14
Quirk Greenbaum 1985 explain that the zero that clause is particularly
common when the clause is brief and uncomplicated as in sentence ii in the table above. The need for clarity, however, “discourages or even forbids the omission
of that in complex sentences” Quirk Greenbaum, 1985: 317. In other words, the use of that to introduce complicated dependent clause is necessary.
E.g.: We hoped, in a moment of optimism, that the Government would look
favourably on our case.
b Noun clauses which begin with question words WH clauses Noun clause can be introduced by question words Curme, 1966; Frank,
1972; Farbman, 1985; Swan, 1988; Azar, 1989; Eastwood, 2002. As the position of a noun clause may vary, the forms of subordinating conjunctions are
also various depending on the position in the clause introduced. Here are some of the examples.
i. We know who wrote the letter. Subject Who
positions as the subject or the agent of the verb wrote. ii. We know what happened. Subject
iii. We know whom you saw. Direct object Whom
is the object or theme of the verb saw. In the sentence, who you saw becomes the object of the verb know. Whom indicates human object.
iv. We know what they needed. Direct object What
is the object or theme of the verb needed. What they needed occupies object position of the verb know. What indicates non-human
object.
v. We know whose work was best. Determiner Whose
functions as determiner, therefore, it must be followed by a noun
phrase work
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
15
vi. We know which way they went. Determiner It can be seen that which is followed by a noun phrase way.
vii. We know what time it was. Determiner Here, a noun phrase time follows the determiner what
Another example of WH clauses is Whether or If clause Jackson, 1982;
Quirk Greenbaum, 1985; Azar, 1989; Eastwood, 2002. They explain that
whether and if can introduce noun clauses. Observe the following sentences.
i. I don’t know whether or not she will come. correct
ii. I don’t know if or not she will come. Incorrect
iii. I don’t know if she will come. Correct
iv. I wonder whether she needs help. Correct
v. I wonder if she needs help. Correct
vi. Whether she comes or not is unimportant to me. Correct vii. If she comes or not is unimportant to me. Incorrect
Based on Quirk Greenbaum 1985, only whether can be followed by or not
as seen in i. That is why, sentence ii is incorrect. Quirk Greenbaum
1985, then, say that if cannot introduce a subject clause. That is why, sentence
vii is incorrect.
3 Changing a finite noun clause into a non-finite noun clause Noun clauses introduced by question words, Quirk Greenbaum 1985
and Azar 1989 say, can be changed into non-finite by substituting the clause following the question word with an infinitive. Each of the following pairs of
sentences has the same meaning. The meaning expressed by the infinitive is either
should or cancould.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
16
a I don’t know what I should do. → I don’t know what to do.
b Pam can’t decide whether she should go or stay home.
→ Pam can’t decide
whether to go or to stay home
.
c Please tell me how I can get to the bus station. → Please tell me how to get
to the bus station. d Jim told us where we could find it.
→ Jim told us where to find it.
It can be seen that typically, Subject + Modal Auxiliary + V
1
E.g.: I should do, she should go, I can get, we could find, etc following the WH
conjunction is changed into to Infinitive forms to do, to go, to get, to find, etc.
This makes sentences non-finite for to infinitive form is not influenced by either tense or by SV concord.
b. ADJECTIVE CLAUSES
1 Definition of adjective clause An adjective clause, or called a relative clause, Farbman 1985; Ackley, et
al. 1986; Wishon Burks 1987; Dumais 1988; and Azar 1989 state, is a dependent clause that modifies or tell more about a noun. It describes, identifies,
or gives further information about a noun Jackson, 1982. It means that an adjective clause is used as an adjective.
Adjective clauses are usually introduced by the relative pronoun Ackley, et al., 1986 Wishon Burks, 1987. These pronouns function in noun positions in
the clauses they introduce. The form of the relative pronoun is determined by two factors Jackson, 1982. The first is whether the head noun is personal or non-
personal. This, later on, will determine the choice between “who” and “which.”
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
17 Secondly, he says, the form is influenced by the function of the relative pronoun
syntactically within the clause, as subject, object, genitive, or prepositional object. This will be elaborated further in tables that follow in this chapter.
In writing, furthermore, adjective clauses play an important role to improve coherence Bramer Sedley, 1981. It is because adjective clause can help avoid
repetitions by substituting a pronoun for a noun or noun phrase that has been mentioned previously. Therefore, it can help make the ideas within a composition
flow smoother.
2 Some types of adjective clauses
a Adjective clauses using who, which, that The following table shows adjective clauses using who, which and that as
subject pronouns Wishon Burks, 1987 Azar, 1989.
Table 2.3: Adjective clauses using who, which and that
I thanked the woman. She helped me ↓
i. I thanked the woman who helped me. ii. I thanked the woman that helped me.
