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CHAPTER VIII

CLAUSES

50. Clause Defined. Note how a sentence may be made up of two or more single sentences which are closely enough related in thought to be combined into

one :

The cock is crowing,
The stream is flowing,
The small birds twitter,
The lake doth glitter,

The green field sleeps in the sun.

The foregoing sentence is made up of five parts, each part being a group of words containing a subject and predicate; thus,

[blocks in formation]

A group of words containing a subject and predicate and forming a part of a sentence is called a clause.

A clause is a group of words containing a subject and predicate and forming a part of a sentence.

A clause may be equivalent to a single word or to a single phrase; thus,

[blocks in formation]

The man that was injured (or, the injured man) is well.
This happened as the sun was setting (or, at sunset).

EXERCISE 36

(1) Point out the clauses in the following sentences:

Models for written exercise.

Can you imagine | what he means?

Please wait until I find out | what they want.
I know that George will come | if he is able.

1. He spurred the old horse, and he held him tight.

2. Ask, and it shall be given you. 3. Tell me plainly what you intend to do.

4. I take my property wherever I find it.

5. Now let us sing, Long live

the King.

6. I am where I would ever be. 7. I can but sing because I must. 8. King James's men shall understand what Cornish lads can do.

9. We are here because we were invited.

10. When the boys came to the

stream, they plunged in. 11. We can say nothing but what has been said.

12. He serves me most who

serves his country best.

13. A merry heart goes all the day, a sad one tires in a mile.

14. Promise is most given when the least is said.

15. He that is proud eats up himself.

16. The dogs did bark, the children screamed, up flew the windows all.

(2) Substitute a clause for each italicized word or phrase:

1. Honest men need not fear. 2. We can help only the poor. 3. He arose at sunrise.

4. I shall wait until his return.

5. I know the writer of this. 6. Only trained men are wanted. 7. Let us go before dinner. 8. It soon grew dark after sunset.

51. Kinds of Clauses. - Clauses, like phrases, may have the use of a single part of speech. Note these examples:

What you

What you state (your statement) is true. state is equivalent to the noun statement and tells what is true. Hence, it is the subject of the verb is and has the use of a noun.

The boy who won (winning boy) is here.

Who won is equivalent to the adjective winning and tells what boy is here; hence, it modifies the noun boy and has the use of an adjective.

Where you are is tells where you are

Remain where you are (there). equivalent to the adverb there and to remain; hence, it modifies the verb remain and has the use of an adverb.

Accordingly, clauses, if classified with regard to their use as a certain part of speech, are of three kinds :

(1) Substantive clauses, or clauses having the use of

nouns.

(2) Adjectival clauses, or clauses having the use of adjectives.

(3) Adverbial clauses, or clauses having the use of adverbs.

The first word of a substantive, adjectival, or adverbial clause is generally an introductory, or connective, word, as what, who, where, in the preceding examples.

Sometimes the introductory word is omitted; thus,

Tell him I am here (that I am here).

He is the man I mean (that, or whom, I mean).

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