Chapter 13: SUBORDINATE CLAUSES

13.1....SUBORDINATE CLAUSES: In subordinate clauses, the finite verb or gerund comes last (unless it occurs before an optionally postposed clause--see section 13.9).

Example 13.1-0a illustrates an independent clause. Example 13.1-0b illustrates a corresponding subordinate clause that has a finite verb. Example 13.1-0c illustrates a corresponding nominalization.

13.2....ADVERBIAL CLAUSES: These are introduced with subordinators, and may occur before or after the matrix clause.

a) Adverbial clauses can occupy the subject position of the main clause. When this happens in written sentences, capitalize the verb in the main clause.

b) Compare the previous example with this sentence in which the adverbial clause occurs after the main clause.

13.3....ADV-SUBORDINATORS: These introduce only adverbial clauses.

a) Some subordinators are derived from prepositions with the suffix “-ec.” The meanings of these subordinators are related to those that their source prepositions have with genitive objects.

b) Adverbial clauses with “atec” (so that) must have ai-subjunctive.

c) rumec...is rendered “as” or more informally “like” with indicative mood, but means “as if” with ai-subjunctive.

c) These subordinators are derived from adverbs with the suffix “-ol,” and introduce adverbial clauses.

d) These subordinators are derived from adverbs with the prefix “heu-,” and introduce adverbial clauses.

13.4....ADV-PM SUBORDINATORS: These may introduce adverbial clauses, or clauses that postmodify certain noun phrases. Most of these postmodify noun phrases that stand for times or events, but “verec” postmodifies noun phrases standing for places.

a) Clauses introduced by “oerec” have to have ai-subjunctive when they stand for prevented actions or states.

b) In subordinate clauses with ai-subjunctive, “anec” translates as “if.”

13.5....COMPARATIVE CLAUSES: The comparative subordinator “fyrnec” translates straightforwardly as “than.” Clauses with this subordinator can postmodify adverbs and predicate adjectives.

13.6....COMPLEMENT CLAUSES: These can serve as arguments for the verb in the main clause, usually the subject or object.

a) The complementizer “zeeje” does the work of the English complementizer “that.” Capitalize the finite verb that comes after a “zeeje” clause in subject position.

b) When questions are given subordinate-clause word order, they become complement clauses. Notice that “op” in subordinate clauses translates as “whether.”

c) “Anec” and subordinate “vaneer” can both translate as “when,” but may not be used interchangeably. “Anec” only introduces adverbial and temporal-noun postmodifying clauses; subordinate “vaneer” occurs only in complement clauses.

d) Similar considerations apply to “verec” and “ver.”

e) Clauses with “zeeje” can serve as complements for predicate adjectives and clause-final adverbs.

13.7....RELATIVE CLAUSES: These postmodify nouns or pronouns.

a) Restrictive relative pronouns are identical in form to the remote demonstrative pronouns. Non-restrictive relative pronouns are identical in form to the proximate demonstrative pronouns. Free relative pronouns are derived by adding pronominal endings to the stem “veej-.”

>>>Restrictive relative clauses will be used to illustrate the grammar of relative clauses in this section.

b) Relative pronouns agree in gender and number with their antecedents.

c) Unlike their English counterparts, Goesk relative pronouns may NOT be omitted.

d) Most relative pronouns occur first in a relative clause. However, relative pronouns can be objects of prepositions, and genitive relative pronouns occur after the nouns they postmodify.

e) Yes, complements of linking verbs can be relative pronouns.

f) Center-embedding relative clauses is grammatical. However, a relative clause may be postposed if its antecedent is either the sole argument of the verb in the higher clause, or the only argument of the verb in the higher clause that has the same person, gender, or number as the relative pronoun.

13.8....NOMINALIZATIONS: In a nominalization, a neuter singular gerund takes the place of the finite verb.

13.9....POSTPOSING EMBEDDED CLAUSES:

a) In 13.7 part f), we have seen that relative clauses may sometimes by postposed. This remains true when the matrix clause is itself subordinate.

b) Complement clauses that serve as objects can occur after the final infinitive in the matrix clause.

c) So too with adverbial clauses.

d) Adverbial clauses and complement clauses that serve as objects may also be postposed after the final verb in a subordinate clause.

13.10....DIRECT QUOTES: Direct quotes are surrounded by these marks: << >>. As parts of a sentence, a direct quote is treated as accusative arguments of the verb.

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