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comparative clauses
Nominal clauses
Occupy all those positions that NPs
occupy (S, O, C, apposition,
prepositional complement)
Types: that, wh-interrogative, yes/no,
relative, to-infinitival, -ing, bare infinitive,
verbless.
THAT nominal
WH-interrogative
YES/NO interrogative
Do you know if/whether hes at home?
I dont care if/whether itll be sunny or windy.
(alternative)
WHETHER can be directly followed by not (I
dont know whether or not you want to come as
well.)
Sentence with WHETHER cant be made
negative (*whether it doesnt rain)
IF cant introduce a S clause (*If it rains or not
doesnt concern me.)
Nominal RELATIVE
Can be paraphrased by an NP containing a postmodifying
relative clause. (what counts most is the thing that counts
most is )
Introduced by a wh-element.
TO-infinitive
-ING clauses
Adverbial clauses
Types
-
Clauses of time
Clauses of place
Clauses of condition
Clauses of concession
Universal conditional-concessive clauses
Clauses of reason and cause
Clauses of circumstance
Clauses of purpose
Clauses of result
Clauses of manner
Clauses of proportion and preference
Clauses if time
Finite - introduced by: after, before, since,
until, when(ever), once, while,
Non-finite -ing - introduced by: after, before,
since, until, when(ever), once, while,
Non-finte -ed - introduced by: once, until,
when, while,
Verbless introduced by: as soon as, once,
when, while.
Clauses of place
Clauses of condition
Dependence on one circumstance or more
If you treat me well, Ill be good to you.
Finite, non-finite, verbless (Unless treated
well / If ready)
Introduced by: if, unless, provided that,
providing that, on condition that, as long as,
so long as.
Real and unreal.
Clauses of concession
Imply a contrast between two circumstances the main clause is surprising in the light of the
dependent clause:
Although it was raining, we went for a picnic.
Introduced by: though, although, while,
whereas, even if.
Finite and non-finite except whereas
(always finite)
Clause of circumstance
Express a fulfilled condition or a relation
between a premise (subordinate clause)
and the conclusion (main clause).
Introduced by: because, since, as,
seeing (that).
Non-finite and verbless without
subordinator: The weather having
improved, we went out.
Clauses of purpose
Usually infinitival and introduced by: in
order to, so as to, in order for NP to.
Finite - so that and in order that.
Negative purpose: for fear that, in
case.
Putative meaning with should, may,
might. (Im surprised that he should
react like that.)
Clauses of result
Introduced by so that or so (informally),
Usually final position in super-ordinate
clauses.
We planted many trees so (that) the
garden looks nice in spring.
COMPARATIVE CLAUSES
A proportion expressed in a superordinate clause is compared with a
proposition expressed in a subordinate
clause by means of a comparative
element - as as, less .. than, more
than.
Comparative clauses
Functions:
S: More people use this brand than any
other cleaning fluid.
Cs: Im happier than anybody else.
Od: He knows more than everybody else.
Oi: The man has given more children
happiness than anybody else. (rare)
Adv: You work much harder than I do.
Comparative clauses
Ellipsis
James enjoys the theatre more than Susan enjoys
the theatre.
James enjoys the theatre more than Susan enjoys
it.
James enjoys the theatre more than Susan does.
James enjoys the theatre more than Susan.
Ellipsis of O not possible unless the V is ellipted
too - *John enjoys the theatre more than Susan
enjoys.