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In:Grammar of Spoken and Written English
Douglas Biber, Stig Johansson, Geoffrey N. Leech, Susan Conrad and Edward Finegan
[Not in series 232] 2021
► pp. 123–228

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Chapter 3
Clause grammar

Published online: 29 November 2021
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/z.232.c3
Article outline
  • 3.1Clause v. non-clausal material
    • 3.1.1Use of clauses v. non-clausal material in text samples
  • 3.2Major clause elements
    • 3.2.1Subject (S)
      • 3.2.1.1Semantic roles of subjects
      • 3.2.1.2Dummy subjects
      • 3.2.1.3Subjects in non-finite clauses
    • 3.2.2Verb phrase (V)
    • 3.2.3Subject predicative (Ps)
    • 3.2.4Direct object (Od)
      • 3.2.4.1Semantic roles of direct objects
      • 3.2.4.2Dummy objects
    • 3.2.5Indirect object (Oi
    • 3.2.6Prepositional object (Op)
    • 3.2.7Object predicative (Po)
    • 3.2.8Adverbials (A)
      • 3.2.8.1Circumstance adverbials (Ac)
      • 3.2.8.2Stance adverbials (As)
      • 3.2.8.3Linking adverbials (AI)
    • 3.2.9The operator
  • 3.3Clause links
  • 3.4Peripheral elements
    • 3.4.1Detached predicatives and related forms
    • 3.4.2Parentheticals
    • 3.4.3Prefaces
    • 3.4.4Tags
    • 3.4.5Discourse markers
    • 3.4.6Vocatives
  • 3.5Major clause patterns
    • 3.5.1Subject – verb phrase
    • 3.5.2Subject – verb phrase – obligatory adverbial
    • 3.5.3Subject – verb phrase – subject predicative
      • 3.5.3.1The characterizing pattern
      • 3.5.3.2The identifying pattern
    • 3.5.4Subject – verb phrase – direct object
    • 3.5.5Subject – verb phrase – prepositional object
    • 3.5.6Subject – verb phrase – indirect object – direct object
    • 3.5.7Subject – verb phrase – direct object – prepositional object
    • 3.5.8Subject – verb phrase – direct object – object predicative
    • 3.5.9Subject – verb phrase – direct object – obligatory adverbial
    • 3.5.10More complex patterns
  • 3.6Variations on clause patterns
    • 3.6.1Order variations
      • 3.6.1.1Inversion
      • 3.6.1.2Fronting
      • 3.6.1.3Postponement
    • 3.6.2The passive
    • 3.6.3Existential there
    • 3.6.4Extraposition
    • 3.6.5Clefting
    • 3.6.6Condensation
  • 3.7Ellipsis
    • 3.7.1Ellipsis in coordinated clauses
    • 3.7.2Ellipsis in comparative clauses
    • 3.7.3Ellipsis in question-answer sequences
    • 3.7.4Other types of textual ellipsis
    • 3.7.5Omission of function words and situational ellipsis
  • 3.8Negation
    • 3.8.1Overall frequency of negation
      • corpus findings
      • discussion of findings
    • 3.8.2 Not-negation
      • 3.8.2.1The auxiliary do in negative clauses with transitive have (got)
        • corpus findings ,
        • discussion of findings
      • 3.8.2.2The auxiliary do in negative clauses with the semi-modal have to
        • corpus findings ,
        • discussion of findings
      • 3.8.2.3The auxiliary do in negative clauses with dare and need
        • corpus findings ,
        • discussion of findings
      • 3.8.2.4The auxiliary do in negative clauses with ought to and used to
        • corpus findings ,
        • discussion of findings
      • 3.8.2.5Full form v. operator contraction v. not-contraction
        • corpus findings ,
        • discussion of findings
      • 3.8.2.6 Aren’t I and ain’t
    • 3.8.3 No-negation
    • 3.8.4Occurrence of not-negation v. no-negation
      • 3.8.4.1Variability of not-negation and no-negation
        • corpus findings
        • discussion of findings
      • 3.8.4.2Relative frequency of not-negation v. no-negation
        • corpus findings
