Subordination
&
Content Clauses
Teresa Navés tnaves@ub.edu
www.ub.edu/GRAL/Naves
http://diposit.ub.edu/dspace/handle/2445/2
(Search: Naves)
Reference Grammars
Biber, D., Johansson, S., Leech, G.,
Conrad, S., & Finegan, E. (Eds.). (1999).
Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written
English. London: Longman.
Quirk, R., Greenbaum, S., Leech, G., &
Svartvik, J. (1985). A Comprehensive
Grammar of the English Language (2nd
ed.). London and New York: Longman.
Huddleston, R., &
Pullum, G. K. (Eds.).
(2002). The
Cambridge Grammar
of the English
Language. London:
Cambridge University
Press.
Student’s Grammars
Biber, D., S. Conrad, et al.
(2002). Longman Student
Grammar of Spoken and Written
English. Harlow: Longman.
Greenbaum, S., & Quirk, R.
(1990). A Student's Grammar of
the English Language (1st ed.).
Hong Kong: Longman.
Huddleston, R. and
G. K. Pullum, Eds.
(2005). A Student's
Introduction to
English Grammar.
London, Cambridge
University Press.
Naves (200) Comparison grid:
Subordination
Biber et al. (1999, 2002)
Quirk et al. (1985)
Carter & McCarthy (2006)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Nominal
Relative (Adj.)
Adverbial
Other: Comparative, etc.
Huddelston
& Pullum (2002, 2005)
1.
2.
3.
Content
Relative
Comparative
Naves (200) Subordination Comparison Grid
Preliminary Definions of
Subordination & Content Clauses
•
•
•
•
•
Subordination from Oxford Concise Dictionary
of Linguistics
Subordination from Carter & McCarthy (2006)
Content clauses from Oxford Dictionary of
English Grammar
Content clauses from Wikipedia
Content clauses from Huddleston & Pullum
(2002: 950)
http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?entry=t36.e3266&srn=1&ssid=956626726#FIRSTHIT
http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?entry=t36.e3266&srn=1&ssid=956626726#FIRSTHIT
Subordination by Carter &
McCarthy (2006)
Subordination 310
A subordinate clause is dependent on a main
clause or dependent on another subordinate
clause, and cannot in itself form a whole sentence.
Subordinate clauses are typically introduced by a class of
words known as subordinators ( 311 and 312 below).
Subordinators indicate the semantic relationship between
the subordinate clause and the clause it is dependent on.
Subordinate clauses may be finite or non-finite.
297–298 for the difference between finite and non-finite
clauses
Content clause
http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?entry=t28.e301&srn=1&ssid=240490607#FIRSTHIT
ADJUNCT
adjunct 1. (In older usage.) Any word or words expanding the essential
parts of the sentence; an optional, inessential, element in a structure.
The term has been variously used for words or phrases considered to be of
secondary importance, including vocatives, adjectives joined to nouns, and also
some adverbs.
In Jespersen's terminology it describes the functional role of a SECONDARY
joined to a PRIMARY by JUNCTION.
1933b O. JESPERSEN A secondary can be joined to a primary in two
essentially different ways, for which we use the terms Junction and Nexus. As
separate names for the secondary in these two functions we shall use the terms
Adjunct and Adnex.
In this usage, the term adjunct typically applies to an adjective in attributive
position (e.g. a silly person).
http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?entry=t28.e301&srn=1&ssid=240490607#FIRSTHIT
ADJUNCT
2. (In present-day use, more specifically.) An element
functioning like an adverb, whether a single-word adverb, an
adverb phrase, or an adverb clause; sometimes the same as
ADVERBIAL.
Adjuncts in this sense are of course usually marginal to sentence
structure and therefore omissible. Thus in Sadly, my neighbour
died two months ago, both sadly and two months ago could be
omitted, leaving a still grammatical, meaningful sentence.
http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?entry=t28.e301&srn=1&ssid=240490607#FIRSTHIT
ADJUNCT
3. (In some modern grammar.) A particular subclass of adverbial, contrasted
with CONJUNCT, DISJUNCT, and (optionally) SUBJUNCT.
