GUIDE ENGLISH GRAMMAR BOOK

PAGE 319 240 Clause combinations
Another kind of sub clause is a relative clause. •271
A man who had money problems threw himself off the building.
This clause modifies a man.
3 Finite and non-finite clauses
a
A finite clause has a main verb.
He regrets now that he jumped.
You can go up to the top of the building.
A finite clause can be a main clause (He regrets now) or a sub clause (that he
jumped).
NOTE
A finite clause has a subject unless we leave it out to avoid repetition.
The wind caught him and (it) blew him through the window.
b
A non-finite clause has an infinitive, • 115; a gerund, • 128; or
a participle, • 134.
To tell you the truth, I was terrified.
He regrets now having jumped.
The people watching the show were astonished.
NOTE
A non-finite clause often has no subject, but it can have one.
The show having finished, the man left the studio.
240 Clause combinations
1 A sentence can have more than one main clause and/or sub clause.
I feel tired if I stay up, but I can't sleep if I go to bed.
The two main clauses (I feel tired, I can't sleep) are linked by but. They both have a
sub clause with if.
We can also link sub clauses with and, or, but or so.
George knew that Amy was very ill and wouldn't live much longer.
Here and links the two sub clauses that Amy was very ill and (she)wouldn't live
much longer.
2 Look at these sentences with two sub clauses.
He admitted that he'd changed his mind as soon as he'd jumped.
Although it was hard work, I enjoyed the job because it was interesting.
Jane met the artist who painted the picture that caused all the controversy.
3 We can also use non-finite clauses to build up more complex sentences.
He admitted having changed his mind after jumping.
The gallery intends to buy more pictures painted by local artists.
4 Look at these two sentences from a real conversation.
'Eventually we took off, but instead of landing at Zurich, we had to go to Basle,
which meant a longer, and an added train journey. Well, we hung about waiting
for a representative to come and tell us what to do, and after an hour and a half
nobody came, so we took a taxi and went into Basle, and because we'd missed the
train we decided to stay the night there.'
(from M. Underwood What a Story!)