Clause Analysis of Complex and Compound Sentences
Clause Analysis of Complex and Compound Sentences
Clause Analysis of Complex and Compound Sentences
In this chapter, you will learn about how to analyze clauses of complex and compound sentences.
Clause Analysis means breaking a sentence up into component clauses and showing their relationship with each other.
While going to Analyse the clauses of a sentence the following steps should be followed:
1. Find out the Finite Verb. (There are as many clauses as there are Finite Verbs. If the Finite Verb is understood (not expressed) supply it in the proper place. Find out the Subject to each Finite Verb. If the Subject of any Finite Verb is understood supply it.) After finding out the Finite Verb determine the Principal Clause.
2. Find out the Sub-ordinate Clause or clauses.
3. After finding out the Sub-ordinate Clause classify the Sub-ordinate Clause and tell whether it is a Noun Clause, Adjective Clause or Adverb Clause.
4. Show the relationship between the Principal Clause and the Sub-ordinate Clause.
5. Find out the Connective that establishes the relationship between the Principal Clause and the Sub-ordinate Clause.
Some Specimen of Analyzing the Clauses of Complex and Compound sentences are given below:
Clause Analysis of Complex and Compound Sente
A. Clause Analysis of Complex Sentence
1. Whatever may happen he must leave the land.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) He must leave the land — Principal Clause.
(b) Whatever may happen — Sub-ordinate Adverb Clause modifying the verb ‘leave’.
Connective word: Whatever.
2. This is the season when the Cuckoos are heard singing.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) This is the season — Principal Clause.
(b)When the cuckoos are heard singing—— Sub-ordinate Adverb Clause qualifying the ‘season’ in (a)
Connective: ‘when’.
3. He may come again whenever he can make time.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) He may come again — Principal Clause.
(b) Whenever he can make time — Sub-ordinate Adverb Clause modifying the verb ‘may come’ in (a).
Connective: ‘Whenever’.
4. They never fail who die in a great cause.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) They never fail — Principal Clause.
(b) Who die in a great cause — Sub-ordinate Adjective Clause qualifying ‘They’ in Clause (a).
Connective: ‘who’.
5. It is a tragedy that he died young.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) It is a tragedy — Principal Clause
(b) That he died young — Sub-ordinate Noun Clause in Apposition to ‘it’ in (a).
Connective: ‘that’.
6. He told me that he killed the lion while it was asleep.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) They told me — Principal Clause.
(b) That he killed the lion — Sub-ordinate Noun Clause, Object to the Verb ‘told’. in (a)
(c) While it was asleep — Sub-ordinate Adverb Clause modifying the verb ‘had killed’ in (a)
Connective: ‘that’ and ‘while’.
7. This is the fort that Shahjahan built.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) This is the fort — Principal Clause
(b) That Shahjahan built — Sub-ordinate Adjective Clause qualifying ‘fort’ in clause (a)
Connective: ‘that’.
8. That he is honest is known to me.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) (It) is known to me — Principal Clause
(b) That he is honest — Sub-ordinate Noun Clause used as subject to the verb ‘is known’ in clause (a)
Connective: ‘that’.
9. Everybody knows that ours is an independent country.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) Everybody knows — Principal Clause
(b) That ours is an independent country — Sub-ordinate Noun Clause, Object to the verb ‘knows’ in clause (a)
Connective: ‘that’.
10. We are happy that our club team won the first prize.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) We are happy — Principal Clause
(b) That our club team won the first prize — Sub-ordinate Adverb Clause modifying the verb ‘happy’ in clause (a)
Connective: ‘that’.
11. What she said was not true.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) (It) was not true — Principal Clause
(b) What she said — Sub-ordinate Noun Clause, Subject to the verb ‘was’ in clause (a)
Connective: ‘what’.
12. Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) Uneasy lies the head — Principal Clause
(b) That wears the crown — Sub-ordinate Adjective Clause qualifying ‘the head’ in clause (a)
Connective: ‘that’.
13. How the prisoner escaped from the prison is a mystery.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) (It) is a mystery — Principal Clause
(b) How the prisoner escaped from the prison — Sub-ordinate Noun Clause used as Subject to ‘is’ in clause (a).
Connective: ‘how’.
14. Do whatever you like
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) (You) do — Principal Clause
(b) Whatever you like — Sub-ordinate Adverb Clause modifying the verb ‘do’ in clause (a)
Connective: ‘whatever’.
15. I know who he is.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) I know — Principal Clause
(b) Who he is — Sub-ordinate Noun Clause used as Object to the verb ‘know’ in clause (a)
Connective: ‘who’.
16. The boy who is sitting there is known to me.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) The boy is known to me — Principal Clause
(b) Who is sitting there — Sub-ordinate Adjective Clause qualifying ‘the boy’ in clause (a)
Connective: ‘who’.
17. Tell me when he will come.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) (You) tell me — Principal Clause
(b) When he will come — Sub-ordinate Noun Clause used as Object to ‘tell’ in clause (a)
Connective: ‘when’.
18. This is what we wanted.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) This is — Principal Clause
(b) What we wanted — Sub-ordinate Noun Clause used as a Complement to ‘is’ in clause (a)
Connective: ‘what’.
