Is this an independent clause or dependent clause?

Question

''some part of me needed to hear you say that running away together wasn't an option.''Thanks in advance .

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

jasonkhlimSome part of me needed to hear you say that running away together wasn't an option.

It's not a clause. It's a sentence made up of a main clause and a subordinate clause.

CB

Jasonkhlim · Answer

Cool Breeze jasonkhlimSome part of me needed to hear you say that running away together wasn't an option.It's not a clause. It's a sentence made up of a main clause and a subordinate clause.CB

can that be omitted in this sentence? running away is a noun right?

that in this sentence has the same function as other subordinate conjunctions, such as because, although, before, while, right?

Cool Breeze · Answer

jasonkhlimcan that be omitted in this sentence?

Since that begins a clause which is the object of say, it could be omitted, at least in theory. I don't know how many speakers of English would actually omit it in this sentence.

jasonkhlimrunning away is a noun right?

You can call it that if you like. I call running a gerund, but there may be other opinions. Many people think of gerunds as nouns even though a gerund can have two tenses and be used in the passive voice.

jasonkhlimthat in this sentence has the same function as other subordinate conjunctions, such as because, although, before, while, right?

That has the function of joining two clauses, which is what conjunctions do.

CB

Jasonkhlim · Answer

Cool Breeze jasonkhlimcan that be omitted in this sentence?Since that begins a clause which is the object of say, it could be omitted, at least in theory. I don't know how many speakers of English would actually omit it in this sentence.jasonkhlimrunning away is a noun right?You can call it that if you like. I call running a gerund, but there may be other opinions. Many people think of gerunds as nouns even though a gerund can have two tenses and be used in the passive voice.jasonkhlimthat in this sentence has the same function as other subordinate conjunctions, such as because, although, before, while, right?That has the function of joining two clauses, which is what conjunctions do.CB

Thanks for the explanation. I am totally clear now

Thank you very much.

BillJ · Answer

"Some part of me needed to hear you say [that running away together wasn't an option]".

You can call the entire sentence a main clause if you like, or the 'matrix clause' if you prefer. Some would call it the superordinate clause.

There are several subordinate clauses in your example, but I'll focus on the bracketed one.

It is subordinate - it’s marked as such by its introductory word that, which is a subordinator.

The underlined non-finite participial clause “running away together” is the subject. (Note that this is itself a subordinate clause - subjectless of course like most non-finite clauses.)

To complete the analysis: “wasn’t” is the verb, and “an option” is a noun phrase functioning as predicative complement.

The subordinator "that" is omissible in your example, in which case the clause is marked as subordinate by virtue of its function in the larger construction, and the fact that it can be expanded by the subordinator "that".

BillJ

Jasonkhlim · Answer

BillJ"Some part of me needed to hear you say [that running away together wasn't an option]".You can call the entire sentence a main clause if you like, or the 'matrix clause' if you prefer. Some would call it the superordinate clause.There are several subordinate clauses in your example, but I'll focus on the bracketed one.It is subordinate - it’s marked as such by its introductory word that, which is a subordinator.The underlined non-finite participial clause “running away together” is the subject. (Note that this is itself a subordinate clause - subjectless of course like most non-finite clauses.)To complete the analysis: “wasn’t” is the verb, and “an option” is a noun phrase functioning as predicative complement.The subordinator "that" is omissible in your example, in which case the clause is marked as subordinate by virtue of its function in the larger construction, and the fact that it can be expanded by the subordinator "that".BillJ

Thanks for your explanation too.

But what about this sentence?
''My goal is to do things that are wise and practical.''

in this sentence, that is a relative pronoun? Which one is the subject?

BillJ · Answer

Thanks for your explanation too.
But what about this sentence? ''My goal is to do things that are wise and practical.''
in this sentence, that is a relative pronoun? Which one is the subject?

Yes, you can call "that" a relative pronoun.

The subject of the main clause is “my goal”, and of the subordinate (relative) clause it’s “that”, which is interpreted as meaning “things”.

Is that what you wanted to know?

BillJ

Jasonkhlim · Answer

BillJThanks for your explanation too.But what about this sentence? ''My goal is to do things that are wise and practical.'' in this sentence, that is a relative pronoun? Which one is the subject?Yes, you can call "that" a relative pronoun.The subject of the main clause is “my goal”, and of the subordinate (relative) clause it’s “that”, which is interpreted as meaning “things”.Is that what you wanted to know?BillJ

Yes! This is what I want to know. Thank you very much for the explanation.
Do you happen to know the differences between Noun Clauses as Noun Phrase Complements and Noun Clauses as Object Complements?

Jasonkhlim · Answer

BillJ"Some part of me needed to hear you say [that running away together wasn't an option]".You can call the entire sentence a main clause if you like, or the 'matrix clause' if you prefer. Some would call it the superordinate clause.There are several subordinate clauses in your example, but I'll focus on the bracketed one.It is subordinate - it’s marked as such by its introductory word that, which is a subordinator.The underlined non-finite participial clause “running away together” is the subject. (Note that this is itself a subordinate clause - subjectless of course like most non-finite clauses.)To complete the analysis: “wasn’t” is the verb, and “an option” is a noun phrase functioning as predicative complement.The subordinator "that" is omissible in your example, in which case the clause is marked as subordinate by virtue of its function in the larger construction, and the fact that it can be expanded by the subordinator "that".BillJ

Getting back to this post.
''Some part of me needed to hear you say that running away together wasn't an option'' is a matrix clause. Is the underlined clause an object complement?

Vsuresh · Answer

BillJThe underlined non-finite participial clause “running away together” is the subject. (Note that this is itself a subordinate clause - subjectless of course like most non-finite clauses.)

Hi Bill
I want an example pertaining to the underlined portion.

I think you mean running away together which is the subject of the subordinate clause here is by itself a subordinate clause without the subject. Am I right?

I want to see an example with a subject. Please help.

Is this an independent clause or dependent clause?

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