In this categorization, only adverbials functioning as an element of clause
structure (represented as A) are adjuncts. By this definition, clearly is an
adjunct in the first sentence below, but not in the second:
He spoke clearly and to the point
Clearly, I could be wrong
Adverbial adjuncts of this special type often refer to place, time, or process
(including manner, means, instrument, and the agentive with the passive). In
general, these adjuncts come in end position, after the verb (and object, if any).
But other positions are possible, and frequency adjuncts usually come in mid
position (e.g. they usually come).
Adjuncts are sometimes divided on more functional grounds into
PREDICATION and SENTENCE adjuncts.
http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?entry=t28.e301&srn=1&ssid=240490607#FIRSTHIT
Content clause
http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?entry=t28.e301&srn=1&ssid=240490607#FIRSTHIT
Content clause
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Content_clause
Content clauses
We distinguish three main classes of finite subordinate
clauses:
I couldn’t find the book that I wanted (relative)
He gave me more copies that I wanted (comparative)
You know that I wanted it (content)
Content clauses can be regarded as the default category of
this dimention: they lack the special properties of relative
and comparative clauses, and their structure is less different
from the main clauses. (…)
The term content clauses reflects this default status: it
suggests that the clause is simply selected for its syntactic
content.
(Huddleston & Pullum, 2005, p 950)
Huddleston, R. and G. K. Pullum,
Eds.(2005). A Student's Introduction to
English Grammar. London, Cambridge
University Press.
Huddeston &Pullum
(2005)
Chpt 10:
Subordination
&
Content Clauses
Chpt 10: Subord. & Content clauses
TOC:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Subordinate clauses
Clause type in content clauses
Declarative content clauses
Interrogative content clauses
Exclamative content clauses
1. Subordinate clauses
Examples from Huddleston & Pullum (2005) Chpt 10
Source:http://staff.washington.edu/davidgg/ling100/
1. Subordinate clauses
Examples from Huddleston & Pullum (2005) Chpt 10
Source:http://staff.washington.edu/davidgg/ling100/
2. Content Clauses
Examples from Huddleston & Pullum (2005) Chpt 10
Source:http://staff.washington.edu/davidgg/ling100/
3. Declarative Content Clauses
3.1. Declarative content clauses
3.2. Declarative as complement
3.3. The mandative construction
3.1 Declarative Content Clauses
Examples from Huddleston & Pullum (2005) Chpt 10
Source:http://staff.washington.edu/davidgg/ling100/
3.2 Declaratives as complements
Examples from Huddleston & Pullum (2005) Chpt 10
Source:http://staff.washington.edu/davidgg/ling100/
3.3 The mandative contruction
Examples from Huddleston & Pullum (2005) Chpt 10
Source:http://staff.washington.edu/davidgg/ling100/
4. Interrogative content clauses
4.1. Introduction: Closed Interrogatives
and the subordinator whether and if
and Open interrogatives
4.2. Interrogatives as Complement
4.3. Interrogatives as Adjunt
4.1. Interrogative Content Clauses
Examples from Huddleston & Pullum (2005) Chpt 10
Source:http://staff.washington.edu/davidgg/ling100/
4.3. Interrogative as Complement
Examples from Huddleston & Pullum (2005) Chpt 10
Source:http://staff.washington.edu/davidgg/ling100/
4.3. Interrogatives as Adjunct
Examples from Huddleston & Pullum (2005) Chpt 10
Source:http://staff.washington.edu/davidgg/ling100/
5. Exclamative Content Clauses
Examples from Huddleston & Pullum (2005) Chpt 10
Source:http://staff.washington.edu/davidgg/ling100/
5. Exclamatives as Complement
Examples from Huddleston & Pullum (2005) Chpt 10
Source:http://staff.washington.edu/davidgg/ling100/
Exercises by D. Goss-Grubbs
Examples from Huddleston & Pullum (2005) Chpt 10
Source:http://staff.washington.edu/davidgg/ling100/
Quiz A by D. Goss-Grubbs
Source:http://staff.washington.edu/davidgg/ling100/
Key to Quiz A by D. Goss-Grubbs
Source:http://staff.washington.edu/davidgg/ling100/
Quiz B by D. Goss-Grubbs
Source:http://staff.washington.edu/davidgg/ling100/
Key to Quiz B by D.Goss-Grubbs
Source:http://staff.washington.edu/davidgg/ling100/
Quiz C by D. Goss-Grubbs
Source:http://staff.washington.edu/davidgg/ling100/
Key to Quiz C by D. Goss-Grubbs
Source:http://staff.washington.edu/davidgg/ling100/
Task 1 by T. Navés
Analyse the following subordinate clauses following
a) Huddleston & Pullum (2002, 2005) as declarative
content, open or closed interrogative content,
exclamative content, relatives or comparatives.
