Adverbial clauses of comparison

Adverbial clauses of comparison denote an action with which the action of the principal clause is compared. They are introduced by the conjunctions as, like, as if, as though, than, that, as ... as, so ... as, as ... as if.

The Subjunctive mood is often used in clauses of comparison.

Swithin’s pale eyes bulged as though he might suddenly have been afflicted with insight.

He spoke as timidly as if he were afraid of me.

The indicative form can also be used.

They don’t have long intervals like they do at other theatres.

An adverbial clause of comparison may correlate with adverbs in the comparative degree in the principal clause. In this case the clause refers to the predicate with its adverbial modifier. Thus in the sentence Mr. Direct’s broken wrist healed sooner than he desired the subordinate clause characterizes the predicate group healed sooner through comparison. The conjunction than is correlated with the adverb in the comparative degree sooner.

Clauses of comparison sometimes have inverted word order.

He was as obstinate as were most of his relatives.

Special mention should be made of cases when two subordinating devices are used to introduce a clause, usually a conjunction and a conjunctive word: than whose, than which, than where, or two conjunctions: than if, than when. They bear double relation to the main clause, one of which is that of comparison.

He is never more present in my work than when no image of him is there. (comparative and temporal relation)

The butler took his tip far more casually, far more naturally than if Dicky had offered to shake hands with him. - … чем если бы Дикки протянул ему руку (comparative and conditional relation)

Note the difference between the use of as and like. As implies the idea of identification, as in: Let me speak to you as your father ought to (= I am your father and I am speaking to you in that character), whereas like implies the idea of mere comparison, as in: Let me speak to you like a father might (= I am not your father, but I am speaking in the way your father might).

The conjunctions as if and as though may also introduce appositive and predicative clauses, as the comparative meaning may combine with different syntactic connections.

She had a look as if she had something in her mouth.(appositive clause)

She looked as if she had something in her mouth. (predicative clause)

She looked at me as if nothing was wrong. (adverbial clause)

Cleft (emphatic) sentences

The cleft sentence, so called because it divides a single clause into two separate sections, each with its own predicate, is a special construction which gives both thematic and focal emphasis to a particular part of the sentence.

According to the structure we distinguish 4 basic types of cleft sentences:

1) it-cleft

It is a good rest what you need most.

2) wh-cleft (pseudo cleft)

What you need most is a good rest.

3) reversed wh-cleft

A good rest is what you need most.

4) demonstrative th-cleft.

That’s what you need most of all.

From a clause such as John wore his best suit to the dance last night, it is possible to derive four cleft sentences, each highlighting a particular element of the clause.

It was John that/who wore his best suit to the dance last night. (Subject as focus)

It was his best suit (that) John wore to the dance last night.

(Direct object as focus)

It was last night (that) John wore his best suit to the dance.

(Adverbial modifier of time as focus)

It was to the dance that John wore his best suit last night.

(Adverbial modifier of place as focus)

Apart from the subject, direct object and adverbials the two less common clause elements the indirect object and the predicative can act as a focal element of a cleft clause.

It was John(that) he gave the book to. or It was to John (that) he gave the book.

It’s dark green that I’ve painted the kitchen.

The emphatic position may be occupied by a whole clause.

It was what she said that spoiled the impression.

Was it because dusk was gathering that you failed to see anything?

Appended clauses (повторы с уточнением)

There are several varieties of appended clauses, modelled on the pattern of the main clause. These are used to intensify or reinforce a statement in the previous clause. The most common type of appended clauses are disjunctive (tag) questions. You are tired, aren't you? You are not ill, are you?

In non-formal style there is another form of appended clause, which is elliptical.

He is always very gloomy, is that John of yours.

She is a clever girl, is your friend.

In such sentences the link-verb to be is generally repeated, or a form of the verb to do is used.

He never told me anything, did your brother.

Absolute (or independent) subordinate clauses

Subordinate clauses may be used absolutely as independent exclamatory sentences. They may have the form of a conditional or comparative clause.

If only I knew his address!

As though you didn’t know!

That he should be so late!