The other dependent clause is a noun clause. It is a clause which is used as a noun and functions as single noun in a sentence. The words such as who, which,
what, when, where, whether, how, and why are used to introduce a noun clause.
6 What they are doing
is not our business. 7 I know that she did not study last night.
2. Clause Elements
In relation to a sentence, clauses can also become the elements of it. The elements are divided into two categories; those are the elements based on
positions and the elements based on parts of speech.
a. Clause Elements based on Positions
Randolph and Sidney 1982: 12 state that “the elements of a sentence based on positions involve subject S, predicate or verb Verb, object O,
adverb A, and complement C.” Those elements, in the explanation of the other section, are used to determine the pattern of the clauses.
1 Subject
Randolph and Sidney 1982: 12 state that “a subject is normally a noun phrase or a clause with nominal function which occurs before the verb phrase in
declarative clauses and immediately after the operator in question.” In addition, it has number and concord which are applicable with the verb phrase. The example
of a subject is written in italics and can be seen in the example 8:
8 Those two big ships were sailing.
As seen in example 8, the subject is in a form of noun phrase which consists of a group of words. In this case, the most important word in that complete subject is
the simple subject. Therefore, the subject is ships.
2 Verb
John 1962: 204 states that “A word which is used as the predicate in a sentence is classified as a verb”. Meanwhile, Warriner 1982: 25 claims that “the
principal word or group of words in the predicate is called the simple predicate or the verb.” A verb expresses the action or state of being. Examples 9 and 10
show the verbs which are written in italics: 9 The architect destroyed the blueprints.
10 I was in the house all day.
As seen in examples 9, the word destroyed states an action while in example 10, the word was states of being. There are two kinds of verbs. The first one is
the transitive verb. “A transitive verb is a verb passing an action to a noun or a pronoun and usually followed by direct objects” John, 1962: 268. The example
of a transitive verb can be seen in example 11 which is written in italics. 11 The policemen arrested the robber.
As seen in example 11, the word arrested, which functions as the transitive verb, passes its action to the word robber, which functions as direct object.
The other kind of verbs is the intransitive verb John, 1962: 276. In opposite to the transitive verb, intransitive verb does not pass an action to a noun
or a pronoun. In addition, intransitive verbs are still classified into two kinds. First, complete intransitive. “Complete intransitive verb is an action verb which is
complete in itself and it does not pass an action to a noun or a pronoun” John, 1962: 276. The example of complete intransitive verb is written in italics in
example 12. 12 The car moved slowly into the garage.
Meanwhile, the second one is a linking intransitive verb. “Linking intransitive verb is a verb which links or joins a predicate noun, a predicate
pronoun, or a predicate adjective to the subject of the sentence” John, 1962: 276. The example of the linking intransitive verb can be seen in example 13, 14,
and 15 in italics: 13 Mr. Hendry is the headmaster in my sister’s school.
14 That is he in the kitchen. 15 My father and mother have been busy all day.
As seen in example 13, the verb is links the predicate noun headmaster to the subject Mr. Hendry. In example 14, the verb is links the predicate pronoun he to
the subject that. Meanwhile, in example 15, the words have been are the linking verb that links the adjective busy to the subjects my father and mother.
In addition, there are other verbs which function as linking verbs such as feel, look, sound, taste, appear, seem, become, get, turn,
and grow when they mean become Azar, 1989: A5. These words are immediately followed by
adjective Adj, which describe the subject S of the sentence. The example of such linking verbs can be seen in the example 16 and 17:
16 She seems sincere. 17 You look pale.
3 Object
“An object is a noun phrase or noun clause with nominal function and normally follows the subject and verb phrase” Randolph and Sidney, 1982: 12.
By the passive transformation, an object assumes the status of subject. An object, in this case, is divided into two kinds, those are direct object Od and indirect
object Oi. The italic words in example 18 show the direct and indirect objects. 18 The mother has given her daughter a new dress.
In the example 18, the noun phrase her daughter serves as indirect object Oi and the noun phrase a new dress serve as direct object
Od. In addition, indirect object almost always precedes the direct object. It can also be assumed that direct object tends to be done for or received
by the indirect object Randolph and Sidney, 1982: 13.
4 Adverb
An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb John, 1962: 213. There are words classified as adverbs which can be patterned
with adjective and adverbs, but not verbs such as very, too, quite, really, enough, rather
. They are called intensifier. Example 19 shows the adverbs which is written in italic:
19 The young man walks quite rapidly.
Besides, Adverbs can also show the information about time adverb of time, place adverb of place, cause adverb of cause, manner adverb of manner, and
degree adverb of degree as seen in the following examples: 20 We shall meet at seven.
adverb of time 21 I saw him in the garden.
adverb of place 22 The car, therefore, was broken.
adverb of cause 23 He speaks clearly.
adverb of
manner 24 I absolutely agree with you.
adverb of degree
5 Complement
A complement is a word or a group of words which is added to another word or group of words to complete a meaning John, 1962: 223. There are two
kinds of complement, subject complement Cs and object complement Co. 25 The man is now a teacher in my sister’s school.
26 All staff appointed Mrs. Anderson a chief of this department.
Example 25 explains that the phrase a teacher is the subject complement Cs of the sentence since it has the direct relation to the subject S that the
subject of the sentence is understood as being a male teacher. Meanwhile, example 26 shows the object complement Co, that is the phrase a chief of this
department. The object complement has similar relation to the direct object Mrs.
Anderson .
b. Clause Elements based on Part of Speech Form-Classes
