relative 13

After he began training with the psychiatrist Theodor Maynert, Freud was appointed lecturer in neuro- pathology in 1885.... • Main clause – expresses main statement.[r]

Sentence Structure

Sentence Structure

The Mechanics of

3 Elements of Sentences

1 Individual Words (Parts of Speech) • Nouns, verbs, adjectives, pronouns,

subordinators

2 Groups of Words

• Clauses (main, dependent, relative), phrases

3 Punctuation

Text 1

Simple Sentences

He (subject) studied (verb) hard.

Problems with Simple Sentences

• BORING

• REPETITIVE

• RESTRICTIVE – BASED ON

Uses of the Simple Sentence

• Instructions

• Reports: procedures / methods

BECAUSE:

• They are clear

Text 2

Compound Sentences

Simple sentences joined together by

coordinating conjunctions

and, or, but, and then.

• Simplistic

Options

• Join compound sentences using

semi-colons.

Freud was an educated man; he studied medicine.

• Use no more than one or two

co-ordinating conjunctions in a

compound sentence.

The “Complex” Solution

Use ‘COMPLEX’ SENTENCES

Compress several sentences into one.

• WEIGHTY

• CONSIDERED

Text 3: Example 1

Example Examined

• Clause – expresses main statement

He attended the Sperl Gymnasium and graduated in 1873

• Clause 2 – adds information

Text 3: Example 2

• Main clause – expresses main statement

Freud was appointed lecturer in neuro-pathology in 1885.

• Subordinate Clause – adds information

After he began training with the psychiatrist Theodor Maynert,

What is a Main Clause?

A group of words that conveys the main idea of a sentence.

• always has a subject;

• always has a main verb.

Freud went to the University of Vienna.

Subordinate Clauses

• Also have a subject

• Also have a main verb

But

Note: Co-ordinate Clauses

Sometimes sentences have more than one clause of equal importance:

Freud attended the Sperl Gymnasium and

graduated in 1873.

He was appointed lecturer in neuro-pathology in 1885, but was forced into exile in 1938.

Caution!

• Main clauses can stand

alone as fully

functioning sentences.

• Subordinate clauses

Subordinate Conjunctions

although while which since despite unless even though subsequently

Functions of Subordinate Clauses

• WHEN events happened

• WHY / REASON

• HOW

• WHAT concessions are being made

• WHAT limits are being set

Punctuating Complex Sentences

Examples

• Freud had a daughter, who was a psychotherapist

(He only had ONE daughter.)

• Freud had a daughter who was a psychotherapist.

• All the students who were in the Great Hall at the time were discussing Freud.

(ONLY the students in the Great Hall were doing this, but there were other students.)

• All the students, who were in the Great Hall at the time, were discussing Freud.

• However we may feel, Freud’s a scientist rather than a humanist

(ie it doesn’t matter whether we feel he’s right or wrong.)

• However, we may feel Freud’s a scientist rather than a humanist

Relative Clauses

Defining Relative Clauses

The gales which swept across Britain last night caused widespread damage.

Relative Clauses

Non-Defining Relative Clauses

The gales, which swept across Britain last night, caused widespread damage.

Complex Complex Sentences

Even though he was a famous psychiatrist and loved his children, Freud got cross with Anna because she had eaten all the cakes which Martha had made while he had been busy writing The Interpretation of Dreams.

Analysing Text 4

• Freud was cross with Anna – Main Clause

• Even though he was a famous psychiatrist – Sub Cl

• who loved his children – Sub Cl

• because she had eaten all the cakes – Sub Cl • which Martha had made – Sub Cl

Shifting the Emphasis

Foregrounding

The Phrase

Sentences may also contain PHRASES – these are not clauses They:

• can be a single word – ‘however’, ‘recently’; • several words – ‘on the other hand’; ‘on a

good day’

• can include verbs, but only ending with: