Plain English

378. Adjective clauses may also be introduced by as. As is a very convenient word and may be used in several different ways; sometimes as an adverb, sometimes as a conjunction; and it may also be used as a relative pronoun after such, same and many. For example:

Such books as you should read are listed here.

No such person as he ever came here.

We are facing the same crisis as our comrades faced.

This is the same as you gave before.

He has made as many mistakes as you have.

In these sentences as is really used as a relative pronoun, connecting these adjective clauses to the words which they modify. As may also be used as an adverb. I am as tall as you are.

Here the first as modifies tall and is used as an adverb; the second as is a conjunction connecting the subordinate clause you are, with the principal clause. Note that in making comparisons, as is always used when the comparison is equal, so when it is unequal, thus:

I am as tall as you are.

She is not so tall as you are.

We have found that as is also used as a conjunction to introduce an adverb clause. For example:

She is as beautiful as she is good.

The clause, as she is good, is an adverb clause, modifying the adjective beautiful. In the sentence, Do as I say, as I say is an adverb clause of manner, modifying the verb do.

CONNECTIVE WORDS

379. Let us not be confused in this matter of connectives. There are just four classes of connective words:

1. Copulative verbs.

2. Relative pronouns.

3. Prepositions.

4. Conjunctions.

380. The copulative verb is not a pure connective, for it serves another purpose in the sentence. For example, in the sentence, The book is interesting, the copulative verb is connects the adjective interesting with the noun book, which it modifies; but it also is the asserting word in the sentence. So it fulfils a double function. It is an asserting word and also a connective word.

381. The relative pronoun also is not a pure connective, for it serves two purposes in the sentence. It not only connects the clause which it introduces, with the word which it modifies, but it also serves as either the subject or object in the clause. For example: The man who was here has gone. The clause, who was here, is introduced by the relative pronoun who, which connects that clause with the noun man, which the clause modifies. Who also serves as the subject of the verb was.

In the sentence, The men whom we seek have gone, the clause, whom we seek, is introduced by the relative pronoun whom, which connects the clause with the word men, which it modifies. Whom also serves as the object of the verb in the clause, the verb seek.

382. A preposition is not a pure connective, since it serves a double function. It shows the relation of its object to the rest of the sentence and also governs the form of its object. As, for example, in the sentence: The man before me is not the culprit, the preposition before connects its object me with the noun man, which the prepositional phrase modifies, showing the relation between them; and it governs the form of its object, for the pronoun following a preposition must be used in the object form.

383. Even co-ordinate conjunctions can scarcely be considered pure connectives unless it be the co-ordinate conjunction and. Co-ordinate conjunctions such as but, yet, still, however, etc., not only connect words, phrases and clauses of equal rank, but in addition to connecting the words and expressions they also indicate that they are opposite in thought.

384. Co-ordinate conjunctions like therefore, hence, then, etc., connect words, phrases and clauses of equal rank, and also introduce a reason or cause. Co-ordinate conjunctions like or, either, nor, neither, whether, etc., connect words, phrases and clauses of equal rank, and also express the choice of an alternative. Thus these co-ordinate conjunctions can scarcely be considered as pure connectives.

385. Subordinate conjunctions are most frequently used to introduce adverb clauses and have an adverbial meaning. They express, as do adverbs, place, time, manner, cause, reason, purpose, condition or result. Some authorities indicate this double function by calling such words as these conjunctive adverbs, because, even when they are used as conjunctions, they retain some of their adverbial force.

But according to our rule that every word in the sentence is classified according to the function which it performs in that sentence, all words that perform the function of a conjunction are called conjunctions, although we understand that these conjunctions which introduce dependent clauses do still retain some of their adverbial meaning.

Exercise 3

In the following sentences the connectives are in italics. Determine whether they are copulative verbs, relative pronouns, prepositions, co-ordinate conjunctions or subordinate conjunctions.

1. They are slaves who dare not be in the right with two or three.

2. In the twentieth century war will be dead, dogmas will be dead, but man will live.

3. The abuse of free speech dies in a day, but its denial slays the life of the people and entombs the race.

4. Liberty for the few is not liberty.

5. Liberty for me and slavery for you means slavery for both.

6. The greatest thing in the world is for a man to know that he is his own.

7. Nothing can work me damage except myself.

8. He that loveth maketh his own the grandeur which he loves.

9. My life is not an apology, but a life.

10. I cannot consent to pay for a privilege where I have intrinsic right.

11. It is difficult to free fools from the chains which they revere.

12. Desire nothing for yourself which you do not desire for others.

13. All our liberties are due to men who, when their conscience compelled them, have broken the laws of the land.

14. "It takes great strength to live where you belong,
When other people think that you are wrong."

15. If the truth shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

16. He is true to God who is true to man.

Exercise 4

In the following sentences underscore all the connectives—copulative verbs, prepositions, relative pronouns, co-ordinate and subordinate conjunctions.

"There was a bird's egg once, picked up by chance upon the ground, and those who found it bore it home and placed it under a barn-yard fowl. And in time the chick bred out, and those who had found it chained it by the leg to a log lest it should stray and be lost. And by and by they gathered round it, and speculated as to what the bird might be.

One said, "It is surely a waterfowl, a duck, or it may be a goose; if we took it to the water it would swim and gabble." But another said, "It has no webs to its feet; it is a barn-yard fowl; if you should let it loose it will scratch and cackle with the others on the dungheap." But a third speculated, "Look now at its curved beak; no doubt it is a parrot, and can crack nuts."