Chapter II: Analysis of Sentences

SIMPLE SENTENCES

+458.+ In analyzing a +simple sentence+, we first divide it into the +complete subject+ and the +complete predicate+. Then we point out the +simple subject+ with its +modifiers+, and the +simple predicate+ with its +modifiers+ and +complement+ (if there is one). If either the subject or the predicate is compound, we mention the simple subjects or predicates that are joined.

1. The polar bear lives in the Arctic regions.

This is a simple sentence. The complete subject is _the polar bear_;
the complete predicate is _lives in the Arctic regions_. The simple
subject is the noun _bear_; the simple predicate is the verb _lives_.
_Bear_ is modified by the adjectives _the_ and _polar_; _lives_ is
modified by the adverbial phrase _in the Arctic regions_. This phrase
consists of the preposition _in_; its object, the noun _regions_; and
the adjectives _the_ and _Arctic_, modifying _regions_.

2. The polar bear and the walrus live and thrive in the Arctic
regions.

The complete subject is _the polar bear and the walrus_. Two simple
subjects (_bear_ and _walrus_) are joined by the conjunction _and_
to make a compound subject, and two simple predicates (_live_ and
_thrive_) are joined by _and_ to make a compound predicate. _Live_
and _thrive_ are both modified by the adverbial phrase _in the Arctic
regions_.

COMPOUND SENTENCES

+459.+ In analyzing a +compound sentence+ we first divide it into its +coördinate clauses+, and then analyze each clause by itself. Thus,--

The polar bear lives in the Arctic regions, but it sometimes reaches
temperate latitudes.

This is a compound sentence consisting of two coördinate clauses
joined by the conjunction _but_: (1) _the polar bear lives in the
Arctic regions_ and (2) _it sometimes reaches temperate latitudes_.
The complete subject of the first clause is _the polar bear_ [and so
on, as in § 458, above]. The subject of the second clause is _it_;
the complete predicate is _sometimes reaches temperate latitudes_.
The simple predicate is _reaches_, which is modified by the adverb
_sometimes_ and is completed by the direct object _latitudes_. The
complement _latitudes_ is modified by the adjective _temperate_.

COMPLEX SENTENCES

+460.+ In analyzing a +complex sentence+, we first divide it into the +main clause+ and the +subordinate clause+.

1. The polar bear, which lives in the Arctic regions, sometimes
reaches temperate latitudes.

This is a complex sentence. The main clause is _the polar bear
sometimes reaches temperate latitudes_; the subordinate clause is
_which lives in the Arctic regions_. The complete subject of the
sentence is _the polar bear, which lives in the Arctic regions_; the
complete predicate is _sometimes reaches temperate latitudes_. The
simple subject is _bear_, which is modified by the adjectives _the_
and _polar_ and by the adjective clause _which lives in the Arctic
regions_. The simple predicate is _reaches_, which is modified by the
adverb _sometimes_ and completed by the direct object _latitudes_.
This complement, _latitudes_, is modified by the adjective
_temperate_. The subordinate clause is introduced by the relative
pronoun _which_. [Then analyze the subordinate clause.]

2. The polar bear reaches temperate latitudes when the ice drifts
southward.

This is a complex sentence. The main clause is _the polar bear
reaches temperate latitudes_; the subordinate clause is _when the
ice drifts southward_. The complete subject of the sentence is _the
polar bear_; the complete predicate is _reaches temperate latitudes
when the ice drifts southward_. The simple subject is _bear_, which
is modified by the adjectives _the_ and _polar_. The simple predicate
is _reaches_, which is modified by the adverbial clause _when the ice
drifts southward_, and completed by the noun _latitudes_ (the direct
object of _reaches_). The complement _latitudes_ is modified by the
adjective _temperate_. The subordinate clause is introduced by the
relative adverb _when_. [Then analyze the subordinate clause.]

3. The polar bear, which lives in the Arctic regions when it is at
home, sometimes reaches temperate latitudes.

This is a complex sentence. The main clause is _the polar bear
sometimes reaches temperate latitudes_; the subordinate clause is
_which lives in the Arctic regions when it is at home_, which is
complex, since it contains the adverbial clause _when it is at home_,
modifying the verb _lives_.

4. He says that the polar bear lives in the Arctic regions.

This is a complex sentence. The main clause is _he says_; the
subordinate clause is _that the polar bear lives in the Arctic
regions_. The subject of the sentence is _he_, the complete predicate
is _says that the polar bear lives in the Arctic regions_. The simple
predicate is _says_, which is completed by its direct object, the
noun clause _that ... regions_, introduced by the conjunction _that_.
[Then analyze the subordinate clause.]

5. That the polar bear sometimes reaches temperate latitudes is a
familiar fact.

This is a complex sentence. The main clause (_is a familiar fact_)
appears as a predicate only, since the subordinate clause (_that the
polar bear sometimes reaches temperate latitudes_) is a noun clause
used as the complete subject of the sentence. The simple predicate
is _is_, which is completed by the predicate nominative _fact_.
This complement is modified by the adjectives _a_ and _familiar_.
The subordinate clause, which is used as the complete subject, is
introduced by the conjunction _that_. [Then analyze this clause.]

COMPOUND COMPLEX SENTENCES

+461.+ In analyzing a +compound complex+ sentence, we first divide it into the +independent clauses+ (simple or complex) of which it consists, and then analyze each of these as if it were a sentence by itself.

See the examples in §§ 456, 457.