400. There are some auxiliary verbs, and preposition forms employed to introduce the subject, which then appears in the form of a subordinate sentence.
- 話到死過以後個事體難講 wó‘ tau‘ ’sí kú‘ ’í heu‘ kú‘ zz‘ ’t’í nan ’kong, in reference to what happens after death, it is difficult discussion.
- 造到發大財是勿能個 ’zau tau‘ fah dú‘ ’dzé ’zz veh nung kú‘, as to getting rich, I cannot.
- 講到登基坐江山勿見得實蓋能造化 ’kong tau‘ tung kí ’zû kong san veh kíen‘ tuh zeh ké‘ nung ’zau hwó‘, but as to ascending the throne, and taking his seat on the rivers and mountains, it is not likely he will be so fortunate.
Obs. These words are not indispensable to the introduction of a subject as a subordinate clause; e.g. 大是大個 tú‘ ’zz dú‘ kú‘, as to size it is large.
401. Similar to these is the construction of the verb forms prefixed to interrogative pronouns which thereby become relatives.
- 隨便那裏一樣事體要做差個 zûe bíen‘ ’á ’lí ih yáng‘ zz‘ ’t’í, yau‘ tsú t’só kú‘, whatever thing it be, he will do it wrong.
- 勿論啥官總要得賄個 veh lun‘ sá kwén ’tsóng yau‘ tuh ’hwé kú‘, mandarins of all offices whatsoever will take bribes.
- 勿拘幾許兵卒總會戰敗 veh kü ’kí hó‘ ping tseh, ’tsóng wé‘ tsén‘ bá‘, however many soldiers there be, we are sure to conquer.
402. Subordinate clauses expressive of time and place, are placed before the principal clauses.
- 住拉啥地方勿肯話 dzû‘ ’lá sá‘ tí‘ fong, veh ’k’ung wó, he is unwilling to say where he lives.
- 清明節氣幾時黃曆上有 t’sing ming tsih k’í‘ ’kí zz, wong lih long‘ ’yeu, the time at which the Tsing-ming solar period occurs, is recorded in the calendar.
- 到明朝我又到伊壗頭去 tau‘ ming tsau ’ngú í‘ tau‘ í han‘ deu k’í‘, on the next day I went to him again.
403. The subject consisting of a verb and substantive, often takes the form of a subordinate introductory clause.
- 待別人要用禮貌 té‘ bih niun yau‘ yung‘ ’lí mau‘, in treating others, a man should be polite.
- 存心要存得好 dzun sing yau‘ dzun tuh ’hau, in keeping the heart, a man should keep it well.
404. Many subordinate circumstantial clauses are introduced by verbs and precede the principal proposition.