19. This is the purse I lost
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) This is the purse — Principal Clause
(b) (Which) I lost — Sub-ordinate Adjective Clause qualifying ‘purse’ in clause (a)
Connective: ‘which’.
20. I know the boy who came yesterday.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) I know the boy — Principal Clause
(b) who came yesterday — Sub-ordinate Adjective Clause qualifying ‘boy’ in clause (a)
Connective: ‘who’.
22. I am the monarch of all I survey.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) I am the monarch of all — Principal Clause
(b) (Which) I survey — Sub-ordinate Adjective Clause qualifying ‘all’ in clause (a)
Connective: ‘which’.
23. What is done cannot be undone.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) (It) cannot be undone — Principal Clause
(b) What is done — Sub-ordinate Noun Clause used as Subject to ‘be undone’ in clause (a)
Connective: ‘what’.
24. Go as you like.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) (You) go — Principal Clause
(b) As you like — Sub-ordinate Adverb Clause modifying ‘go’ in clause (a)
Connective: ‘as’.
25. God helps those who help themselves.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) God helps those — Principal Clause
(b) who help themselves — Sub-ordinate Adjective Clause qualifying ‘those’ in clause (a)
Connective: ‘who’.
26. The moon shines when it is night.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) The moon shines — Principal Clause
(b) When it is night — Sub-ordinate Adverb Clause modifying ‘shines’ in clause (a)
Connective: ‘when’.
27. All that glitters is not gold.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) All is not gold — Principal Clause
(b) That glitters — Sub-ordinate Adjective Clause qualifying ‘all’ in clause (a)
Connective: ‘that’.
28. If it rains I shall not go.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) I shall not go — Principal Clause
(b) If it rains — Sub-ordinate Adverb Clause modifying ‘go’ in clause (a)
Connective: ‘if’.
29. I think he will come.
This is a complex sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) I think — Principal Clause
(b) (That) he will come — Sub-ordinate Noun Clause used as Object to the verb ‘think’ in clause (a)
Connective: ‘that’.
Clause Analysis of Complex and Compound Sente
B. Clause Analysis of Compound Sentence
1. Man proposes God disposes.
This is a compound sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) Man proposes — Principal Clause.
(b) (But) God disposes — Principal Clause, Co-ordinate to clause (a)
Connective: ‘but’ (understood).
2. Waste not, want not.
This is a compound sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) Waste not — Principal Clause.
(b) Want not — Principal Clause, Co-ordinate to clause (a)
Connective: ‘and’ (understood).
3. He is Mrinal and he works in the industry.
This is a compound sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) He is Mrinal — Principal Clause.
(b) He works in the industry — Principal Clause, Co-ordinate to clause (a)
Connective: ‘and’.
4. Trees grow upward whereas the roots spread underground.
This is a compound sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) Trees grow upward — Principal Clause.
(b) the roots spread underground — Principal Clause, Co-ordinate to clause (a)
Connective: ‘whereas’.
5. This is neither too long nor too short.
This is a compound sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) This is too long — Principal Clause.
(b) This is too short — Principal Clause, Co-ordinate to clause (a)
Connective: ‘neither … nor’.
6. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, some have greatness thrust upon them.
This is a compound sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) Some are born great — Principal Clause.
(b) Some achieve greatness — Principal Clause, Co-ordinate to clause (a)
(c) Some have greatness thrust upon them — Principal Clause, co-ordinate to clauses (b) and (a)
Connective: ‘and’ (understood).
7. I came, I saw, I conquered.
This is a compound sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) I came — Principal Clause.
(b) I saw — Principal Clause, Co-ordinate to clause (a)
(c) I conquered — Principal Clause, co-ordinate to clause (a) and (b)
Connective: ‘and’ (understood).
8. The night is dark and I am far from home.
This is a compound sentence consisting of the following clauses:
(a) The night is dark — Principal Clause.
(b) I am far from home — Principal Clause, Co-ordinate to clause (a)
Connective: ‘and’.
Clause Analysis of Complex and Compound Sente
EXERCISE
Clause Analysis of Complex and Compound Sente
1. Give the clause analysis of the following sentences:
a. The boy acted as if he were mad.
(b) Can you tell me where Mr. Barbara lives?
(c) There is no meaning in what he says.
(d)That the earth is round is known to all.
(e) The evil that men do lives after them.
(f) Nobody knows when he will come.
(g) Unless you read regularly you will fail.
(h) Come whenever you can make time.
(i) Jack said that he was not feeling well.
(j) I know when his father will arrive.
(k) I do not know what he wants.
(l) This is what he wanted.
(m) Listen to what I say.
(n) This is the reason why he failed in the examination.
(o) The house where we live is new.
(p) This is the man whom we all respect.
(q)Do you hear what he says?
(r) That he will pass is certain.
(s) This is what we wanted.
(t) It is true that he will pass.
(u) This is the country where we live in.
(v) Take care lest you will fail.
(w) What he said is true.
(x) I hope you are quite well now.
(y) I think you will vote for me.
(z) We know that honesty is the best policy. 0 0 0
Clause Analysis of Complex and Compound Sente
N.B. The article ‘Clause Analysis of Complex and Compound Sentence’ originally belongs to the book ‘School English Grammar Part- I‘ by Menonim Menonimus.
Clause Analysis of Complex and Compound Sente
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