Page 17 - DENG103_English - I

English–I

Notes (The word that is optional in the first sentence, highlighting a complication in the entire dependent/
independent contrast: “They are having a good time.” is a complete sentence, and therefore
an independent clause, but “(that) they are having a good time” is a dependent clause in the
above example, with or without the conjunction “that”.)
An adjective clause modifies a noun phrase. In English, adjective clauses typically come at the
end of their phrase and usually have a relative pronoun forming a relative clause. The pronoun
can sometimes be omitted to produce a reduced relative clause:

• “The woman (who) I saw said otherwise.”
• “I found the book that she suggested to me.”

An adverb clause typically modifies its entire main clause. In English it usually precedes (in
a periodic sentence) or follows (in a loose sentence) its main clause. The following adverb
clauses show when (with the subordinating conjunction ”when”) and why (with the subordinating
conjunction “because”):
• “When she gets here, all will be explained.”

• “She’s worried because they were already an hour late.”
The line between categories may be indistinct, and, in some languages, it may be difficult to
apply these classifications at all. At times more than one interpretation is possible, as in the
English sentence “We saw a movie, after which we went dancing,” where “after which we
went dancing” can be seen either as an adjective clause modifying “movie” (so “movie” is
the antecedent of “which”) (“We saw a movie. After the movie, we went dancing.”) or as an
adverb clause modifying the entire independent clause (so the independent clause in its entirety
is the antecedent of “which”) (“We saw a movie. After we saw the movie, we went dancing.”).
Sometimes the two interpretations are not synonymous, but are both intended, as in “Let me
know when you’re ready,” where “when you’re ready” functions both as a noun clause (the
object of know, identifying what knowledge is to be conveyed) and as an adverb clause (specifying
when the knowledge is to be conveyed).

Task What are dependent clauses and how it is differ from independent clause.

1.4 Structures of Dependent Clauses

Dependent clauses may be classified by their structure, although this classification scheme
does make some reference to the clause’s function in a sentence. This scheme is more complex
than analysis by function, as there are many different ways that a dependent clause can be
structured. In English. Common structures include the following:
• Many dependent clauses, such as “before he comes” or “because they agreed,” consist
of a preposition-like subordinating conjunction, plus what would otherwise be an independent
clause. These clauses act much like prepositional phrases, and are either adjective clauses
or adverb clauses, with many being able to function in either capacity.
• Relative clauses, such as “which I couldn’t see,” generally consist of a relative pronoun,
plus a clause in which the relative pronoun plays a part. Relative clauses usually function
as adjective clauses, but occasionally they function as adverb clauses; in either case, they
modify their relative pronoun’s antecedent and follow the phrase or clause that they
modify.

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