Questions tagged [clauses]

Clauses are smallest grammatical unit that can express a complete proposition

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
-1 votes
1 answer
972 views

Breaking sentences up

What is the right term for breaking or dividing a sentence into fragments, wherein each fragment still contains a thought/meaning? e.g.: Sports can ostracize people/ who are not very good at them./...
0 votes
0 answers
19 views

Plural “who clause” subtlety [duplicate]

“Most Americans who have a car…” “Most Americans who have a car in their garage…” Should that be his garage? Their garages? “Most Americans who have cars in their garages…” sounds unobjectionable, but ...
2 votes
1 answer
66 views

Independent clause between commas?

In the following sentence, which is the independent clause? Exercising four times a week, doctors claim, can help prevent heart disease. Is it “Exercising four times a week can help prevent heart ...
1 vote
0 answers
93 views

As if as though

I am having a problem identifing which gramatical function as if (as though, like) has As far as I know After linking verbs, we have noun/ noun phrase/ noun clause and adjective/ adjective phrase ...
2 votes
1 answer
201 views

"Note that, because English orthography, there are two verbs tear, pronounced differently, one transitive......"

While reading an answer by John Lawler, I got puzzled by a sentence with unfamiliar phrasing. I for the life of me can't understand the meaning of that sentence. I read it about 30 times. Here is the ...
0 votes
1 answer
21 views

What do these two "which"s refer to in this sentence?

Superstition, Flusfeder argues, isn’t some primitive hangover from our distant past. It is the inevitable result of our capacity for taking mental shortcuts, which makes us capable of thinking on our ...
1 vote
1 answer
388 views

with/without + verbless clause

The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (Page 1266-67) has this section: 10 Verbless clauses We confine our attention here to verbless clauses in dependent or supplement functions comparable to ...
1 vote
0 answers
42 views

A main clause that doesn't follow from a subordinate clause [closed]

Because it's raining outside, I'm wearing orange socks today. What is the term for this kind of sentence? Closest I can find is non sequitur? Furthermore, do the below concepts have names? A ...
2 votes
2 answers
273 views

When independent clauses are not truly independent

If I write My car can go pretty far and it gets good mileage I have combined two independent clauses to create a compound sentence. I might just as easily write My car can go pretty far. And it ...
7 votes
1 answer
5k views

Non-finite clause complementation of complex transitive verbs

This question has been bothering me for a while. It came up when I was reading Chapter 16 of "A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language." How to explain the grammatical structure of the ...
0 votes
1 answer
42 views

Conditional clauses and serial commas [closed]

Once the coins have passed their expiry date, they will no longer be valid, and will not be reissued. Is this an example of a zero conditional sentence? Is the last comma acceptable? Is the tense ...
0 votes
2 answers
5k views

Why is it called zero conditional?

What's the meaning of the zero conditional or the first or the second .. Does it mean the form of the verb and what does that exactly mean does it mean infinitive although the present simple is used! ...
2 votes
0 answers
66 views

What is the term for repeating non-restrictive clauses?

I came across the following quote: Scientists would soon find themselves adrift in a bewildering realm of particles and antiparticles, where things pop in and out of existence in spans of time that ...
2 votes
1 answer
113 views

Some clause structure about “SOURCE said that CLAUSE”?

Suppose we have the following sentences: John believes that people are good. Steve knows that France is in Europe. Now, in these sentences we have some clause (e.g. People are good, France is in ...
0 votes
1 answer
290 views

"survey the landscape" idiomatic?

Can I use the phrase "to survey the landscape" when refering not to an actual outdoors scenery but to something more abstract? In this case, I want to express that I was researching ...
-1 votes
1 answer
54 views

Too many “and”s - separating clauses vs. list items

I have the following sentence and feel like my usage of “and” is awkward since it makes it look like a list of three things: The scale of the problem has only become greater thanks to the internet ...
0 votes
3 answers
148 views

Perfect Continuous Passive Participle Clause?