b) Biber et al. (1999, 2002) & Carter & McCarthy (2006),
as nominal, nominal relative, relatives, adverbial clauses,
comparatives or others.
1. He says that Liz is in Paris.
2. I wonder whether she is ill.
3. Tell me what you want.
4. Tell her what a bargain it is.
Key to Task 1 by T. Navés
Analyse the following subordinate clauses following
a) Huddleston & Pullum (2002, 2005) as declarative content,
open or closed interrogative content, exclamative content,
relatives or comparatives.
b) Biber et al. (1999, 2002) & Carter & McCarthy (2006) as
nominal, nominal relative, relatives, adverbial clauses,
comparatives or others.
1. He says that Liz is in Paris. (a) Declarative content // (b) Nominal
2. I wonder whether she is ill. (a) Closed interrogative content. // (b) Conditional
3. Tell me what you want. (a) Open interrogative content // (b) Nom-Rel.
4. Tell her what a bargain it is. (a) Exclamative content // (b)Nom-Rel.
Task 2 by T. Navés
Analyse the following subordinate clauses following
a) Huddleston & Pullum (2002, 2005) as declarative content,
open or closed interrogative content, exclamative content,
relatives or comparatives.
b) Biber et al. (1999, 2002) & Carter & McCarthy (2006) as
nominal, nominal relative, relatives, adverbial clauses,
comparatives or others.
5. They weren’t among the people who had been invited
6. More people came than had been invited
7. I don’t think that these people had been invited
Key to Task 2 by T. Navés
Analyse the following subordinate clauses following
a)
Huddleston & Pullum (2002, 2005) as declarative content, open or closed
interrogative content, exclamative content, relatives or comparatives.
b)
Biber et al. (1999, 2002) & Carter & McCarthy (2006) as nominal,
nominal relative, relatives, adverbial clauses, comparatives or others.
5. They weren’t among the people who had been invited
(a) Relative // (b) Relative)
6. More people came than had been invited
(a) Comparative // (b) Comparative)
7. I don’t think that these people had been invited
(a) Declarative content // (b) Nominal)
Task 3 by T. Navés
Analyse the following content subordinate clauses
a)
Following Huddleston & Pullum (2002, 2005) say whether the ‘that’ is
obligatory, inadmissible or optional
b)
Classify them according to Biber et al. (1999, 2002) & Carter &
McCarthy (2006) as nominal, nominal relative, relatives, adverbial
clauses, comparatives or others and identify their function
8. That I need help is clear
9. I left before the arrived
10. I know that it’s genuine
Key to Task 3 by T. Navés
Analyse the following content subordinate clauses
a)
Following Huddleston & Pullum (2002, 2005) say whether the ‘that’ is
obligatory, inadmissible or optional
b)
Classify them according to Biber et al. (1999, 2002) & Carter &
McCarthy (2006) as nominal, nominal relative, relatives, adverbial
clauses, comparatives or others and identify their function
8. That I need help is clear
(a) Content with obligatory ‘that’ // (b) Nominal (Sbj)
9. I left before the arrived
(a) Content with inadmissible ‘that’ // (b) Adverbial
10. I know that it’s genuine
(a) Content with optional ‘that’ // (b) Nominal (DO)
Task 4 by T. Navés
Analyse the following content subordinate clauses
a) Following Huddleston & Pullum (2002, 2005) as declarative
content, open or closed interrogative content, exclamative
content, relatives or comparatives; say whether the ‘that’ is
obligatory, inadmissible or optional and identify their function
b) Classify them according to Biber et al. (1999, 2002) & Carter
& McCarthy (2006) as nominal, nominal relative, relatives,
adverbial clauses, comparatives or others and identify their
function
11. That they refused didn’t surprise us
12. It didn’t surprise us that they refused
13. She informed us that they had been insulted
Key to Task 4 by T. Navés
Analyse the following content subordinate clauses
a)
Following Huddleston & Pullum (2002, 2005) as declarative content, open
or closed interrogative content, exclamative content, relatives or
comparatives; say whether the ‘that’ is obligatory, inadmissible or optional
and identify their function
b)
