Grammar: Clause: Further reading: Types of clauses
|
Embedded clauses |
An embedded clause most commonly functions as a Post-Modifier
in the noun group:
| Miss Lee liked students who asked lots of
questions. n o u n g r o u p noun embedded clause [= Post-Modifier] |
The embedded clause who asked lots of questions tells us what kind of students Miss Lee
liked. The embedded clause is known as a 'defining relative clause' because it defines, or further specifies, the
main noun in the noun
group. Such
clauses are called 'embedded' because they are part of a noun group in the main
clause, eg Miss Lee liked students who asked lots of questions.
Embedded clauses functioning as Post-Modifiers are usually linked to the main clause by one of the relative pronouns (who, which, that, whose). The relative pronoun can be omitted, especially in informal language:
| "My mother only buys things she's seen advertised," said Kitty. |
If the embedded clause is non-finite, no connective is used:
| Mr Wing drove the bus carrying the younger
students. Mr Gong was the right person to coach the soccer team. |
Embedded clause as Post-Modifier in adjective group or adverb group
An embedded clause may also function as a Post-Modifier in an adjective group or adverb group:
|
Dotty was happy to see her
friend. Ricky won his race more
easily than he had expected. |
Here the embedded clauses tells us why Dotty was happy, and how easily Ricky won his race.
When an embedded clause provides more information about an adjective or adverb group, it is usually linked to the main clause by a conjunction (than, as if). However, if the embedded clause is non-finite (as in happy to see her friend), no connective is used.
Embedded clause as nominalisation
of a Process
An embedded clause may also function in the same way as a noun in the structure of a clause:
| Catching the ghost wasn't easy. embedded clause Subject |
This type of clause, ie catching the ghost, is known as a 'nominalisation' of a Process (including any associated Participants and Circumstances) and functions like a noun or noun group. The embedded clause (or nominalisation) expresses the Subject in the clause. The Subject answers the question 'what wasn't easy?', which is typically answered by a noun group, eg:
| Mental arithmetic wasn't easy for
Grandpa. noun group |
Other common forms of nominalised clauses use that or a wh- word to introduce the clause:
| That Barney didn't like his kennel was
quite obvious. What Granny Gong wanted to do was difficult. |
Embedded clauses with wh- are commonly used to make the Process the Theme of the main clause.
For more information on embedded clauses, see:
 |
 |
 |
|
||
To give us feedback about this section, click here or on the Comment button at the top of the screen.
If you have any questions about this section, visit the Language Corner.
If you have any questions or suggestions about how to teach this section, send a message to the Teaching Corner.