Having been being lost in the woods for hours, he was finally found by emergency services. Does this mean: After he had been being lost in the woods for hours, he was finally found by emergency ...
0 votes
1 answer
54 views

I'll be at the concert tomorrow evenif/while/if it means queuing for tickets all night [closed]

In my Cambridge English book there is a practice sentence where I have to put in a clause. The options are 'while', 'despite', 'if' and 'even if'. The context is contrast clauses. The sentence is: I'...
-1 votes
2 answers
112 views

Can an independent clause be interrupted by a conjunction without a comma and still be an independent clause? [closed]

Can an independent clause be interrupted by a conjunction without a comma and still be an independent clause? e.g.: He poured me another drink and I drank it. or: Max climbed onto his horse and we ...
0 votes
0 answers
25 views

Must a compound sentence have a comma? [duplicate]

Must a compound sentence have a comma? If it simply linking two independent clauses with a conjunction, does it require a comma? e.g. He poured me another drink and I drank it. If not a compound ...
0 votes
1 answer
64 views

What is the correct structure to use in a sentence containing 'once' as the subordinate conjunction? [closed]

In a sentence containing a conjunction, what are the correct verb forms to be used in the two clauses? For example: I would also suggest that once all these items are established, they must be added ...
1 vote
1 answer
273 views

What is “what” in “what has been called“?

Climate change is thus a prime example of what people have called a "social ecological system" with factors from different domains interacting on different spatial and temporal scales. The ...
1 vote
0 answers
34 views

How to say "you added a clause in end of statment"? [closed]

How do you call the act of adding a clasue to the end of a statment, which weakens it and makes it sort-of conditional? Examples: "Nice to see you, this time!" "I love it, in a way, &...
1 vote
3 answers
90 views

What is the relationship between these two clauses?

I came across this sentence: Even as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan morph into shapeless struggles, they have given birth to an extraordinary outpouring of writing that tries to make sense of it ...
1 vote
1 answer
64 views

English clause word order

I found this sentence: I am convinced that not only could I control a group of people effectively, but the group would also benefit from my skills. Why is this word order correct: "could I"...
1 vote
3 answers
168 views

Past Subjunctive Sentence

If we started now we would be in time (but we cannot start now) This is an example sentence in my grammar book for past subjunctive used after If. The sentence sounds to me a suggestion rather than ...
2 votes
1 answer
151 views

Adverb clause of comparison

What is the subordinate clause in this sentence? Which is the main clause? "The higher you ascend, the colder it becomes."
8 votes
3 answers
24k views

Comma after To at the beginning of a sentence

I am just writing my master thesis and I am unsure whether to place a comma in sentences starting with "To". Here are some examples: To be able to improve the performance[,] it is important to ...
6 votes
4 answers
309 views

Constructions of the form 'He has committed I don't know how many crimes.'

What is the grammar (or syntax, if you will) of constructions of the form of the below sentence? He has committed I don't know how many crimes. In this sentence, for example, what is the grammatical ...
0 votes
1 answer
81 views

What's this usage of comma, separating of a list of independent clauses?

This is a sentence from the book "The Brothers Karamazov" (page 8): He spent a disorderly adolescence and youth: he never finished high school; later he landed in some military school, then ...
0 votes
0 answers
44 views

Can I use different subjects like the following in two clauses?

I know I can use When I opened the envelope, I found two letters within it. However, I wish to go for the following, if it is correct When I opened the envelope, two letters showed up. Can the ...
1 vote
1 answer
3k views

Must a coordinating clause always have a subject?

E.g., (1) You are getting yourselves into a very dangerous situation; get out of there at once. The imperative following the first clause has an implied subject, so would this mean it is a ...
2 votes
2 answers
147 views

Clause in sentence

John found it surprising that Wayne played the tuba. That Wayne played the tuba is the clause, but what kind is it? I am completely stuck on this and can't figure it out.
1 vote
2 answers
239 views

Does this sentence exemplify an adverbial clause?

On the Wikipedia page for 'Dependent clause,' on the subject of 'Dependent words,' there is provided an example which supposedly presents an adverbial clause, viz., "Wherever she goes, she leaves an ...
3 votes
3 answers
3k views

Are commas and dashes truly interchangeable?

