19.

The Complex Sentence

Exercise 1. Define the type of subordinate nominal clauses(Subject clause, predicative clause and object
clause) in the following sentences.

1. Miss Casement stopped what she was doing and stared at Rainsborough. – the subordinate
clause is “what she was doing” and it is an object clause. (mixed sentence with a coordinator
“and”)
2. What you saw tonight was an ending. – “what you saw tonight” is the subordinate clause and it
is a subject clause.
3. About what was to come she reflected not at all. – The subordinate clause is “about what was to
come” and it is an object clause. Here what is distinctive is that the object clause is at the head
of the sentence where we don't typically find the object and it may be confusing. So the normal
word order would be: She reflected not at all about what was to come.
4. It’s odd how it hurts at these times not to be part of your proper family. – the subordinate
clause is “how it hurts at these times not to be part of your proper family” and it is a subject
clause in extraposition. We have the anticipatory it which is just the grammatical subject of the
sentence it and this is extraposition of the subject.
5. The trouble with you, Martin, is that you are always looking for a master. – the subordinate
clause is “that you are always looking for a master” and it is connected with the main clause by
the conjunction “that” and this is a predicative clause.
6. Suddenly realizing what had happened, she sprang to her feet. – the subordinate clause is “what
had happened” and it is an object clause.
7. “It looks as though spring will never come,” she remarked. – the subordinate clause is “as
though spring will never come” and it is a predicative clause.
8. I want you to sit here beside me and listen to what I have to say. – the subordinate clause is
“what I have to say” and it is an object clause.
9. Who and what he was, Martin never learned. – an object clause. Normal sentence: Martin never
learned who and what he was.
10. That I am hungry and you are aware of it are only ordinary phenomena, and there is no disgrace.
– the subordinate clause is “that I am hungry” and it is an subject/object clause?
11. What we would do next he did not know. – the subordinate clause is “what we would do next”
and it is an object clause, the object is in front. Normal sentence: He did not know what he
would do next.
12. What I want is to be paid for what I do - subject clause(“what I want”) and an object
clause(“what I do” - an object clause may be joined to the main clause by the prepositions after,
about, before, for, of, beyond, etc.)
13. I cannot help thinking there is something wrong about that closet. – object clause asyndetically
linked
14. And what is puzzling me is why they want me now. - a complex sentence with both a subject and
a predicative clause. The subject clause is “what is puzzling me” and the predicative clause is
“why they want me now”.
15. [(That) was (what I came to find out.)] – we have two subordinate clauses “that” which is a
subject clause and the other subordinate clause is “what I came to find out” which is a
predicative clause.
 16. What I want to know is when you are going to get married. - a complex sentence with both a
subject and a predicative clause. The subject clause is: “what I want to know” and the
predicative clause is “when you are going to get married”.
17. Her fear was lest they should stay for tea. – the subordinate clause is “lest they should stay for
tea” and it is a predicative clause(because of the linking verb).
18. That they were justified in this she could not but admit. – the subordinate clause is “that they
were justified in this” and this is an object clause. Normal order of sentence: She could not but
admit that they were justified in this.
19. What was certain was that I could not sleep again. – there are two subordinate clauses in the
the sentence “what was certain” which is a subject clause and “that I could not sleep again”
which is a predicative clause.
20. What vast wound that catastrophe had perhaps made in Georgie’s proud and upright spirit I did
not know. – an object clause
21. After several weeks what he had been waiting for happened. – subject clause (What he had
been waiting for happened after several week.)
22. And let me say to you in the profoundest and most faithful seriousness that what you saw
tonight will have no sequel. – an object clause
23. [I understand all that], but [(what I want to know) is (whether or not you have lost faith in me.)]
– there are two subordinate clauses “what I want to know” which is a subject clause and
“whether or not you have lost faith in me” which is a predicative clause.
24. He could recall with startling clarity what previously had been dim and evasive recollections of
childhood incidents, early schooling and young manhood. – an object clause
25. It’s been my experience that as a rule the personality of a human being presents as much of a
complexity as the medical history of a chronic invalid. – extraposition of the subject clause
26. He had taken no part in the war, and he felt sure that he could only rejoice in its conclusion. –an
object clause
27. It was noticeable to all that even his usual sullen smile had disappeared. – a subject clause in
extraposition
28. That I had no business, with two women on my hands already, to go falling in love with a third
troubled me comparatively little. – a subject clause
29. Believe me, believe us, it is what is best for you. – the subordinate clause is “what is best for
you” and it is a predicative clause.
30. What is done cannot be undone. – the subordinate clause is “what is done” and it is a subject
clause

Exercise 2. Define the type of the attributive clauses in the following sentences.

