Editing Clause (section)

==Clauses according to semantic predicate-argument function==
Embedded clauses can be categorized according to their syntactic function in terms of predicate-argument structures. They can function as [[argument (linguistics)|argument]]s, as [[adjunct (linguistics)|adjunct]]s, or as [[predicative expression]]s. That is, embedded clauses can be an argument of a predicate, an adjunct on a predicate, or (part of) the predicate itself. The predicate in question is usually the predicate of an independent clause, but embedding of predicates is also frequent.

===Argument clauses===
A clause that functions as the argument of a given predicate is known as an ''argument clause''. Argument clauses can appear as subjects, as objects, and as obliques. They can also modify a noun predicate, in which case they are known as ''[[content clause]]s''.

::<u>That they actually helped</u> was really appreciated.{{Snd}} SV-clause functioning as the subject argument
::They mentioned <u>that they had actually helped</u>.{{Snd}} SV-clause functioning as the object argument

::<u>What he said</u> was ridiculous.{{Snd}} ''Wh''-clause functioning as the subject argument
::We know <u>'''what''' he said</u>.{{Snd}} ''Wh''-clause functioning as an object argument
::He talked about <u>'''what''' he had said</u>.{{Snd}} ''Wh''-clause functioning as an oblique object argument

The following examples illustrate argument clauses that provide the content of a noun. Such argument clauses are content clauses:

::a. the claim <u>that he was going to change it</u>{{Snd}} Argument clause that provides the content of a noun (i.e. content clause)
::b. the claim <u>that he expressed</u>{{Snd}} Adjunct clause (relative clause) that modifies a noun

::a. the idea <u>that we should alter the law</u>{{Snd}} Argument clause that provides the content of a noun (i.e. content clause)
::b. the idea <u>that came up</u>{{Snd}} Adjunct clause (relative clause) that modifies a noun

The content clauses like these in the a-sentences are arguments. Relative clauses introduced by the relative pronoun ''that'' as in the b-clauses here have an outward appearance that is closely similar to that of content clauses. The relative clauses are adjuncts, however, not arguments.

===Adjunct clauses===
Adjunct clauses are embedded clauses that modify an entire predicate-argument structure. All clause types (SV-, verb first, ''wh-'') can function as adjuncts, although the stereotypical adjunct clause is SV and introduced by a subordinator (i.e. [[subordinate conjunction]], e.g. ''after'', ''because'', ''before'', ''now'', etc.), e.g.

::a. Fred arrived <u>before you did</u>.{{Snd}} Adjunct clause  modifying matrix clause
::b. <u>After Fred arrived</u>, the party started.{{Snd}} Adjunct clause modifying matrix clause
::c. Susan skipped the meal <u>because she is fasting</u>.{{Snd}} Adjunct clause modifying matrix clause

These adjunct clauses modify the entire matrix clause. Thus ''before you did'' in the first example modifies the matrix clause ''Fred arrived''. Adjunct clauses can also modify a nominal predicate. The typical instance of this type of adjunct is a relative clause, e.g.

::a. We like the music <u>that you brought</u>.{{Snd}} Relative clause functioning as an adjunct that modifies the noun ''music''
::b. The people <u>'''who''' brought music</u> were singing loudly.{{Snd}} Relative clause functioning as an adjunct that modifies the noun ''people''
::c. They are waiting for some food <u>that will not come</u>.{{Snd}} Relative clause functioning as an adjunct that modifies the noun ''food''

===Predicative clauses===
An embedded clause can also function as a [[predicative expression]]. That is, it can form (part of) the predicate of a greater clause.

::a. That was <u>'''when''' they laughed</u>.{{Snd}} Predicative SV-clause, i.e. a clause that functions as (part of) the main predicate
::b. He became <u>'''what''' he always wanted to be</u>.{{Snd}} Predicative ''wh''-clause, i.e. ''wh''-clause that functions as (part of) the main predicate

These predicative clauses are functioning just like other predicative expressions, e.g. predicative adjectives (''That was <u>good</u>'') and predicative nominals (''That was <u>the truth</u>''). They form the matrix predicate together with the [[copula (linguistics)|copula]].