Editing Clause (section)

===''Wh''-clauses===
In [[English language|English]], ''Wh''-clauses contain a ''wh''-word. ''Wh''-words often serve to help express a constituent question. They are also prevalent, though, as relative pronouns, in which case they serve to introduce a relative clause and are not part of a question. The ''wh''-word focuses a particular constituent, and most of the time, it appears in clause-initial position. The following examples illustrate standard interrogative ''wh''-clauses. The b-sentences are direct questions (independent clauses), and the c-sentences contain the corresponding indirect questions (embedded clauses):

::a. Sam likes the meat.{{Snd}} Standard declarative SV-clause
::b. '''Who''' likes the meat?{{Snd}} Matrix interrogative ''wh''-clause focusing on the subject
::c. They asked <u>'''who''' likes the meat</u>.{{Snd}} Embedded interrogative ''wh''-clause focusing on the subject

::a. Larry sent Susan to the store.{{Snd}} Standard declarative SV-clause
::b. '''Whom''' did Larry send to the store?{{Snd}} Matrix interrogative ''wh''-clause focusing on the object, subject-auxiliary inversion present
::c. We know <u>'''whom''' Larry sent to the store</u>.{{Snd}} Embedded ''wh''-clause focusing on the object, subject-auxiliary inversion absent

::a. Larry sent Susan to the store.{{Snd}} Standard declarative SV-clause
::b. '''Where''' did Larry send Susan?{{Snd}} Matrix interrogative ''wh''-clause focusing on the oblique object, subject-auxiliary inversion present
::c. Someone is wondering <u>'''where''' Larry sent Susan</u>.{{Snd}} Embedded ''wh''-clause focusing on the oblique object, subject-auxiliary inversion absent

One important aspect of matrix ''wh''-clauses is that [[subject-auxiliary inversion]] is obligatory when something other than the subject is focused. When it is the subject (or something embedded in the subject) that is focused, however, subject-auxiliary inversion does not occur.

::a. '''Who''' called you?{{Snd}} Subject focused,  no subject-auxiliary inversion
::b. '''Whom''' did you call?{{Snd}} Object focused, subject-auxiliary inversion occurs

Another important aspect of ''wh''-clauses concerns the absence of subject-auxiliary inversion in embedded clauses, as illustrated in the c-examples just produced. Subject-auxiliary inversion is obligatory in matrix clauses when something other than the subject is focused, but it never occurs in embedded clauses regardless of the constituent that is focused. A systematic distinction in word order emerges across matrix ''wh''-clauses, which can have VS order, and embedded ''wh''-clauses, which always maintain SV order, e.g.

::a. '''Why''' are they doing that?{{Snd}} Subject-auxiliary inversion results in VS order in matrix ''wh''-clause.
::b. They told us <u>'''why''' they are doing that</u>.{{Snd}} Subject-auxiliary inversion is absent in embedded ''wh''-clause.
::c. *They told us <u>'''why''' are they doing that</u>.{{Snd}} Subject-auxiliary inversion is blocked in embedded ''wh''-clause.

::a. '''Whom''' is he trying to avoid?{{Snd}} Subject-auxiliary inversion results in VS order in matrix ''wh''-clause.
::b. We know <u>'''whom''' he is trying to avoid</u>.{{Snd}} Subject-auxiliary inversion is absent in embedded ''wh-''clause.
::c. *We know <u>'''whom''' is he trying to avoid</u>.{{Snd}} Subject-auxiliary inversion is blocked in embedded ''wh''-clause.