Classify them according to Biber et al. (1999, 2002) & Carter &
McCarthy (2006) as nominal, nominal relative, relatives, adverbial
clauses, comparatives or others and identify their function
11. That they refused didn’t surprise us
(a)
(b)
Declarative content with obligatory ‘that’ functioning as Subj //
Nominal (Subj)
12. It didn’t surprise us that they refused
(a)
(b)
Declarative content with optional ‘that’ functioning as Extraposed Subj //
Nominal (IO)
13. She informed us that they had been insulted
(a)
(b)
Declarative content with optional ‘that’ functioning as Internal complmt. of the V
Nominal (IO)
Task 5 by T. Navés
Analyse the following content subordinate clauses
a) Following Huddleston & Pullum (2002, 2005) as declarative
content, open or closed interrogative content, exclamative
content, relatives or comparatives; say whether the ‘that’ is
obligatory, inadmissible or optional and identify their function
b) Classify them according to Biber et al. (1999, 2002) & Carter &
McCarthy (2006) as nominal, nominal relative, relatives,
adverbial clauses, comparatives or others and identify their
function
14. I realise that you feel insulted
15. The problem is that we just can’t afford it
16. Your can’t ingnore the fact that he was drunk
Key to Task 5 by T. Navés
Analyse the following content subordinate clauses
a)
Following Huddleston & Pullum (2002, 2005) as declarative content, open or
closed interrogative content, exclamative content, relatives or comparatives;
say whether the ‘that’ is obligatory, inadmissible or optional and identify their
function
b)
Classify them according to Biber et al. (1999, 2002) & Carter & McCarthy
(2006) as nominal, nominal relative, relatives, adverbial clauses,
comparatives or others and identify their function
14. I realise that you feel insulted
(a) Declarative content with optional ‘that’ functioning as as Internal complmt.
of the V
(b) Nominal (Object Complement)
15. The problem is that we just can’t afford it
(a) Declarative content with optional ‘that’ functioning as Internal complmt. of
the V
(b) Nominal (Subject Complement)
16. Your can’t ingnore the fact that he was drunk
(a) Declarative content with optional ‘that’ functioning as complement of noun
(b) Nominal (Complement of the HNP)
Task 6 by T. Navés
Analyse the following content subordinate clauses
a) Following Huddleston & Pullum (2002, 2005) as declarative
content, open or closed interrogative content, exclamative
content, relatives or comparatives; say whether the ‘that’ is
obligatory, inadmissible or optional and identify their function
b) Classify them according to Biber et al. (1999, 2002) & Carter &
McCarthy (2006) as nominal, nominal relative, relatives,
adverbial clauses, comparatives or others and identify their
function
17. I’m glad that you could come
18. You can go provided that your are carefull
19. Your can’t ingnore the fact that he was drunk
Key to Task 6 by T. Navés
Analyse the following content subordinate clauses
a)
Following Huddleston & Pullum (2002, 2005) as declarative content, open or
closed interrogative content, exclamative content, relatives or comparative;
say whether the ‘that’ is obligatory, inadmissible or optional and identify their
function
b)
Classify them according to Biber et al. (1999, 2002) & Carter & McCarthy
(2006) as nominal, nominal relative, relatives, adverbial clauses, comparatives or
others and identify their function
17. I’m glad that you could come
(a) Declarative content with optional ‘that’ functioning as complement of
Adjective
(b) Nominal (Postmodifier of the Head Adjective Phrase)
18. You can go provided that your are carefull
(a) Declarative content with optional ‘that’ functioning as complement of
Preposition
(b) Nominal
19. Your can’t ingnore the fact that he was drunk
(a) Declarative content with optional ‘that’ functioning as complement of noun
(b) Nominal (Complement of the HNP)
Task 7 by T. Navés
Analyse the following content subordinate clauses
a)
b)
Following Huddleston & Pullum (2002, 2005) as declarative
content, open or closed interrogative content, exclamative
content, relatives or comparative and identify their function
