Clauses are smallest grammatical unit that can express a complete proposition
Clauses are smallest grammatical unit that can express a complete proposition
Questions tagged [clauses]
511 questions
4
votes
1 answer
What's the name of this construct - "We went to SuperFunTime, but it really wasn't"?
Where the missing clause is assumed to be a [a super fun time].
Or "Unfortunately, the elastic wasn't". Here it would be wasn't [elastic].
I did try to search, but if this has already been asked it's not easy (for me) to search for.
3
votes
1 answer
"That awkward moment when"
I know when people use the phrase "that awkward moment when", it is clearly a sentence fragment. What exactly is it called though? A dependent clause? A noun clause? I have no idea.
Jeff
- 39
3
votes
2 answers
"while I am dancing" vs "while I dance"
Which are more frequently used?
1A - I will be discussing the details while you are researching the data.
1B - I will be discussing the details while you research the data.
and
2A - I was cleaning the garage while you were preparing a snack.
2B -…
SurvMach
- 1,170
3
votes
1 answer
Why is this that-clause a subordinate?
she was so tired that she couldn’t think. (Oxford)
Oxford says that-clause above is a subordinate clause expressing a result. Semantically ‘she was tired’ seems to be the main clause, but there also is the possibility ‘she couldn’t think’ might be…
Listenever
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2
votes
3 answers
Separating Clauses in Garden-path Sentences
While Nancy was dressing the baby played in the garden.
I'm not sure where the first clause ends! After baby or after dressing?
Please, suggest some way I can improve that sentence.
Elberich Schneider
- 4,404
2
votes
2 answers
Clause structure of "Five'll get you ten, this rain stops in three minutes."
What is the clause structure of this sentence?
Five'll get you ten, this rain stops in three minutes.
Scenario: I'll (or somebody will) pay you $10 if this rain hasn't stopped within three minutes; if it has stopped within three minutes, you pay…
TimR
- 2,999
2
votes
2 answers
attributive clauses puzzle me a lot sometimes
Are the following two sentences interchangeable?
"I keep her photo on my desk, which means I do not forget her.
versus
"I keep her photo on my desk, meaning I do not forget her.
If not, how are they different?
625749571
- 21
2
votes
5 answers
Parsing possibility
What is the correct way to parse the following sentence:
It is possible that one can be happy only if one can be free.
Does the sentence say:
It is possible that [one can be happy only if one can be free].
or does it say:
[It is possible that one…
Modal
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2
votes
1 answer
Unusual model of clause
How this sentence "The weather being very bad, we did not start the journey" is reduced?
I cannot understand what structure is applied for the clause "the weather being very bad".
2
votes
1 answer
Continuing an Independent Clause,Should I and is it one Clause or Two?
My mother tongue is German and we frequently continue our independent sentences with "and" and/or other conjunctions forever. I just want to know if this is also possible in English:
"I have learned English for 6 years now and still encounter a lot…
Marcin Nowak
- 211
2
votes
0 answers
Clause confusion
I am studying SFL grammar and I have this sentence that I need to break down into clauses and say what type of clauses they are.
Studies show that when caught by fishermen, sea trout are more likely to be returned to the water than salmon.
I…
Jackie
- 21
2
votes
3 answers
Nonfinite clauses with infinitives
In the sentence, "He loves to travel," "to travel" is described as a nonfinite clause (source). However, one of the rules regarding clauses is that they must at least contain a subject and a verb. So how can "to travel" be a clause? Or is the…
codeMonkey17
- 97
- 5
2
votes
1 answer
Am I using in "which in turn" correctly?
The windows do not block out sun light which in turn causes problems such as glares, eye damage, and skin damage for students.
Calvin Trinh
- 25
2
votes
1 answer
What is the verbless clause?
I want to give some examples of a special type of clause.
1) Too tall to enter the room, he remained standing at the door.
2) Whether successful or unsuccessful, he always puts his best efforts in his work.
3) To nervous to move, she stood on the…
Nazmul Hassan
- 508
2
votes
3 answers
Types of Independent Clauses
I am curious if anyone is aware of a list of different types or categories of independent clauses. By comparison, there are four types of sentences (simple, compound, complex, and compounds complex), and many types of subordinate clauses…
Byron
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