Sentence Builder

Model:

Little land animals live in the polar regions which are covered with snow year round.

b) asyndetically:

Model:

Were a drop of water magnified to the size of the earth, the molecules composing it would be about the size of oranges.

Note. These conjunctions and connectives are often polysemantic and multifunctional, which may cause confusion in usage and understanding.

Models:

What is fairly gathered is roundly spent (the subject clause). This book was what is often referred to as an autobiographical novel (the predicative clause). I don’t know what you are talking about (the object clause).

4. A comma is generally not used between the main clause and the subordinate clause if the subordinate clause stands after the main clause. But a comma is used between them if the subordinate clause stands at the beginning of the sentence before the main clause.

Models:

The child is naughty only when he is concerned about being ignored by his brothers.

Although Connecticut occupies a small area, its weather can vary from one area to another.

Subject Clause

Theoretical Part

1. A subject clause is a clause which performs within a complex sentence the same function that the subject performs within a simple sentence (the agent or target of the action) and answers the questions who? or what? The main clause having no subject is deficient in its structure and meaning unless joined with the subordinate clause.

Whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income (who?).

Тот, кто любит богатство, никогда не удовлетворен своим доходом.

It is crystal clear that if you lose weight, you will have a happier, healthier, better life (what?).

Несомненно, что, если ты похудеешь, твоя жизнь станет счастливее, здоровее и лучше.

2. Complex sentences with subject clauses may be of two patterns:

a) when a subject clause precedes the predicate of the main clause:

That she will never agree to marry him was absolutely clear to everybody.

То, что она никогда не согласится выйти за него замуж, было совершенно ясно каждому.

b) when a subject clause is placed at the end of the sentence (then it is introduced by the formal it):

It was wonderful that we could see each other.

Как хорошо, что нам удалось повидаться.

Note. In exclamatory sentences the formal it may be only implied.

How lovely (it is) that the sun has come out!

Как чудесно, что выглянуло солнце!

3. Subordinate subject clauses are introduced in the following ways:

a) by means of the connectives what, whatever, who, whom, whoever, which, whose, when, where, how, why, because. (A connective what is used only without formal it). Subject clauses of this type cannot be joined asyndetically, as the opening words signal the subordinate status of the clause:

Because I ask too many questions does not mean I am curious.

То, что я задаю слишком много вопросов, не значит, что я любопытен.

b) by means of the conjunctions that, whether, if. (A conjunction that is used only with formal it):

It is better that she should see everything with her own eyes.

Будет лучше, если она увидит все своими собственными глазами.

Note. Subordinate subject clauses beginning with the conjunctions whether/if should not be mixed with subordinate clauses of time and condition. In subordinate subject clauses a predicate can be expressed by the verb in any of the Future tenses.

If he will call you is hard to predict (a subject clause).

Трудно предсказать, позвонит ли он тебе.

If he calls you, don’t forget to give him my regards (a conditional clause).

Если он позвонит, не забудь передать ему мой привет.

c) asyndetically (only with formal it):

It is a pity you should have forgotten about mother’s birthday.

Жаль, что ты забыл о мамином дне рождения.

4. Subject clauses are not separated from the principal clause by a comma except we have two or more subject clauses coordinated with each other.

Who his father was, and why he deserted his family, were the questions that often pressed on the girl’s mind.

Кем был ее отец и почему он бросил свою семью, эти вопросы часто угнетали девушку.

Language Focus

Exercise 1.In the following sentences find the subjects and explain what they are.

1. Being the first woman president of Harvard did matter to a lot of people. 2. Her mother, who never worked outside of the home, was not one to encourage Faust to higher ambitions. 3. It was anticipated that probably I would marry and be a wife and mother. 4. That Faust's mother didn't live to witness her daughter’s success is a pity. 5. That the cost of an education at the elite private university does not prohibit talented applicants from attending makes sense. 6. For students from families with incomes under $60,000 a year, there is no parental contribution expected at all. 7. American higher education is seen as a model in many other countries. 8. What they wanted to talk with me about was the liberal arts and humanities. 9. To become president of an Ivy League university takes years of hard work. 10. It is essential that education should prepare people for a lifetime, not just a single career. 11. What they saw as characteristic of American higher education is imaginativeness, curiosity and creativity. 12. Faust’s responsibilities as president of Harvard have taken her to many corners of the globe. 13. She is a noted scholar of the American South and the Civil War. 14. Her mother seemed quite angry to have limited options for herself.