Classify them according to Biber et al. (1999, 2002) & Carter &
McCarthy (2006) as nominal, nominal relative, relatives,
adverbial clauses, comparatives or others and identify their
function
20. What caused the delay remains unclear
21. It remains unclear what caused the delay
22. I’ve discovered where they keep the key
Key to Task 7 by T. Navés
Analyse the following content subordinate clauses
a) Following Huddleston & Pullum (2002, 2005) as declarative
content, open or closed interrogative content, exclamative
content, relatives or comparative and identify their function
b) Classify them according to Biber et al. (1999, 2002) & Carter &
McCarthy (2006) as nominal, nominal relative, relatives,
adverbial clauses, comparatives or others and identify their
function
20. What caused the delay remains unclear
(a)
(b)
Interrogative content functioning as Subject
Nominal relative (Subject)
21. It remains unclear what caused the delay
(a)
(b)
Interrogative content functioning as Extraposed Subject
Nominal relative (Extraposed Sbj)
22. I’ve discovered where they keep the key
(a)
Interrogative content internal complement of the verb
(b)
Nominal relative (DO)
Task 8 by T. Navés
Analyse the following content subordinate clauses
a) Following Huddleston & Pullum (2002, 2005) as declarative
content, open or closed interrogative content, exclamative
content, relatives or comparative and identify their function
b) Classify them according to Biber et al. (1999, 2002) & Carter &
McCarthy (2006) as nominal, nominal relative, relatives,
adverbial clauses, comparatives or others and identify their
function
23. I asked them what progress they had made
24. The only issue is whether he was lying
25. The question whether it’s legal was ignored
Key to Task 8 by T. Navés
Analyse the following content subordinate clauses
a) following Huddleston & Pullum (2002, 2005) and identify their
function
b) Classify them according to Biber et al. (1999, 2002) & Carter &
McCarthy (2006) as nominal, nominal relative, relatives,
adverbial clauses, comparatives or others and identify their
function
23. I asked them what progress they had made
(a)
(b)
Interrogative content functioning as Internal complement of the verb
Nominal relative (IO)
24. The only issue is whether he was lying
(a)
(b)
Interrogative content functioning as Internal complement of the verb
Condtional (Adverbial) (Sbj complement)
25. The question whether it’s legal was ignored
(a)
Interrogativ content internal complement of noun
(b)
Condtional (Adverbial) (Postmodifier of the HNP)
Task 9 by T. Navés
Analyse the following content subordinate clauses
a) Following Huddleston & Pullum (2002, 2005) as declarative
content, open or closed interrogative content, exclamative
content, relatives or comparative and identify their function
b) Classify them according to Biber et al. (1999, 2002) & Carter &
McCarthy (2006) as nominal, nominal relative, relatives,
adverbial clauses, comparatives or others and identify their
function
26. I’m uncertain what we can do about it
27. That depends on how much time we have
Key to Task 9 by T. Navés
Analyse the following content subordinate clauses
a) Following Huddleston & Pullum (2002, 2005) as declarative
content, open or closed interrogative content, exclamative
content, relatives or comparative and identify their function
b) Classify them according to Biber et al. (1999, 2002) & Carter &
McCarthy (2006) as nominal, nominal relative, relatives,
adverbial clauses, comparatives or others and identify their
function
26. I’m uncertain what we can do about it
(a)
(b)
Interrogative content functioning as complement of adjective
Nominal relative (Complement of the HAdjP)
27. That depends on how much time we have
(a)
(b)
Interrogative content functioning as complement of preposition
Nominal Relative (Prepositional complement)
Task 10 by T. Navés
Analyse the following content subordinate clauses
a) Following Huddleston & Pullum (2002, 2005) as declarative
content, open or closed interrogative content, exclamative
content, relatives or comparative and identify their function
b) Classify them according to Biber et al. (1999, 2002) & Carter &
