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2018
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Here we have two proper nouns used as the subject, Marx and Engels. We have also two verbs used as the predicate, lived and worked. We call this a compound subject and compound predicate.
So in one simple sentence, that is a sentence which makes a single assertion, we may have every part of speech. For example:
The most intelligent men and women think for themselves.
In this sentence, we have a noun, verb, pronoun, adjective, adverb, conjunction and preposition—every part of speech except the interjection, which is an independent element and does not enter into the construction of the sentence.
Exercise 1
Write simple sentences of your own containing:
1. A compound subject.
2. A compound predicate.
3. A noun as subject modified by one or more adjectives.
4. A noun as subject modified by a phrase.
5. An incomplete verb with a direct and an indirect object.
6. An incomplete verb with a predicate complement.
7. A predicate modified by one or more adverbs.
8. A predicate modified by an adverb phrase.
COMPLEX SENTENCES
441. The simple sentence is the unit of speech. It is a combination of words which makes a single statement, question or command. But many times a constant repetition of these short sentences would become tiresome, and our written and spoken speech would not flow as smoothly and rapidly as we desire. So we have evolved a way in which we may combine these sentences into longer statements. Let us take the two simple sentences:
We are united.
We shall succeed.
We may combine these into a single sentence by using the co-ordinate conjunction and. Then our sentence reads:
We are united and we shall succeed.
This is a compound sentence, formed by uniting two simple sentences. Both of the clauses are independent and are of equal rank. Neither depends upon the other. They are united by the co-ordinate conjunction and. We can combine these sentences in a different way. For example, we may say:
If we are united, we shall succeed.
Now we have a subordinate clause, if we are united, which is used to modify the verb of the main clause, succeed. We have used the subordinate conjunction if, and so we have a complex sentence formed by uniting the principal clause and a dependent clause.
442. The next step in sentence building, after the simple sentence, is the complex sentence. A complex sentence is a combination of two or more simple sentences, which are so united that one sentence remains the main sentence—the backbone, as it were—and the other sentence becomes subordinate or dependent upon it.
443.A complex sentence is one containing a principal clause and one or more subordinate clauses.
A principal clause is one which makes a complete statement without the help of any other clause or clauses.
A subordinate or dependent clause is one which makes a statement dependent upon or modifying some word or words in the principal clause.
KINDS OF DEPENDENT CLAUSES
444. Dependent clauses are of three kinds. They may be used either as nouns, adjectives or adverbs, and so are called noun clauses, adjective clauses or adverb clauses.
NOUN CLAUSES
445.Noun clauses are those which are used in place of a noun. They may be used in any way in which a noun may be used, except as a possessive.
1. The noun clause may be used as the subject of the sentence. For example:
That he is innocent is admitted by all.
The clause, that he is innocent is used as a noun, the subject of the sentence.
2. The noun clause may be used as the object of a verb, thus:
I admit that I cannot understand your argument.
The clause, that I cannot understand your argument, is in this sentence the object of the verb admit.
3. The noun clause may be used as the predicate complement, thus:
The fact is that this policy will never win.
The clause, that this policy will never win, is here used in the predicate with the copulative verb is.
4. The noun clause may also be used in apposition, explaining the noun with which it is used, thus:
The motion, that the question should be reconsidered, was carried.
That the question should be reconsidered, is here a noun clause, used in apposition with the noun motion, and explains the meaning of the noun.
5. The noun clause may also be used as the object of a preposition, thus:
I now refer to what he claims.
The noun clause, what he claims, is here the object of the preposition, to.
Exercise 2
In the following sentences the noun clauses are printed in italics. Determine whether they are used as the subject, or object of the verb, as predicate complement, in apposition, or as the object of a preposition.
1. The fact is that I was not listening.
2. Whatever King Midas looked upon turned to gold.
So in one simple sentence, that is a sentence which makes a single assertion, we may have every part of speech. For example:
The most intelligent men and women think for themselves.
In this sentence, we have a noun, verb, pronoun, adjective, adverb, conjunction and preposition—every part of speech except the interjection, which is an independent element and does not enter into the construction of the sentence.
Exercise 1
Write simple sentences of your own containing:
1. A compound subject.
2. A compound predicate.
3. A noun as subject modified by one or more adjectives.
4. A noun as subject modified by a phrase.
5. An incomplete verb with a direct and an indirect object.
6. An incomplete verb with a predicate complement.
7. A predicate modified by one or more adverbs.
8. A predicate modified by an adverb phrase.
COMPLEX SENTENCES
441. The simple sentence is the unit of speech. It is a combination of words which makes a single statement, question or command. But many times a constant repetition of these short sentences would become tiresome, and our written and spoken speech would not flow as smoothly and rapidly as we desire. So we have evolved a way in which we may combine these sentences into longer statements. Let us take the two simple sentences:
We are united.
We shall succeed.
We may combine these into a single sentence by using the co-ordinate conjunction and. Then our sentence reads:
We are united and we shall succeed.
This is a compound sentence, formed by uniting two simple sentences. Both of the clauses are independent and are of equal rank. Neither depends upon the other. They are united by the co-ordinate conjunction and. We can combine these sentences in a different way. For example, we may say:
If we are united, we shall succeed.
Now we have a subordinate clause, if we are united, which is used to modify the verb of the main clause, succeed. We have used the subordinate conjunction if, and so we have a complex sentence formed by uniting the principal clause and a dependent clause.
442. The next step in sentence building, after the simple sentence, is the complex sentence. A complex sentence is a combination of two or more simple sentences, which are so united that one sentence remains the main sentence—the backbone, as it were—and the other sentence becomes subordinate or dependent upon it.
443.A complex sentence is one containing a principal clause and one or more subordinate clauses.
A principal clause is one which makes a complete statement without the help of any other clause or clauses.
A subordinate or dependent clause is one which makes a statement dependent upon or modifying some word or words in the principal clause.
KINDS OF DEPENDENT CLAUSES
444. Dependent clauses are of three kinds. They may be used either as nouns, adjectives or adverbs, and so are called noun clauses, adjective clauses or adverb clauses.
NOUN CLAUSES
445.Noun clauses are those which are used in place of a noun. They may be used in any way in which a noun may be used, except as a possessive.
1. The noun clause may be used as the subject of the sentence. For example:
That he is innocent is admitted by all.
The clause, that he is innocent is used as a noun, the subject of the sentence.
2. The noun clause may be used as the object of a verb, thus:
I admit that I cannot understand your argument.
The clause, that I cannot understand your argument, is in this sentence the object of the verb admit.
3. The noun clause may be used as the predicate complement, thus:
The fact is that this policy will never win.
The clause, that this policy will never win, is here used in the predicate with the copulative verb is.
4. The noun clause may also be used in apposition, explaining the noun with which it is used, thus:
The motion, that the question should be reconsidered, was carried.
That the question should be reconsidered, is here a noun clause, used in apposition with the noun motion, and explains the meaning of the noun.
5. The noun clause may also be used as the object of a preposition, thus:
I now refer to what he claims.
The noun clause, what he claims, is here the object of the preposition, to.
Exercise 2
In the following sentences the noun clauses are printed in italics. Determine whether they are used as the subject, or object of the verb, as predicate complement, in apposition, or as the object of a preposition.
1. The fact is that I was not listening.
2. Whatever King Midas looked upon turned to gold.
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