Clausal Structure in English essay part 2
Clausal Structure in English essay part 1
Adverbial clauses
Adverbial clauses are clauses introduced by a subordinating conjunction, which explains the adverbial meaning of the clause. Conjunctions used in adverbial clause are as follows: when/before/after/while (time); because/since (reason); if/unless/lest (condition), etc. For example
- When your work day is over, you may go home.
- I cannot send you emails because I prefer using Skype.
- Unless you work hard, you will succeed in your life.
At the same time, there are minor types of adverbial clause, which are inf. and -ing clauses:
- Inf. clause: I went to the bus stop to take the bus back home. (Clause introduced by to + infinitive).
- -ing clause: Jack lost his wallet while fighting. (Clause introduced by present participle).
Types of adverbial clauses:
Adverbial clauses may be time clauses, which use time-related conjunctions, such as when, whenever, before, after, since, while, as, until, once, as soon as. These clauses are used with regard to a specific period of time or to an event that occurs in the specific moment. For example, She started her career when she was a student. In addition, adverbial clauses are used in the following cases: before +-ing after +subject+verb For example: Before buying this car, make sure it is new. Tom left the house before Jane had realized what was going on.
Conditional clauses involve the use of conjunctions, which indicate to the presence of certain condition or conditions, including the following conjunctions: if, unless, whether, provided/-ing (that)…, as/so long as, in case. Conditional clauses are used to describe a possible situation and its effects. For example: If they practice sport, they will be in the excellent physical shape.
Adjectival clauses
One of the most widely-spread types of adjectival clauses is the relative clause, introduced by such relative pronouns as who, whom, whose, that, or which. For example:
- Here is the ma (whom) I saw last night, when the murder occurred.
- This is the car (which) I am using to get to my work.
- The movie (that) I most enjoy is American Beauty.
At the same time, there are two types of adjectival clause which occur very seldom, which are -ing and -ed clauses.
- -ing clause: The train now standing at platform two is the 2.30 p.m. to New York.
- -ed clause: He is the pop star pursued by paparazzi.
At this point, it is worth mentioning the fact that past participles do not all end in –ed. This is why other verb forms are used in such clauses. For example: The movie watched by the audience or the exam taken by the students.
Furthermore, the transition from coordination to subordination may occur in adjectival clauses. Using adjectival clause it is possible to combine these two sentences:
The national speed limit was repealed.
Road accidents have increased sharply.
One possible way to coordinate these two sentences is as follows
The national speed limit was repealed and road accidents have increased sharply. Coordination with the help of the conjunction ‘and’ allows connecting the two main clauses. On the other hand, such coordination does not clearly identify the relationship between the ideas in those clauses. Therefore, if it is necessary to clarify the relationship between the two ideas in the given example, it is necessary to change the first main clause into an adverb clause, for example:
Since the national speed limit was repealed, road accidents have increased sharply.
The adverbial clause indicates to the time relationship between two ideas of the sentence. By changing the first word in the adverb clause, which is called a subordinating conjunction, it is possible to establish a different relationship, for instance, the relationship of cause: Because the national speed limit was repealed, road accidents have increased sharply. However, it is worth mentioning the fact that an adverb clause, like an adjective clause, contains its own subject and predicate, but it must be subordinated to a main clause to make sense.
Furthermore, purpose clauses are clauses that use conjunctions or (finales) = subject. As a rule, the following conjunctions are used to convey the purpose: in order to, so as to (in order not to , so as not to) // subject: … so that + can/will, … so that + could/would, – for fear that. These clauses are used to indicate the purpose of an action. For example: The police introduced automatic profile processing to identify suspects faster. They had to pass exams successfully so that they could continue their education at the University. The doctor explained the nature of my illness in medical terms so that I wouldn’t understand fully.
Another type of adjectival clauses is reason clauses (causales), which use conjunctions that convey the reason of the action or event described in the sentence. The most widely-used reason conjunctions are as follows: because, since, as, (because of + (adj)noun, due to/owing to+ (adj)noun). These clauses are used to indicate the reason for something. I couldn’t feel anger against him because I liked him too much. Because of the heavy traffic in cities, more people have started taking the train.
In addition, there are comparison clauses (comparativas), which use comparative conjunctions, such as: as, than, the + comparative. Comparison clauses are used to compare two or more people, things or facts, for example: I cannot drive a truck as well as I can drive a car. Leila plays tennis better than her sister.
Also it is worth mentioning the fact that there are result clauses (consecutivas), which use conjunctions that indicate to the result of the action or event: …, so (that)… (Result clauses associated with degree: …so + adj/adv + that (tan…que…) so much + noun(U) + that (tanto/a…que…) so many + noun(C) + that(tantos/as…que…) such (a/an/-) + adj+ noun + that. Result clauses are used to indicate the result of something. For example: I had some extra job to do, so that I had no time to call you back. The doctor explained the nature of my illness in medical terms, so that I didn’t understand fully.
Furthermore, concessive clauses are another type of adjectival clauses which use concessive conjunctions, such as: although, though, even though, even if, while, whereas(mientras que…), + noun despite + -ing, in spite of the fact that+subj+vb, (however + adj/adv + clause). Concessive clauses are used to communicate the idea of concession, when two statements, one of which contrasts with the other or makes it seem surprising. For example: I learned hard although I did not have money to continue my education. Although he is a good player, he has no stamina to keep on playing as he used to. In spite of / Despite his age, he kept on working in the construction.
Another type of adjectival clauses is place clauses, which use conjunctions indicating to the specific place of action or event described in the sentence. For example, the following are the most widely-spread place conjunctions: where, wherever. These clauses are used to talk about the location or position of something. For example: John believed he can succeed in the new city where he moved to last summer. Wherever she goes, she will always take her ‘lucky’ ring.
Furthermore, there are also clauses of manner, which use conjunctions that reflect the manner, in which the action or event is carried out, for example: as, as if, the way, like. Clauses of manner are used to describe someone’s behavior or the way something is done. For example: I have never had a chance to do the things the way I wanted to do them. Jane did the job as no one has ever expected from her.
In such a way, the diverse types of clauses identified by experts involved in the study reveal the clear trend to the close correlation between the main clause and finite or non-finite clause. However, the main clause is independent and may stand alone, while the finite or non-finite clause is coordinated or dependent on the main clause. At the same time, the researchers have proved that the relationships between the main and finite/non-finite clause depends on their function and purpose of the utterance.
Conclusion
Thus, the analysis of the clausal structure in English reveals the fact that the diversity of clauses in English is mainly the result of the different purposes of utterances and the different relationship between the main and finite/non-finite clause. At the same time, the study has revealed the fact that the complex clausal structure depends on several factors, among which the function of the close, the purpose of the utterance and intention of the person making the utterance are key factors that determine the clausal structure.
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