Finite Subordinate clauses

Subordinate function as dependent within some larger construction. Examples of common subordinate clauses

The underlined clause, a dependent in clause structure, is marked as subordinate by its introductory word that, which is a subordinator.

Main Clause Subordinate Clause

Sue is the best candidate. I agree that Sue is the best candidate.

Other examples of a subordinate clause

Notice that has been omitted.

The underlined is a dependent in PP structure, it is marked as a subordinate in having its subject left understood and its verb in gerund participle form.

Main Clause Subordinate clause

He was looking at a book. This is the book he was looking at.

Main Clause Subordinate Clause

I gave him my address. I made a mistake in giving him my address.

There are 3 major subclasses of finite subordinate clausesi.Relative ClauseThey weren’t among the people who had been invited.who is a relative pronoun and people is its antecedent.ii. Comparative ClauseMore people came than had been invited.Than is used to compare.iii. Content ClauseI don’t think that these people had been invited.Content clauses can be regarded as the default kind of subordinate clauses.

Clause type in content clauseSimilar to clause types in chapter 9, there are 4 content clause types. Main Clause Subordinate Clause

Declarative Liz is in Paris. He says that Liz is in Paris.

Clsd interrogative Is she ill? I wonder whether she is ill.

Open interrogative

What do you want? Tell me what you want.

Exclamative What a bargain it is! Tell her what a bargain it is.

Declarative Content Clauses The subordinator that:The major feature that can distinguish

declarative content clauses from their main clause counterparts is the subordinator that. It is sometimes obligatory, sometimes optional, and sometimes inadmissible.

Obligatory: PreposingInadmissible because it’s a complement to a preposition like before .Optional: most cases that is optional. That is likely to be omitted in informal situations. It also more likely to be omitted after short verbs than after longer and less frequent ones. This will demonstrate that it is genuine It would probably not be omitted here.

The mandative constructionOne special construction of the declarative

content construction is the mandative. The term mandative has a similar meaning to must (deontic modality).

There are 3 mandative constructions i. Subjunctive mandativeIt is essential that he be told immediately.This example includes the subjunctive use of the plain

form be (compare is)

ii. Should MandativeIt is essential that he should be told

immediately.

Here we have a special use of the modal auxiliary should; this should mandative is more common in BrE than AmE

iii. Covert MandativeIt is essential that he is told immediately.

Nothing in the form of the content clause itself distinguishes the mandative use from ordinary non mandative declarative, as in I hope that he is told immediately. (clearly non mandative since hope doesn’t have the meaning of must.)

AmbiguityWhile subordinate clauses that follow the verbs

demand, essential, mandatory, vital are likely to be mandative constructions, there are some lexemes such as insist and important that can be ambiguous.

i. I insisted that he meet her. (subjunctive mandative, not ambiguous. It means I made it a requirement for him to meet her.

ii. I insisted that he met her. (either non mandative or covert mandative.)

This could mean I made it a requirement that he meet her or

I asserted that he met her.

Interrogative content clauses • Main clause interrogatives ask questionsWhere is he?

• Interrogative content clauses express questions

I know where he is. “I know the answer to the question ‘Where is he?’”

I told her what it was. “ I told her the answer to the questions ‘What was it?’”

Closed interrogative and the subordinators whether and ifWhereas main clause closed interrogative are marked by subject auxiliary inversion, their subordinate counterparts are introduced by one the interrogative subordinators whether and if

Main Subordinate

Did he accept the offer? I’m unsure whether he accepted the offer.

Will you chair the meeting? He asked me if I’d chair the meeting.

Open interrogativesOpen interrogatives whether main or

subordinate are marked by the presence of an interrogative phrase what, who, which etc.

Main Subordinate

Which candidate spoke first? I cant say which candidate spoke first.

Why did she resign. It’s obvious why she resigned.

Exclamative Content Clauses Exclamative content clauses, main or

subordinate, are marked by an initial exclamative phrase containing how or what.

Main Subordinate

How very kind you are! I told him how very kind you are.

What a shambles it was ! I remember what a shamble it was.