The Logic of Subordinate
Clauses
Students may ask about the functions of some words in the sentences. The following key provides answers to the specific directions plus the rest of the analysis. 1. But [Adv. (C/E - cause) to "not" because he kept breaking [#1] {into a slow grin} now and then], Mary was not afraid (PA) to talk [#2] {to him}. | 2. {At that very moment} such a loud sound {of wailing [#3]} broke out {from the servants' quarters} [Adv. (C/E - result) to "such" that she clutched the young man's arm (DO) ]. | 3. Four good things had happened {to her}, {in fact} [#4] , [Adv. (time) to "had happened" since she came {to Misselthwaite Manor}]. | "Since" can also imply cause.4. [Adv. (C/E - condition) to "not" So long as going [#5] {without food} agrees {with them}] we need not disturb ourselves (DO). | 5. One time [NuA] they took him (DO) out [Adv. (place) to "took" where the roses is {by the fountain} [#6] ]. | [Martha is speaking, and the S/V error reflects her poor grammar.]6. We can't help laughing [#7] nearly all the time [NuA] [Adj. (ID) to "time" when we are together]. | This one could be seen as either adjectival or adverbial (time) to "can't help laughing."7. Those [Adj. (ID) to "Those" whom [#8] Mary saw] slunk or hurried about {with ashy and scared faces}. | 8. He looked {at the plump little scarlet-waistcoated bird} [Adv. (C/E - manner) to "looked" as if he were [#9] both proud (PA) and fond (PA) {of him}]. | Does his pride and fondness cause the nature of his "look"?9. She stood {in the corridor} and could hear the crying (DO) quite plainly, [Adv. (C/E - concession) to "could hear" though it was not loud (PA)]. | 10. He would not have stirred {for the world}, [Adv. (C/E - purpose) to "not" lest his robin should start away]. | 11. Her patient was sure (PA) [Adv. (C/E - cause) to "sure" that open windows gave people (IO) cold (DO)]. | To the extent that we can see this clause as a cause/effect relationship, the implication is that his belief that open windows give people colds makes him sure. In other words, it is a causal relationship, but it is circular reasoning.12. They saw more rooms (DO) and made more discoveries (DO) [Adv. (Comparison) to "more" than Mary had made {on her first pilgrimage}]. | 13. Have fun (and some aspirin)
with this one:
than any other * ] was this imagining (PN) [(ID, DO of "imagining") what his father would look like [Adv. (time) to "would look like" when he saw [(ID, DO) that he had a son (DO) [Adj. (ID) to "son" who was as straight (PA) and strong (PA) as other fathers' sons *]]]]. | * "Than any other" (and later "as other fathers' sons" can be viewed as prepositional phrases or as ellipsed subordinate clauses (comparison) -- "than any other *thought stimulated him*" and "as other fathers' sons *were straight and strong*." Notes 2. The infinitive "to talk" functions as an adverb to the predicate adjective "afraid." 3. "Wailing" is a gerund. 4. "In fact" can be viewed as an adverb or as an interjection. 5. "Going" is a gerund. 6. Alternatively, "by the fountain" can be viewed as adverbial to "out," and thus not part of the subordinate clause. 7. Alternatively, "laughing" can be explained as a gerund that functions as the direct object of the finite verb "can't help." 8. "Whom" functions as both subordinating conjunction and as the direct object of "saw." 9. "Were" is in the subjunctive mood. See KISS Level 2.1.7 - The KISS Perspective on the Subjunctive Mood. 10. "Imagining" is a gerund. |