Introduction to the KISS Workbooks The KISS Workbooks Anthology
(Code and Color Key)

Subordinate Clauses as Delayed Subjects and Sentences
from Sherwood Anderson's "The Egg"
Analysis Key

1.) It was her idea (PN) [Del. Subj. that the restaurant would be 

     profitable (PA).] |

[That the restaurant would be profitable] was her idea..
2.) It was father's idea (PN) [Del. Subj. that both he and mother should

     try to entertain [#1] the people [#1] [Adj. to "people" who came to eat [#2] 

     {at our restaurant}.]] |

[That both he and mother should try to entertain the people who came to eat at our restaurant] was father's idea.
3.) It was father's notion (PN) [Del. Subj. that a passion {for the company}

      {of himself and mother} would spring up {in the breasts} {of the younger

      people} {of the town} {of Bidwell}.] |

[That a passion for the company of himself and mother would spring up in the breasts of the younger people of the town of Bidwell] was father's notion.
4.) It was his notion (PN) [Del. Subj. that father was angry (PA) {at him}

      {for hanging [#3] around}.] |

[That father was angry at him for hanging around] was his notion.
5.) It was unlikely [Del. Subj. other children would be born (P) ] | and

      the wheels were broken (P). |

[That other children would be born] was unlikely . . . .


6.) It may have been [Del. Subj. that mother was responsible (PA).] |

[That mother was responsible] may have been *the case."


7.) It must have seemed {to me} [Del. Subj. that I was doing a thing

     (DO) [Adj. to "thing" that should not be done (P) {by one} [Adj. to

      "one" who, {like myself}, had been raised (P) {on a chicken farm} 

     [Adj. to "farm" where death was a daily visitor (PN).]]]] |

[That I was doing a thing that should not be done by one who, like myself, had been raised on a chicken farm where death was a daily visitor] must have seemed to me.

[Note that this version sounds totally unnatural, but if we ask what the "It" was that "seemed," the answer is the "that" clause. Thus the "that" clause can be explained as a delayed subject. I would not, however, argue with anyone who wanted to consider the "that" clause to be functioning as an adverb to "must have seemed," explaining "how" it must have seemed. That explanation, however, leaves the "it" meaningless.]

Notes
1. "To entertain" is an infinitive that functions as the direct object of "should try"; "people" is the direct object of the infinitive.
2. "To eat" is an infinitive that functions as an adverb of purpose to "came."
3. "Hanging around" is, of course, idiomatic. "Hanging" is a gerund that functions as the object of the preposition. One could explain the "around" as an adverb, or as the preposition in an ellipsed prepositional phrase -- "around *the place*."