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309
The complex sentence with an appositive (content) clause
§ 156. An appositive clause may be introduced by conjunctions (that, if, whether, as if, as though),
conjunctive pronouns and adverbs (why, how). They are not separated by a comma and cannot be joined
asyndetically.
Unlike an apposition in a simple sentence, which usually gives another name to the person or thing
designated by the antecedent, an appositive clause discloses the meaning of a noun (which is also called the
antecedent) with a very general meaning, such as:, thing, reason, point, moral, comment, remark, probability,
idea, fact, consequence, feature, etc. The following sentences can be given as examples:
The question whether it was he or his enemy was hotly discussed.
She had a strange sensation as if something had happened.
Andrew had a warm desire that the conversation might continue.
The question how and why those people got the information still worried him.
Appositive clauses may refer to a whole clause.
Cecilia at once noted what Stephen in his preoccupation had not that Hilary had come to tell them
something.
She said it had only convinced her of what she had known from the first, that the creature had low taste.
The complex sentence with an attributive clause
§ 157. Attributive clauses function as modifiers to a word of nominal character, which is generally called the
antecedent. Usually an attributive clause immediately follows its antecedent, although some types may
occasionally be distant.
An attributive clause may be introduced by connectives - relative pronouns (who, whose, whom, what,
which, that, as), or relative adverbs (when, where, whence, wherein). The choice of relative word depends on
the categorical meaning of the antecedent.
a) If the antecedent denotes a living being, the relative pronoun who, whom, whose, or that is used.
A man whose voice seemed familiar to me gave commands.
Those of Big Lanny’s friends who saw him for the first time had to be told that he couldn’t see.
b) If the antecedent denotes a thing or notion, the relative word which, whose, or that is used; of these that is
less formal.
At this remark, to which he did not reply, Gerald's ears grew hot.
He went to the next house, which stood in a small garden.
Clyde bowed and then took the cool hand that Myra extended to him.
Note:
Which may be used with reference to animals, although they are living beings.
He called back his dog, which returned obediently to its master.
c) If the antecedent is expressed by all denoting a living being the pronoun who or that is used; if it denotes a
thing or notion only the pronoun that is generally used.
All that remained was to enter his name and send off the high entrance fees for the examination.
d) If the antecedent is expressed by everything, something, anything or nothing the relative pronoun that is