Writing: Propositions and complex sentences

in-nuce.com complex sentences


A proposition is a thought expressed in words that affirms or denies something. It has a subject and a predicate and is always either true or false
The day is warm.
A clause is a proposition.

How many assertions does this sentence contain? One. Therefore this sentence contains one proposition.

A simple sentence contains only one proposition.

From A New English Grammar for Schools, by Thomas Harvey:


However, a sentence may be made up of one or more propositions.
1. There are two kinds of propositions
a. Principal proposition
The man that does no good does harm.
How many propositions does this sentence contain? Two.
Here “the man does harm” is a proposition which makes complete sense when standing alone; it is therefore called the principal proposition.  
Every sentence must contain at least one principal proposition.
b. Subordinate proposition
The man that does no good does harm.
Here “...that does no good” does not make complete sense when standing alone; it is therefore called the subordinate proposition.
Since a subordinate proposition is one that does not make complete sense when standing alone, it must be connected with a principal proposition.
2. Subordinate propositions perform different functions.
a. They may act as adjectives.
The man that does no good does harm.
In this sentence “man,” the subject, is modified by the adjective element “that does no good,” which is a subordinate proposition.
b. They may act as subject nouns.
That he does harm is unfortunate.
In this sentence the subject is the subordinate proposition “that he does harm.”
c. They may act as objective nouns.
I know that he does harm.
In this sentence the predicate “know” is modified by the objective element “that he does harm,” which is the subordinate proposition.
3. Complex sentences
Sentences containing one principal proposition and one or more subordinate propositions used as elements are called complex.
The propositions in complex sentences
are called clauses
They are named and numbered according to the order of their subordination.


Tell which of the following sentences are simple and which are complex. From the complex sentences select the principal and the subordinate clauses. 
Example — I hear that you have sold your farm.
This is a complex sentence, consisting of the principal clause “I hear” and the subordinate clause “that you have sold your farm.”
1. We know that you were there.
2. The reason was that the invitation was urgent.
3. The reason that they gave was insufficient.
4. I accepted the excuse which you gave.
5. We were aware of it.
6. I know when the train will start.
7. I fear that it may be late.
8. That the earth is round was not then believed.
Now select the nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs from the sentences in these exercises, and tell how they are used.

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[ noun/pronoun     copula (being/linking verb)     verb/participle     object     adjective     adverb]
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