Syntax - přednášky

• They postmodify noun phrases - they don’t postmodify noun phrases

Nominal relative clauses

• These nominal relative clauses function as a subject, object and complement

Resemble WH-interrogative clauses – introduced by a WH-element

WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, HOW, WHICH, WHY, -EVER.

They can be analysed as noun phrases modified by relative clauses – instead of a noun phrase and relative clause there is only a WH-element.

I took what they offered me. – “what” can be changed in noun phrase (=the thing(s))
→ ……. the thing(s) that they gave me.

Nominal relative clauses have the same range of functions as noun phrases:

(Without them the main clause would be incomplete.)

Subject: What I want is a cup of hot cocoa. – instead of “what I want” we can use “the thing that I want”

Direct object: You should see whoever deals with complaints. – we can use “You should see the person who deals with complaints.”

Indirect object: He gave whoever asked for it a copy of his latest paper. – We can use “He gave the person who asked for it a copy..”

Subject complement: April is when the lilacs bloom. – We can use “April is a month when the lilacs bloom.”

Object complement: You can call me what(ever ) you like. – We can use “You can call me the name which you like.”

Nominal/noun clauses

Direct questions:

• Do you like it? → YES/NO questions

• How do you like it? → Wh- questions

Indirect YES/NO questions:

• The question is whether you like it or not.

• I want to know whether/if you like it.

Indirect Wh- questions: - we use “Wh- word”

• The question is how you like it.

• I want to know how you like it.

Only WHETHER

• When the clause starts a sentence (when it is used as a subject)

• After “to be”

• After prepositions

• When we are not sure, it is better to use “WHETHER” because it is used in more cases

WHETHER/IF

• After verbs/adjectives

1. Nominal THAT clauses - I noticed that he spoke English with an Australian accent

2. Nominal Wh interrogative clauses - I can’t imagine what they want with your address.

3. Nominal YES/NO interrogative clauses - I can’t find out whether/if the flight has been delayed.
4. Nominal exclamative clauses - I remember what a good time I had at your party.
5. Nominal relative clauses - I eat what I like. (the thing that I like)

Do you remember when we got lost?

Relative interpretation: ….the occasion, the time we got lost?

Interrogative interpretation: ….when it was we got lost? When did we get lost? Do you remember?

They asked me what I knew.

Relative interpretation: ….the things that I knew.

Interrogative interpretation: They asked me, „What do you know?“

What she wrote was a mystery.

Relative interpretation: She wrote a mystery story.

Interrogative interpretation: I don’t know what she wrote. What did she write?

INTRODUCTORY IT

• When the subject is a kind of “to” infinitive, or nominal clause, or –ing clause

That Tom isn’t here is a shame. – SVC – “That Tom isn’t here - finite clause