SENTENCE STRUCTURE

+82. Phrases.+—Phrases are classified both as to structure and use.

From the standpoint of structure, a phrase is classified from its introductory word or words, as:—

1. Prepositional: [They were in the temple].

2. Infinitive: [He tried to make us hear].

3. Participial: [Having finished my letter].

Classified as to use, a phrase may be—

1. A noun: [To be good is to be truly great].

2. An adjective: [The horse is an animal of much intelligence].

3. An adverb: [He lives in the city].

+83. Clauses.+—It has been already shown that clauses may be either principal or subordinate. A principal clause is sometimes defined as "one that can stand alone," and is therefore independent of the rest of the sentence. This statement is misleading, for, although true in most cases, it does not hold in cases like the following:—

1. As the tree falls, so it must lie.

2. That sunshine is cheering, cannot be denied.

The genuine test for the subordinate clause is the one already given in connection with the study of the subordinate conjunction. It must serve the purpose of some single part of speech. All other clauses are principal clauses.

+84. Classification of Subordinate Clauses.+—A. Subordinate clauses may be classified into substantive and modifying clauses.

Substantive clauses show the various substantive constructions. Thus:—

1. Subject: ["Thou shalt not covet," is the tenth commandment].

2. Object: [I know what you wish].

3. Appositive: [The truth that the earth is spherical is generally believed].

4. Attribute complement: [The truth is that she is not well].

Modifying clauses show adjective and adverbial constructions.

Thus:—

1. Adjective: [The house which you see is mine].

2. Adverb: [I will go when it is possible].

B. Subordinate clauses may also be classified according to the introductory word.

(a) Clauses introduced by relative or interrogative pronouns: who, which, what, that (= who or which), as (after such), and the compound relatives, whoever, whichever, whatever (the first three are both relative and interrogative): [The school that stands on the hillside is painted white. I know whom you mean].

(b) Clauses introduced by a relative or interrogative adjective: [The man whose library is well furnished is rich. I see which way I ought to take].

(c) Clauses introduced by a relative or interrogative adverb, such as when, whenever, since (referring to time), until, before, after, where, whence, whither, wherever, why, as, how: [I know the house where lie lives].

(d) Clauses introduced by a subordinate conjunction, such as because, since (= because), though, although, if, unless, that (= in order that), as, as if, as though, then: [I will go since you wish it].

C. Subordinate clauses may also be classified according to the nature of the thought expressed.

(a) General description: [The house, which stands on the hill, has a fine view].

(b) Place: [The house where he was born is torn down].

(d) Cause: [Since you wish it, I will go].

(e) Concession: [Although he is my friend, I can see his faults].

(f) Purpose: [Run, that you may obtain the prize].

(g) Result: [She was so tired that she stumbled].

(h) Condition: [If it rains, we shall not go].

(i) Comparison: [You look as if you were tired].

Note that the subordinate clauses in the above examples are modifying clauses.

(j) Direct quotation: [She said, "I will go">[.

(k) Indirect statement: [She said that she would go].

(l) Indirect question: [I knew where his house was].

Note that the subordinate clauses in the above examples are substantive clauses.

+85. The Framework of a Sentence+ has been already described as consisting of the subject, the verb, and, if the verb be incomplete, of some completing element, object or attribute complement. Occasionally an objective complement must be added. Besides these elementary parts, both subject and predicate may have modifiers.

The usual modifiers of the subject are:—

1. Adjective: [The golden bowl is broken].

2. Adjective phrase: [The house on the hill is beautiful].

3. Adjective clause: [The house which stands on the hill is beautiful].

4. Noun or pronoun in possessive case: [Helen's paint box is lost].

5. Noun in apposition: [Mr. Merrill, the president of the club, will open the debate].

6. Adverb used as an adjective: [My sometime friend].

7. Infinitive used adjectively: [Work to do is a blessing].

8. Participle: [The child, lagging behind, lost her way].

The modifiers of the predicate are:—

1. Adverb: [The snow melted very quickly].

2. Noun used adverbially: [I walked a mile].

3. Infinitive used adverbially: [We were called together to decide an important question].

4. Adverbial phrase: [She ran along the road].

5. Adverbial clause: [Go when you can].

6. Nominative absolute: [The speeches being over, the audience dispersed].

Occasionally, adverbs and phrases of adverbial character modify the entire thought in a sentence, rather than some single word: [To speak plainly, I cannot go. Perhaps I may help you].