MODUL PERKULIAHAN

English
Syntax
Complement Clauses

Faculty of English WEEK Kode MK Compiled by

08
Languages Department 190751104 Sasmi Farida, dra., [Link].

Abstract Kompetensi
This module focusing on Upon completion of this module,
complement clauses that students will be able to analyze
include complementizer, complement clauses by drawing a
complement clause noun, tree diagram
adjective and adverb.
 8. Complement Clause

A complement clause is a clause introduced by a complementizer like that or

whether. It is attached to a preceding noun, adjective or verb. In the sentences:

[1] The news that she was dead shocked us.

[2] I am sure that she is coming.
[3] My mother suggested that I should consult a doctor.

‘that she was dead’ in [1] is a noun complement clause attached to the noun news.

‘that she is coming’ in [2] is an adjective-complement clause attached to the

adjective sure. ‘that I should consult a doctor’ in [3] is a verb-complement clause

attached to the verb suggested. The word that introduces complement clause, it’s

called complementizer (C). Complementizer includes that, if, and whether, they form

CP (complementizer Phrase) in sentence structure.

NP Infl VP

NP CP pst V A

Det N C S’

the news that NP Infl VP

she pst V A

was dead shocked us

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 S

NP Infl VP

P N pst V CP

my mother -ed suggest C S’

NP Infl NP

Det N

that I should consult the doctor

Not all verbs can take a CP complements such as sentence [3]. Here are some verbs
permitting CP complements.
Tabel 11:1
Complements Sample heads Examples
CP believe, know, think, They believe that Erick left.
remember

NP CP persuade, tell They told Mary that Erick had left.

PPto CP convince, promise, They admitted to Mary that Erick had

concede, admit left.
O’Grady p: 201

There is no limit on the number of embedded clauses that can occur in a sentence.
Study the following,
[4] Barbara reported that a student asked whether the eclipse would occur.
S

NP Infl VP Please do the same for

the number [2]
V CP

C S

pst NP Infl VP

Det N pst V CP

C S

Barbara reported that a student asked whether the eclipse would occur

CP may also serve as a complement to an N, an A, or a P in addition to a V.

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Tabel 11:2
Items Examples

Adjectives: They are afraid that Erick left.

afraid, certain, aware, confident

Nouns
Claim, belief, fact, knowledge, proof They lack proof that Erick had left.

Preposition
Over, about They argued over that Erick had left.

complement of N complement of A
NP AP

N CP A CP

Proof that Eric will leave certain that Eric will leave

There are three sub-types of complement clauses:

1. an 'ordinary' complement clause
2. a noun complement clause
3. an adjective complement clause

1. Ordinary complement clause:

Example: I know [that James went to Yale].

This complement clause is taking the place of a direct object. This is common for
ordinary complement clauses. Certain verbs, which your text goes into in detail, allow
this.

Other examples:
- I heard [that Ventura was elected Governor].
- It is hard to believe [that James went to Yale].
- Max suspects [that Suzie stole the cookies].

This type of clause can also begin a sentence, filling the subject position:
Examples:
- [That James went to Yale] is hard to believe.
subject

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 - [That the earth is flat] was a common misperception.
- [That Linda swallowed a goldfish] astonished us.

Another point to make is that the word 'that' is sometimes optional, just as it is as a
relative pronoun. But there are restrictions. In the first examples above you can indeed
delete 'that', and the sentence is just fine. But in the last three examples, where the
clause begins the sentence, 'that' is required. We never delete it here.
*[James went to Yale is hard to believe.
*[The earth is flat] was a common misperception.

2. Noun complement clause:

In a noun complement clause construction the complement clause occurs after a
noun. The number of nouns that can be used in this construction is limited. Some
examples are 'the fact', 'the rumor', 'the suggestion', 'the idea', etc.

Examples:
- I love the idea [that chimps can talk].
- The proof [that Suzie stole the cookies] is in front of you.

Notice in each of the above examples that the complement clause occurs directly after
a noun; thus, they are noun complement clauses. This is the type of complement
clause that is most likely to get mixed up with relative clauses, because this noun looks
an awful lot like the head NP we discussed with relative clauses.

How can you tell the difference? Well, in the above examples try to replace 'that' with a
WH relative pronoun.

*I love the idea [which chimps can talk].

*The proof [which Suzie stole the cookies] is in front of you.

If these were relative clauses, we could do this and still have good sentences with the
same meaning as the originals. Since these sentences are no longer good sentences
with the same meaning, we know that the clauses are complement clauses rather than
relative clauses.

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Another thing to look at is the concept of the gap. Remember that all relative clauses
have a gap. If you remove the complementizer in the above clauses you will see a
complete sentence with no gap:

[Chimps can talk] [Suzie stole the cookies]

Thus these clauses have passed another test in favor of complement clauses.
As far as deletion is concerned, there are sources that say that in the noun complement
construction we can never delete 'that'.
- I love the idea chimps can talk.
- The proof Suzie stole the cookies is in front of you.

3. Adjective complement clause:

In an adjective complement clause construction, the clause occurs after an
adjective.

Examples:
- I am pleased [that George went to the party].
- It is amazing [that James went to Yale].
- Max is very sad [that Hilda left the party].

In each example above the complement clause follows an adjective. It's pretty straight
forward. Here deletion of 'that' is common: I am pleased George went to the party.

Generalizations:
To sum up, the 'that' complement clause can be of the ordinary type, where it is
not following anything specific. It, in fact, can begin the sentence. Or it can be a noun
complement clause, where it follows a noun but has a different structure from the
relative clause. Or it can be an adjective complement clause, where it follows an
adjective.

Some points to remember:

a. There is no gap in a complement clause. (There is always a gap in a relative
clause.)
b. A WH form can never be used in the place of 'that' in a complement clause. (A
WH form CAN be and often is used in a relative clause.)

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 a. We can delete 'that' frequently. However, we can never delete it when it begins a
sentence. And although deleting it in a noun complement construction is rare, I
think some native speakers do so.

Clauses that begin with 'whether' are also complement clauses.

Example:
- I don't know [whether he went to Yale]
- [Whether he went to college or not] doesn't interest me.

_________________
The end of the lesson

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