
3. The man _______robbed the bank had two pistols.
4. He wore a mask ______made him look like Mickey Mouse.
5. He came with a friend _______waited outside in the car.
6. The woman _______gave him the money was young.
7. The bag _______contained the money was yellow.
8. The people ______were in the bank were very frightened.
9. A man _______mobile was ringing did not know what to do.
10. A woman _______daughter was crying tried to calm her.
11. The car ______the bank robbers escaped in was orange.
12. The robber ______mask was obviously too big didn't drive.
13. The man _______drove the car was nervous.
14. He didn't wait at the traffic lights _______were red.
15. A police officer _______car was parked at the next corner stopped and arrested them.

EXERCISE 3.

Clauses of contrast and purpose

Type the correct word into the box.

although, as, despite, even, for order, spite that

1. We came in quietly sonot to wake the baby.
2. He always beats me at tennis, in of the fact that he never practises.
3. We aren't making a profit, though everyone's working overtime.
4. she's a vegetarian, she often eats fish.
5. I enjoyed the match the result.
6. She opened her window so she could hear the birds singing.
7. I got there early in to get a good seat.
8. He flew to Geneva a job interview.

EXERCISE 4.

 CONTRAST CLAUSES

  1)She knew how to cook. She said  she didn’t.

Although

2)Suzy arrived two hours late. She didn’t apologize.

Despite

3)Alan doesn’t need any money. He still works.

Although 

4)My uncle had money. He didn’t buy the kids ice-creams.

In spite of  

5)Sam had an accident due to alcohol. He didn’t give up his habit.

Though

6)Ana needed help. She didn’t ask  for any.

Although

7)Gloria failed all her exams. She has no intention to study.

Despite

8)It was 3 am. The girls went on chattering.

Although

9)Abdel had fallen off his bike twice.He won the race.

Although

 10)Mehmet was blind. He finished university in the first place.

Despite

EXERCISE 5.

A. Combine the following sentences using adverb clauses at the end of the sentence.

1. We watched the robins. They raised their young in our apple tree.
2. Becky read the book. It was recommended by a friend.
3. Dad donates his suits to charity. He has worn them a year.
4. The policemen delayed the drivers. The wrecks were cleared.
5. Ann ate an apple. She studied her vocabulary.

B. Combine the following sentences using adverb clauses at the beginning of the sentence.

1. Frank started medical training. He drove a forklift for a living.
2. The rains had started the mud slides. The homes were not safe to live in.
3. Older people love to sit in the park. They feed the birds and visit.
4. I enjoyed camping out. I was much younger.
5. Joe recognized the man. The man had stopped his car to help.

C. Find the adverb clauses in these sentences. What are their meanings (time, place...)? If it is a reduced adverb clause, add the missing words.

1. You seem very happy when you help other people.
2. While you wait, we will detail your car.
3. I am happier than I ever was before.
4. That horse is more obstinate than a mule.
5. The woman took notes while being taught to cook with broccoli.
6. Ben fields baseballs better than he hits.
7. As the lions approached the carcass, the cheetahs retreated once more.
8. While eating, I choked on a bone.

Suggested answers:

A.

1.        We watched the robins while they raised their young in our apple tree.

2.       Becky read the book since it was recommended by a friend.

3.       Dad donates his suits to charity after he has worn them a year.

4.       The policemen delayed the drivers until the wrecks were cleared.

5.       Ann ate an apple as she studied her vocabulary.

B.

1.        Before Frank started medical training, he drove a forklift for a living.

2.       Because the rains had started the mud slides, the homes were not safe to live in.

3.       While they feed the birds and visit, older people love to sit in the park.

4.       When I was much younger, I enjoyed camping out.

5.       After the man had stopped his car to help, Joe recognized him.

C.

1.        when you help other people (time)

2.       While you wait (time)

3.       than I ever was (happy) before (comparison)

4.       than a mule (is obstinate) (comparison)

5.       while (she was) being taught to cook with broccoli (time)

6.       than he hits (baseballs well) (comparison)

7.       As the lions approached the carcass (time)

8.       While (I was) eating (time)