COMPLEX SENTENCES

 

A complex sentence has a principal clause that expresses a sense its own and can stand alone. There are one or more subordinate clauses that depend on principal clause for meaning.

Clause:- It is a group of words that forms a part of the sentence, it has a subject and a predicate; as:-

    I depend upon him because he is honest.

here ‘because he is honest’ is a clause.  

Every complex sentence has a principal clause and one or more subordinate clauses.

i. Principal Clause:- The clause which is independent is called principal clause.

ii. Subordinate Clause:- The clause which is not independent and is dependent on principal clause is called subordinate clause. It is related to principal clause with a conjunction; as :-

   He put forward this proposal  but I rejected it. 

             (Principal clause)        (Subordinate clause)           

FORMS OF THE SUBORDINATE CLAUSES

Subordinate clauses have three forms:-

(1) Noun Clause:- It is the group of words which has its own subject and predicate, and act as a noun.

Identification:- If principal clause is asked a question beginning with ‘what’ and answer is the subordinate clause, it is a noun clause; as:-

i.  Subject to a verb:

a. What he says is quite true.               

b. When he will be back is uncertain.  

 ii.  Object to a verb:

a. He promised that he would help me.

b. Tell me where you found this bag of gold.

iii.  Object to a preposition:

a. I listen to what he said.

b. Do not believe in what he says.

iv.  Complement to an incomplete verb:

a. My belief is that he is innocent.

b. Life is what we make it.

v.  In apposition to a noun or pronoun:

a. It is true that he has been promoted.

b. The fact that he is guilty gives me much pain.

(2) Adjective Clause:- It acts as an adjective.

Identification:- If principal clause is asked a question beginning with ‘what’, ‘who’, ‘which’ or ‘whom, you get adjective clause; as:-

a. He found the bag which he had lost.

b. She is the woman whom we all respect.

(3) Adverb Clause:- It acts as an adverb. It expresses time, place, condition, manner, purpose, reason, supposition, comparison or result.

Identification:- If principal clause is asked a question beginning with ‘where’, ‘why’, ‘who’, you get adverb clause; as:-

i.   Adverb clause showing time:

a. Speak to me before you leave.

b. They arrived at the destination as the sun was setting.

ii. Adverb clause showing place:

a. He went whenever he liked.

b. He makes friends wherever he goes.

iii. Adverb clause of purpose:

a. He worked hard so that he might earn his living.

b. Work hard lest you should fail.

iv.  Adverb clause of manner:

a. He acted as though he were mad.

b. He is honest as far as I know.

v. Adverb clause of condition:

a. You look as if you were satisfied.

b. I must speak the truth whether he likes it or not.

vi. Adverb clause of reason:

a. I am glad that you have come.

b. I will never help you because I do not trust you.

vii. Adverb clause of supposition:

a. Though I am poor, I am honest.

b. Even if it rains, we shall play.

viii. Adverb clause of comparison:

a. Take as much as you like.

b. He can run faster than I can.

ix. Adverb clause of effect:

a. He is so good a man that everybody loves him.

b. He ran so hard that he was out of breath.