CHAPTER 8
EXERCISES
ACA
1. THE QUESTION THAT ROBIN WANTED TO ASK WAS WHETHER
HE COULD GET A PROMOTION.
S1
The question S2 was S3
that Robin wanted to ask whether he could get a promotion.
S1: main clause
S2: modifier to NOM (question)
S3: complement to V (was): subject-predicative
ACA
2. I DON’T THINK THAT THE IDEA THAT ROBIN MAY GET A
PROMOTION IS UPSETTING.
S1
S1: main clause
I don’t think S2
S2: complement to V (think): direct object
S3: complement to N (idea)
that the idea S3 is upsetting
that Robin may get a promotion
ACA
3. THE NEWS THAT STUDENTS DON’T HAVE TO WEAR UNIFORM
DOESN’T MEAN THAT THEY CAN WEAR ANYTHING TO SCHOOL.
S1
The news S2 doesn’t mean S3
that students don’t
that they can wear anything to school
have to wear uniform
S1: main clause
S2: complement to N (news)
S3: complement to V (mean): direct object
4. THE OLD MAN WHO LIVES ALONE ALL THESE YEARS HAS GONE TO HIS
ACA
SON’S HOUSE BECAUSE HIS DOCTOR SAYS HE CANNOT TAKE CARE OF
HIMSELF ANYMORE.
S1
The old man S2 has gone to his son’s house S3
who lives alone all these years because his doctor says S4
S1: main clause he cannot take care of
S2: modifier of NOM (old man) himself anymore.
S3: VP-adverbial - in S1
S4: complement of V (says): direct object
Relative clauses vs Noun-complement clauses
Noun-complement give us central information about the head noun
clauses -> function as COMPLEMENTS of noun
-> sister-of-N
Relative clauses give peripheral information about the head noun
-> function as MODIFIERS.
Restrictive relative clauses Non-restrictive relative clauses
Restricts/identifies the noun Adds extra information
No commas Uses commas
Sister-of-NOM (within NOM) Sister of NP (within NP)
Ex: The students who studied hard passed the Ex: The students, who studied hard, passed
exam. the exam.
4. THE OLD MAN WHO LIVES ALONE ALL THESE YEARS HAS GONE TO HIS
ACA
SON’S HOUSE BECAUSE HIS DOCTOR SAYS HE CANNOT TAKE CARE OF
HIMSELF ANYMORE.
S1
The old man S2 has gone to his son’s house S3
who lives alone all these years because his doctor says S4
S1: main clause he cannot take care of
S2: modifier of NOM (old man) himself anymore.
S3: VP-adverbial - in S1
S4: complement of V (says): direct object
ACA
5. THE JOURNALIST REPORTED THAT THE POLITICIAN WHO CLAIMED THAT
SEVERAL IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS HAD DISAPPEARED WAS UNDER
INVESTIGATION.
S1: main clause
S1
S2: complement to V (reported):
direct object
The journalist reported S2 S3: modifier of NOM (politician)
S4: complement to V (claimed):
direct object
that the politician S3 was under investigation.
who claimed S4
that several important documents had disappeared
[Link] question of whether they should set up a website was raised.
S1: The question
of...was raised
S1 = main clause
S2: whether they
should set up a
website
S2 = complement
to P (of)
[Link] the lady make him aware that he had overstepped the mark?
S1: Did the lady make
him aware
S1 = main clause
S2: that he had
overstepped the mark
S2 = complement to A
(aware)
[Link] is undeniable that he won the competition.
S1: It is undeniable
S1 = main clause
S2: that he won the
competition
S2 = subordinate clause
- extraposed subject
[Link], it happened that the error was immediately identified.
S1 = main clause
S1: Fortunately, it
happened
S2: that the error
was immediately
identified.
S2 = subordinate clause
- extraposed subject
[Link] suggestion that Max may refuse the invitation shows you
don’t know Max.
S1: Your suggestion... shows
S1 = main clause
S2: that Max may refuse the
invitation
S2 = complement of N
(suggestion)
S3: you don’t know Max
S3 = complement of V
(shows)
[Link] my opinion, students worried that they may fail the subject actually
have better results.
S1: In my opinion, students
worried...better results.
S1 = main clause
S2: that they may fail the
subject
S2 = complement to A
(worried)
[Link] my opinion, students worried that they may fail the subject actually
have better results.
S1: In my opinion, students
worried...better results.
S1 = main clause
S2: that they may fail the
subject
S2 = complement to A
(worried)
[Link] problem will be that they cannot afford the risk that they
may lose their loyal customers.
S1: The problem will...loyal
customers.
S1 = main clause
S2: that they cannot
afford the risk
S2 = complement to V (be):
subject-predicative
S3: that they may lose
their loyal customers
S3 = complement to N
(risk)
[Link] committee debated whether the company could confirm that
the new product was completely safe.
S1: The committee...safe.
S1 = main clause
S2: whether the company
could confirm
S2 = complement of V
(debated)
S3: that the new product
was completely safe
S3 = complement of V
(confirm)
[Link] the negotiations had failed proved that the company
needed new leadership.
S1: That the
negotiations...leadership.
S1 = main clause
S2: that the negotiations
had failed
S2 = clausal subject
S3: that the company
needed new leadership
S3 = complement of V
(proved)
THANK YOU