Chapter 06-07: Clauses II – Analyzing Examples - ALIC

chapter 6: analyzing examples

The English language is messy, and many times analyzing for grammatical elements is not always as obvious as the simple examples that we use on the content pages. So to assist your ability to analyze all the different texts you may encounter as you read, we want to offer a few more sample analyses of more difficult texts. For these more complicated examples, we review some or all of the key features discussed in Chapter 6. Please review these examples closely, trying to understand the choices made for the analysis. As always, if you have any questions, please ask your instructor or start a conversation in your work group. Analyzing for Clause Forms and Functions – Example #1Adapted from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll: As she said these words her foot slipped, and in another moment, she was up to her chin in salt water. Her first idea was that she had somehow fallen into the sea. (Alice had been to the seaside once in her life, and had come to the general conclusion, that wherever you go to on the English coast you find a number of bathing machines in the sea, some children digging in the sand with wooden spades, then a row of lodging houses, and behind them a railway station.) However, she soon made out that she was in the pool of tears which she had wept when she was so very large. For this example, we’ll analyze the form and function of all of the clauses in the passage. Remember to identify the main verb phrases first by looking for tense: As she said these words her foot slipped, and in another moment, she was up to her chin in salt water. Her first idea was that she had somehow fallen into the sea. (Alice had been to the seaside once in her life, and had come to the general conclusion, that wherever you go to on the English coast you find a number of bathing machines in the sea, some children digging in the sand with wooden spades, then a row of lodging houses, and behind them a railway station.) However, she soon made out that she was in the pool of tears which she had wept when she was so very large. Form and Function of Clauses

As she said these words – adverbial subordinate clause (Type V)Subordinator (AS) precedes the subject
her foot slipped – independent clause (Type I)
she was up to her chin in salt water – independent clause (Type II)AND is coordinating the independent clauses
Her first idea was that she had somehow fallen into the sea – independent clause (Type IV)No dependent marker preceding the subject = independent.
that she had somehow fallen into the sea – nominal that-clause (Type I)THAT precedes the subject – nominal that-clause serves as the subject complement (nominal slot) of the previous clause.
Alice had been to the seaside once in her life – independent clause (Type II)
[Alice] had come to the general conclusion – independent clause (Type V)AND is coordinating a compound main verb phrase with a common subject, but should be treated as separate clauses because they are different Clause Types
that . . . you find a number of bathing machines in the sea, some children digging in the sand with wooden spades, then a row of lodging houses, and behind them a railway station – nominal that-clause (Type V)The THAT marker is separated from its subject by an adverbial subordinate clause. The nominal that-clause is an appositive, renaming CONCLUSION
wherever you go to on the English coast – adverbial subordinate clause (Type I)
she soon made out that she was in the pool of tears which she had wept when she was so very large – independent clause (Type V)Lots of embedded clauses in this independent clause.
that she was in the pool of tears which she had wept when she was so very large – nominal that-clause (Type II)Nominal that-clause serving as direct object of MADE OUT
which she had wept when she was so very large – adjectival relative clause (Type I)Even though WHICH precedes the subject, rather than replace, this is an adjectival relative clause modifying POOL OF TEARS. It is not a nominal appositive because it doesn’t rename it.
when she was so very large – adverbial subordinate clause (Type III)

Note on Other Elements

Remember that word, phrases, or clauses can fill the various function slots. There are a lot of examples in this passage where dependent clauses are embedded in other clauses to fill specific roles (or function slots).
Sentence 8 has a whole series of prepositional phrases at the end. Be sure that you understand why these are not clauses.

Analyzing for Clause Types – Example #2Adapted from Moby Dick by Herman Melville: When I was a child, I well remember a somewhat similar circumstance that befell me; whether it was a reality or a dream, I never could entirely settle. The circumstance was this. I had been cutting up some caper or other—I think it was trying to crawl up the chimney, as I had seen a little sweep do a few days previous; and my stepmother who, somehow or other, was whipping me all the time, dragged me by the legs out of the chimney and packed me off to bed, though it was only two o’clock in the afternoon of the 21st June, the longest day in the year in our hemisphere. I felt dreadfully. For this example, we’ll analyze the form and function of all of the clauses in the passage. Remember to identify the main verb phrases first by looking for tense: When I was a child, I well remember a somewhat similar circumstance that befell me; whether it was a reality or a dream, I never could entirely settle. The circumstance was this. I had been cutting up some caper or other—I think it was trying to crawl up the chimney, as I had seen a little sweep do a few days previous; and my stepmother who, somehow or other, was whipping me all the time, dragged me by the legs out of the chimney and packed me off to bed, though it was only two o’clock in the afternoon of the 21st June, the longest day in the year in our hemisphere. I felt dreadfully. Form and Function of Clauses

When I was a child – adverbial subordinate clause (Type IV)
I well remember a somewhat similar circumstance that befell me – independent clause (Type V)
that befell me – adjectival relative clause, modifying CIRCUMSTANCE (Type V)THAT is a relative replacing the subject
whether it was a reality or a dream – adverbial subordinate clause (Type IV)
I never could entirely settle – independent clause (Type I)
The circumstance was this – independent clause (Type IV)
I had been cutting up some caper or other – independent clause (Type V)
I think it was trying to crawl up the chimney – independent clause (Type V)
[THAT] it was trying to crawl up the chimney – nominal that-clause (Type V)Deleted THAT in the nominal that-clause, which is serving as the direct object of THINK in the previous clause. Remember, if a clause that looks to be independent follows directly after a main verb phrase, test to determine if a THAT has been deleted, especially if the main verb phrase is transitive.
as I had seen a little sweep do a few days previous – adverbial subordinate clause (Type V)
my stepmother . . . dragged me by the legs out of the chimney and packed me off to bed – independent clause (Type V)
and packed me off to bed – independent clause (Type V)Because of the similarities and the common subject (MY STEPMOTHER), this could be analyzed as a single clause with a compound MVP.
who, somehow or other, was whipping me all the time – adjectival relative clause (Type V)WHO is the relative replacing the subject.
though it was only two o’clock in the afternoon of the 21st June, the longest day in the year in our hemisphere – adverbial subordinate clause (Type II)
I felt dreadfully – independent clause (Type III)FELT is a linking verb in this context.

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