My English teacher told me that "dashes and commas are interchangeable". For instance, "My friend, Alex, ran to the store." and, "My friend–Alex–ran to the store." are both grammatically ...
1 vote
2 answers
255 views

Subordinate clause types/functions

In the sentences: She begged him [not to leave her]. The colonel commanded his men [to charge]. How can we encourage a baby [to use that toy properly]? Are the to-clauses subordinate – and if so, ...
0 votes
1 answer
90 views

Evaluating a sequence of logical clauses that are chained using "and" and "or" [duplicate]

How do you evaluate a logical statement that has multiple condition clauses "If A or B and C"? From method 1 & 2 below, which is the correct/common interpretation? If A is true, or both ...
4 votes
0 answers
208 views

The definition of 'clause' in modern grammar: construction vs function

Most modern grammars recognize verbless clauses such as the boy on the roof in (1) and on the roof in (2): (1) With the boy on the roof, they feared he might jump off it. (2) When on the roof, he ...
0 votes
1 answer
61 views

Can subject complement occur after “as”

In the sentence : She first came to Canada on her own in 1998, and committed to music-her passion, both as a songwriter and a singer...” Is “as [a songwriter]/ [a singer]” subject complement? I found ...
1 vote
4 answers
969 views

“Will we be able to talk?” I asked, my eyes red and swollen from crying, a balled up tissue squeezed tightly between my sweaty palms

I was going through a reading and this construction confused the student: “Will we be able to talk?” I asked, my eyes red and swollen from crying, a balled up tissue squeezed tightly between my ...
1 vote
0 answers
108 views

Can we say: "I picked up that xxx"?

Would the following sentence still be grammatical if "information" is omitted? "I picked up information that oranges are bad for you." It's clear that what I've picked up is ...
0 votes
1 answer
143 views

What is an example of "where" in an adverb clause?

All the sentences I can think of are anything but an adverb clause. For example: "Where I'm going is none of your business." (A noun clause as the subject) "No one knows where he is.&...
0 votes
1 answer
2k views

where to put the possessive "s" with an appositive parenthetical [duplicate]

Say I have a gym instructor called Anne and it's her birthday. I want to convey that to someone who doesn't know who Anne is in one sentence. In speech, I would probably say, "it is Anne, my gym ...
1 vote
1 answer
73 views

Why the “which is” can be omitted?

I am writing a scientific paper. And I wrote the sentence as follows: The nominal prepreg tow height is about 0.15~0.20mm, which is much larger than the Resolution Z-axis (0.011mm). Furthermore, the ...
0 votes
2 answers
348 views

Can I use 'out of this world' negatively in a sentence

Can I say " their stupidity is out of this world. Its kinda amusing" ? And what are the other ways to say it
2 votes
1 answer
38 views

Unusual model of clause [duplicate]

How this sentence "The weather being very bad, we did not start the journey" is reduced? I cannot understand what structure is applied for the clause "the weather being very bad".
2 votes
2 answers
438 views

What is the direct object of "I imagined" in the context "as I imagined would be the case"? (i.e. I imagined what?)

In my previous question Is the phrase “as I imagined would be the case” grammatically correct and why?, someone referenced this other question: Where is the subject in "as was traditional for ...
0 votes
1 answer
179 views

Noun clause or adverb clause? [closed]

I was reading about noun clauses and adverb clauses and I am a little confused about what follows: One grammar claims that the clause in bold in the following sentence is a noun clause working as an ...
0 votes
1 answer
58 views

Changing clause of condition to absolute phrase and participle w

1a. When I have money I will buy a car. 2a. If my parents allow I'll go abroad. Can these sentence be changed into a absolute participle phrase? For example 1b. Having money, I'll buy a car. 2b. ...
0 votes
1 answer
10k views

Is it correct to use "...and as a result,..." to link two independent clauses? Is the comma after "result" necessary?

I ran into this sentence: I grew up in a home with two different cultures and as a result, I got to experience firsthand how misunderstandings evolve due to not understanding each other's culture. ...

1
2
3 4 5
11