The first two sentences contain interjections ([§ 372]); the second two, vocatives (or nominatives by direct address) ([§ 88, 3]); the last three, exclamatory nominatives ([§ 88, 4]).
When the independent word has a modifier (as in the fifth and seventh examples), the whole phrase may be treated as an independent element.
502. A word or group of words attached to or inserted in a sentence as a mere comment, without belonging either to the subject or the predicate, is said to be parenthetical.
- The market, indeed, was already closed.
- Peter, to be sure, was not very trustworthy.
- The house, at all events, is safe.
- The road is, I admit, very hilly.
- Luttrell’s method, it must be confessed, was a little disappointing.
- Richard was not a bad fellow, after all.
503. In analysis, an independent element is mentioned by itself, and not as a part of the complete subject or the complete predicate.
CHAPTER VII
COMBINATIONS OF CLAUSES
504. The use of subordinate clauses as complements and modifiers, and as modifiers of complements and of modifiers, may produce sentences of great length and complicated structure.
Such sentences, if skilfully composed, are not hard to follow. Their analysis requires merely the intelligent application of a few simple principles, which have already been explained and illustrated.
505. These principles may be summed up as follows:—