Subordinate Clauses
Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 6:45 pm
The following examples of subordinate adverbials clearly modify the main clause, answering a question such as when? What's more, the connection between the two clauses is simple and clear:
I walked home, whereas he ran home.
I screamed, while he whispered. (when did he scream?)
I wanted to go home, whereas he wanted to stay.
While we were at lunch, the car broke down. (when did it break down?)
Would you say the below examples are also grammatical--even though their subordinate clauses appear to weakly, if at all, connect to the main clause, and appear not to answer a typical adverbial question as the ones above do?
"What is it about these verbs that allow them to have these structures without the auxiliary, while other verbs are not able to omit the auxiliary?"
"Unlike need, they are not auxiliaries, and this is made clear by the to-infinitive that follows these verbs, whereas auxiliaries are followed by the bare infinitive."
I walked home, whereas he ran home.
I screamed, while he whispered. (when did he scream?)
I wanted to go home, whereas he wanted to stay.
While we were at lunch, the car broke down. (when did it break down?)
Would you say the below examples are also grammatical--even though their subordinate clauses appear to weakly, if at all, connect to the main clause, and appear not to answer a typical adverbial question as the ones above do?
"What is it about these verbs that allow them to have these structures without the auxiliary, while other verbs are not able to omit the auxiliary?"
"Unlike need, they are not auxiliaries, and this is made clear by the to-infinitive that follows these verbs, whereas auxiliaries are followed by the bare infinitive."