THE COMPLEX SENTENCE
Nguyen Thi Kim Anh-DFL
I. Co-ordination and subordination
Look at these examples
I love him but he loves my best friend.
We have two clauses here
1. I love him
2. He loves my best friend.
Both of them are independent clauses and of equal importance in the sentence
Although I love him, he loves my best friend.
We have two clauses here
1. I love him
2. He loves my best friend
They are not of equal importance.




Although I love him is dependent or subordinate clause.
He loves my best friend is an independent/ main/ superordinate clause.
These two clauses are combined using the subordinator Although
II. Finite, non-finite, verbless clause
Analyzing by structural type, we arrive at three main clauses
1. Finite clause
2. Non-finite clause
3. Verbless clause
1. Finite clause
Finite clause is a clause whose Verb element is a finite verb phrase
E.g. Do you feel the love tonight?
If you had been more careful, you would have passed the driving test.
2. Non-finite clause
Non-finite clause is a clause whose verb element is a non-finite verb phrase
E.g. Having finished her homework, she…..
For him to win her heart is not easy
a. Infinitive with to
b. Infinite without to
c. Ing participle
d. ed participle
a. Infinitive with to
Without subject
E.g. The best thing in life is to love and to be loved.
With subject
E.g. The best thing is for you to work hard

b. Infinitive without to
Without subject
E.g All she does is cry and cry.
With subject
E.g. Rather than John do it, I’d prefer to give the job to Mary.
c. Ing participle
Without subject
E.g. Feeling tired, she went to bed.
With subject
E.g. Her aunt having left the room, I declared my passionate love for Celia.
d. Ed participle
Without subject
E.g. Beaten by a snake, she was taken to hospital.
With subject
E.g. We left the room and went home, the job finished.
3. Verbless clause
Verbless clause is a clause containing no verb element (but otherwise generally analyzable in terms of one or more clause elements)
E.g Although rich, he isn’t happy.
When in Rome, do as the Rome do.
III. Formal indicators of subordination
1. Simple subordinators
2. Compound subordinators
3. Correlative subordinators
1. Simple subordinators
After, (al)though, as, because, if, once, since, until, that, when, where, while, etc
Although he is rich, he isn’t happy.
When I arrive at the airport, I’ll give you a ring.
2. Compound subordinators
Ending with that: in that, so that, such that, except that, in order that, etc
E.g. She works hard so that she can make her parents proud.
Ending with optional that: now (that), provided (that), supposing (that), considering (that), seeing (that)
E.g. Supposing that you had 2 million dollars, what would you do with that amount of money?
Ending with as: as far as, as long as, as soon as, so long as, so as, etc
E.g. I don’t care who you are, where you’re from, what you did as long as you love me.
Ending with than: sooner than, rather than
E.g Rather than stay at home, I went shopping.
Others: as if, as though, in case
E.g. He treats me as if I were his daughter.

3. Correlative subordinators
If…then, (al)though…..yet/ nevertheless, as….so, more/er/less….than, as….as, so ….(that), such …..as, such ….(that), no sooner….than, whether…or, the…the
E.g. No sooner had we arrived home than the rain poured down.
IV. Functional classification of dependent clause
Dependent clauses may function as subject, object, complement or adverbial in the superordinate clause
Subject: That she is still alive after the earthquake is a miracle.
Direct object: I don’t care who you are.
Indirect object: She gave whoever she met a smile.
Subject complement: You are what I am looking for.
Object complement: You can call me whatever name you like.
Adjunct: When you are sad, you can cry on my shoulder.
Disjunct: To be honest, I don’t like him.
Conjunct: What’s more, he has lost the friends he had.