        • discussion of findings
      • 3.8.4.3Choice of no-negation v. not-negation
        • A.Syntax
          • corpus findings
          • discussion of findings
        • B.Verb
          • corpus findings
          • discussion of findings
        • C.Collocations
          • corpus findings
          • discussion of findings
      • 3.8.4.4 Not-negation collocations
        • corpus findings
        • discussion of findings
    • 3.8.5The scope of negation
    • 3.8.6Assertive and non-assertive forms
    • 3.8.7Multiple negation
      • 3.8.7.1Dependent multiple negation
      • 3.8.7.2Independent multiple negation
  • 3.9Subject-verb concord
    • 3.9.1Complications with concord patterns
      • 3.9.1.1Concord with plural forms not ending in -s
      • 3.9.1.2Concord with singular forms ending in -s
      • 3.9.1.3Concord with coordinated subjects
      • 3.9.1.4Concord with indefinite pronouns and quantifying expressions
      • 3.9.1.5Concord with existential there
      • 3.9.1.6Concord with clausal subjects
    • 3.9.2Notional concord
      • 3.9.2.1Concord with names, titles, and quotations
      • 3.9.2.2Concord with measure expressions
      • 3.9.2.3Concord with collective nouns
        • corpus findings
        • discussion of findings
    • 3.9.3Concord and proximity
    • 3.9.4Non-standard concord in conversation
      • corpus findings
      • Discussion of findings
    • 3.9.5Subject-verb concord and pronominal reference
  • 3.10Types of dependent clauses
  • 3.11Finite dependent clauses
    • 3.11.1Nominal clauses
    • 3.11.2Adverbial clauses
    • 3.11.3Relative clauses
    • 3.11.4Comparative clauses and other degree clauses
    • 3.11.5Reporting clauses
    • 3.11.6Comment clauses
    • 3.11.7Other peripheral clauses
  • 3.12Non-finite clauses
    • 3.12.1Infinitive clauses
    • 3.12.2 Ing-clauses
    • 3.12.3 Ed-clauses
    • 3.12.4Supplementive clauses
    • 3.12.5Verbless clauses
  • 3.13Major types of independent clauses
    • 3.13.1Declarative clauses
    • 3.13.2Interrogative clauses
      • 3.13.2.1 Wh-questions
      • 3.13.2.2 Yes/no-questions
      • 3.13.2.3Alternative questions
      • 3.13.2.4Question tags
        • A.Change of subject or auxiliary
        • B.Alternatives to question tags modelled on the main clause
        • C.Question tags added to interrogative clauses
        • D.Question tags added to imperative clauses
      • 3.13.2.5Interrogatives in general: Distribution
        • corpus findings
        • discussion of findings
      • 3.13.2.6Question types: Distribution
        • corpus findings
        • discussion of findings
      • 3.13.2.7Choice between interrogative who and whom
        • corpus findings ,
        • discussion of findings
          • A.After prepositions
          • B.Other positions
      • 3.13.2.8Auxiliary do in independent interrogative clauses
        • A.Transitive have
          • corpus findings
          • discussion of findings
        • B.The semi-modal have to
          • Corpus finding
          • discussion of findings
        • C. Dare and need
          • corpus findings
          • discussion of findings
        • D. Ought to and used to
          • corpus findings
          • discussion of findings
    • 3.13.3Exclamative clauses
    • 3.13.4Imperative clauses
      • 3.13.4.1The realization of imperative clauses
      • 3.13.4.2Imperative clauses: Distribution
        • corpus findings
        • discussion of findings
  • 3.14Unembedded dependent clauses
  • 3.15Non-clausal material
    • 3.15.1Non-clausal material in writing
    • 3.15.2Non-clausal material in conversation
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