McCarthy (2006) as nominal, nominal relative, relatives,
adverbial clauses, comparatives or others and identify their
function
28. What a bargain it was hadn’t struck me yet
29. It’s incredible how much he wanted to charge
30. I’d forgotten what a fine speaker she is
Key to Task 10 by T. Navés
Analyse the following content subordinate clauses
a)
Following Huddleston & Pullum (2002, 2005) as declarative content, open or
closed interrogative content, exclamative content, relatives or comparative
and identify their function
b)
Classify them according to Biber et al. (1999, 2002) & Carter & McCarthy
(2006) as nominal, nominal relative, relatives, adverbial clauses,
comparatives or others and identify their function
28. What a bargain it was hadn’t struck me yet
(a)
(b)
Exclamative content functioning as Subject
Nominal relative (Subject)
29. It’s incredible how much he wanted to charge
(a)
(b)
Exclamative content functioning as Extraposed subject
Nominal relative (Extraposed subject)
30. I’d forgotten what a fine speaker she is
(a)
Exclamative content functioning as Internal complement of verb
(b)
Nominal relative (DO)
Online exercises by T. Navés
• Naves (2009) Quiz on Content Clauses based on
Huddleston & Pullum available from
http://www.ub.edu/GRAL/Naves/index.php?op=001563
• Naves (2009) Quiz on Huddleston & Pullum's (2005) Chapter
10: Subordination and Content Clauses available from
http://www.ub.edu/GRAL/Naves/index.php?op=001583
• DGIII-Subordination and Content Clauses following
Huddelston and Pullum (2005) by T. Navés tnaves@ub.edu
http://campusvirtual.ub.edu/mod/quiz/view.php?id=259440
Online exercises from The Internet Grammar by The
Survey of English Usage University College London
• Clauses and Sentences p1: Clause Hierarchy
The following sentence contains three clauses,
which we've labelled C1, C2, and C3. Decide
whether the statements below are true or false.
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/internetgrammar/clauses/ex1.htm
• Clauses and Sentences p2: Finite or Nonfinite?
In each of the following sentences, decide
whether the bracketed clauses are finite or
nonfinite. http://www.ucl.ac.uk/internetgrammar/clauses/ex2.htm
Online exercises from The Internet Grammar by The
Survey of English Usage University College London
• Clauses and Sentences p4: Semantic Types of
Subordinate Clauses
In each of the following sentences, we have
bracketed a subordinate clause. Decide which
semantic type it is, from the choices given.
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/internetgrammar/clauses/ex4.htm
• Clauses and Sentences p5: Sentence Types
In the following examples, determine the
sentence type from the choices given.
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/internetgrammar/clauses/ex5.htm
Main Grammar References:
Biber, D., S. Conrad, et al. (2002). Longman Student
Grammar of Spoken and Written English. Harlow:
Longman.
Biber, D., Johansson, S., Leech, G., Conrad, S., & Finegan, E.
(Eds.). (1999). Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written
English. London: Longman.
Carter, R., & McCarthy, M. (2006). Cambridge Grammar of
English. A Comprehensive Guide. Spoken and Written
English Grammar and Usage. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press.
Main Grammar References:
Greenbaum, S., & Quirk, R. (1990). A Student's Grammar of
the English Language (1st ed.). Hong Kong: Longman.
Quirk, R., Greenbaum, S., Leech, G., & Svartvik, J. (1985). A
Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language (2nd
ed.). London and New York: Longman.
Huddleston, R., & Pullum, G. K. (Eds.). (2002). The
Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. London:
Cambridge University Press.
Huddleston, R. and G. K. Pullum, Eds. (2005). A Student's
Introduction to English Grammar. London, Cambridge
University Press
Main Dictionaries:
Chalker, S., & Weiner, E. (1998). Oxford Dictionary
of English Grammar. The Oxford Reference
Online. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Matthews, P. H. (1997). The Concise Oxford
Dictionary of Linguistics. New York: Oxford
University Press.