1. “Everybody who makes the kind of blunder I did should apologize,” he remarked with a
pronounced nodding of his head. – the subordinate clause is “who makes the kind of blunder I
did” and it is relative restrictive attributive clause.
2. Rachel had become aware of the fact(abstract noun) that she was talking loudly. – the
subordinate clause is “that she was talking loudly” and it is an attributive appositive clause
3. He took after his blond father, who had been a painter. – the subordinate clause is “who had
been a painter” and it is a non-restrictive relative attributive clause
4. What we are interested in, as author and reader, is the fact that publishing in England is now an
intergral part of big business. – the subordinate clause is “that publishing in England is now an
integral part of big business” which is an attributive appositive clause
5. The first thing Martin did next morning was to go counter both to Brissende’s advice and
command – joined asyndetically relative restrictive attributive clause
6. The invalid, whose strength was now sufficiently restored, threw off his coat and rushed
towards the sea, with the intention of plunging in, and dragging the drowning man ashore. – the
subordinate clause is “whose strength was now sufficiently restored” and it is non-restrictive
relative attributive clause
7. He was suddenly reminded of the crumpled money(not an abstract noun) he had snatched from
the table and burned in the sink. - relative restrictive attributive clause joined asyndetically
8. Georgie, who is now twenty-six, had been undergraduate at Cambrige, where she had taken a
degree in economics. - non-restrictive relative attributive clause
9. He would speak for hours about them to Harry Esmond; and, indeed, he could have chosen few
subjects more likely to interest the unhappy young man, whose heart was now as always
devoted to these ladies; and who was thankful to all who loved them, or praised them, or
wished them well. – non-restrictive relative clauses
10. I hardly know why I came to the conclusion that you don’t consider it an altogether fortunate
attachment. – there are two clauses “why I came to the conclusion” is the one which is an object
clause and “that you don’t consider it and altogether fortunate” which is the attributive
appositive clause.
11. He walked to the window and stood there looking at the winter night that had finally come upon
them. – attributive appositive clause
12. [(What terrified her most) was (that she found deep in her heart a strong wish (that Mischa
might indeed want to reopen negotiations))]. – there are three subordinate clauses, the first one
“what terrified her most” is a subject clause, “that she found deep in her hears a strong wish”
which is a predicative clause and “that Mischa might indeed want to reopen negotiations” is the
attributive appositive clause.
13. Directly in front of her windows was a wide terrace with a stone parapet which swept round to
what she took to be the front of the house, which faced the sea more squarely. – “which swept
round to what she took to be the front of the house” is a restrictive relative clause and “which
face the sea more squarely” is a non-restrictive relative clause.
14. I went upstairs to lie down and fell into the most profound and peaceful sleep that I had
experienced for a long time. – attributive appositive clause
15. She looked to him much the same child as he had met six years ago. – non-restrictive relative
clause with sentential antecedent
16. May be the reason you don’t want to go to a specialist is because you don’t want to change –
you want to stay as you are. – predicative clause
17. Such light as there was from the little lamp fell now on his face, which looked horrible – for it
was all covered with blood. – non-restrictive relative clause
18. She regarded him with a look on her face that was unrevealing of her thoughts. – restrictive
relative clause
19. She had the feeling that she was right. – attributive appositive clause
 20. He lent her the money, as she hoped he would. – non-restrictive relative clauses with sentential
antecedent

Exercise 3. Define the type of the adverbial clauses in the following sentences.

1. We were invited to go back where we came from. – adverbial clause of place

2. The earth floor shook a little as they passed. – adverbial clause of reason/cause
3. “Oh, I dare say she is crying because she could not go out with Missis in the carriage,”
interposed Bessie. – adverbial clause of reason
4. She got up and fixed the latch on the wicket at the landing so that Philip could not get in. –
adverbial clause of purpose
5. Ray did as he was told, and as he felt the weight taken off his back he found it more difficult to
stand. – adverbial clause of reason
6. I don’t know what will become of him if he goes on like this. – adverbial clause of condition
7. And though I had been to school in the cities and had come to Europe , I was still a son of the
tribe. – adverbial clause of concession
8. However disagreeable Sam’s very close watch and great vigilance were Mr. Winkle , he thought
it better to bear with them. – adverbial clause of concession
9. I will leave the door ajar, in case you call me. – adverbial clause of purpose
10. Write that you decline to support this scheme of hers as you hold it to be a dishonest scheme. –
adverbial clause of cause?
11. The intervals were never as long as they had seemed. – adverbial clause of comparison
12. Roy watched these two men as he had never watched them. – adverbial clause of cause
13. As you go leave the door open so that the light from the lamp may show you the way down. –
adverbial clause of purpose
14. I think he saw the effect he had produced on one for some days afterwards he wrote and asked
me to come and see him. – adverbial clause of time
15. When he entered the house he greeted him with a bright face. – adverbial clause of time
16. From where he sat he could see a cluster of apple-trees in blossom. – adverbial clause of place
17. And as soon as the messenger was gone he took a chair whence he could see the street. –
adverbial clause of time, adverbial clause of place
18. Mrs. Popply, since you express your regret I suppose there is nothing more to be said. –
adverbial clause of reason
19. Perhaps I had been wrong and Roy had invited me only that we might idly chat of Shakespeare
and the musical classes. – adverbial clause of reason/purpose
20. ‘He will not be long,’ she said as though I needed comfort for his absence. – adverbial clause of
comparison
21. Even though it was winter, flowers were blooming. – adverbial clause of concession
22. Harmless as this speech appeared to be, it acted on the travellers’ distrust, like oil on fire. –
adverbial clause of comparison.
23. While he elbowed his way on, his eyes, which he usually kept fixed on the ground before his
feet, were attached upwards by the dome of St. Paul’s. – adverbial clause of time “while he
elbowed his way on”, non-restrictive relative clause “which he usually kept fixed on the ground
before his feet”
24. I had not communicated with Georgie since the day of the revelation, and since the thing was
not yet common knowledge, she was still presumably ignorant of the change in my situation. –
adverbial clause of cause
25. There was a moment’s pause while he introduced her. – adverbial clause of time