Ommition to turn into a phrase

Question

For example, 'The boy ran north as if he was going home.Can it be 'The boy ran north, as if going home.'1)  Can HE WAS be omitted? 2)  Now that it doesn't have a subject or a verb isn't it a phrase rather than a clause?3)  Or can the subject or verb only be omitted in some cases to turn it into a phrase? 4)  I have learnt the types of phrases, so can a clause have the subject or phrase omitted ONLY when it turns into one of the phrases that exists.Thanks.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

.
1) Can HE WAS be omitted? -- Yes.

2) Now that it doesn't have a subject or a verb isn't it a phrase rather than a clause?-- No, it's a non-finite clause

3) Or can the subject or verb only be omitted in some cases to turn it into a phrase? -- Maybe; nothing springs to mind

4) I have learnt the types of phrases, so can a clause have the subject or phrase omitted ONLY when it turns into one of the phrases that exists.-- Obviously. If the phrase does not exist, then your omission would turn it into nothing at all.
.

Huangpengcheng · Answer

You may be confused with your grammar. By definition, a clause must contain a subject and a verb.

Have a look at this link:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/clause

By the way, it helps to make your questions more specific and it is even better to provide contain context or examples.

Mister Micawber · Answer

.
By general, non-linguistic definition, that is true. However, grammarians distinguish finite and [url=http://72.14.235.132/search?q=cache:mZWt0FYlRT4J:staff.washington.edu/davidgg/ling100/non-finite_clauses.pdf+%22non-finite+clause%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=29&gl=jp]non-finite[/url] clauses.
.

CalifJim · Answer

huangpengchengBy definition, a clause must contain a subject and a verb. Have a look at this link ...

In more recent methods of grammatical analysis, the subject and/or the verb may be absent in the surface structure while still being present in the deep structure. In these approaches, the presence of a verb in the deep structure, even though it is deleted from the surface structure, is sufficient to create a clause.
For example, when speaking before a crowd is a subordinate clause below, even though the subject ( I ) exists only in the deep structure, i.e., exists only as an implied element.

I get nervous when speaking before a crowd.
And, similarly:
Always happy to oblige may be considered a clause with Paul as subject and be as verb in the following:
Always happy to oblige, Paul promised to help them with the heavy lifting.
Even more abstractly, some grammarians using less traditional approaches find him guilty a clause below.

The jury believed him guilty.
Before deciding what should be considered a clause or a phrase, and what should not, it is necessary to ask which analytical method is being used.
CJ

Ommition to turn into a phrase

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions