RLW: Lesson - Grammar - Clause Review

Image: a portrait bust of a Roman matron. Clause Review

The structure (syntax) of language can be as important as the grammar (rules) and vocabulary (words). One of the main problems Latin students tend to have is making sense of the structural differences between Latin and English. For instance, in Latin the main verb is most often placed at the end of a clause, while in English, the main verb tends to immediately follow a subject noun phrase. Consider the image:

  • English: The girl is wearing a veil.
  • Latin: Puella pallam gerit.

However, there are similarities in structure. One of the major similarities is that both Latin and English work on the basis of clauses, which are the component parts of a sentence. Clauses are divided into two types: independent clauses and dependent clauses. Every grammatically complete sentence in either Latin or English is made up of at least one independent clause and then any number of additional clauses, whether other connected independent clauses or dependent clauses in subordination to the independent clause.

  • Independent clause - this type of clause can be used alone to form a complete sentence
    • I saw my friend.
  • Dependent clause - this type of clause cannot be used alone to form a complete sentence
    • When I was walking
      • Notice how this clause could not be used by itself, but requires additional information (an independent clause is needed).

Combining Clauses

A single independent clause with no additional clauses is called a simple sentence. However, clauses are often combined. Independent clauses in both Latin and English tend to function in a similar manner when being combined. Essentially, if two or more independent clauses are used in the same sentence, those clauses must be joined with a coordinating conjunction, like and, or, but.

  • I saw my friend.
  • He was walking to school.
    • Combined: I saw my friend but he was walking to school.
    • Latin: Amicum vidi sed ad ille scholam ambulabat.

English calls the combination of two independent clauses a compound sentence.

However, sometimes one of the clauses feels as though it could provide additional information, without standing on its own. We call this subordination, which involves using a dependent clause. Here, English and Latin will often diverge significantly, though there are still some similarities. A dependent clause will be attached to the independent clause with a subordinating conjunction or some other particle (a pronoun, for instance, like a relative or interrogative). Let's repeat our example from above, and make a dependent clause, instead of two independent clauses.

  • I saw my friend.
  • He was walking to school.
    • Subordinating conjunction: while
    • Make second clause dependent: while he was walking to school
    • Combined sentence: I saw my friend while he was walking to school.
    • Latin: Dum amicus ad scholam ambulat, illum vidi.

English calls the combination of an independent and dependent clause a complex sentence.

Clauses can be added to create even more varied styles: for instance, more than one independent clause, with a dependent clause included is called a compound-complex sentence. Example:

  • [I saw my friend] {with whom I like to play games}, [but he was walking to school].
  • [Independent Clause] {Dependent Clause - a relative clause}, [Independent Clause]

By using a mix or independent and dependent clauses, writers are better able to vary their style, to avoid repetition (imagine a world where there were only simple sentences, with no subordination - how boring would it be to read just about anything!). As you mature as a writer, pay attention to your clause structure and be sure that you are writing with a good mix of simple, compound, complex and compound-complex sentences.