A Grammar of Subordinate Structures in English

SENTENTIAL CONSTITUENTS That a sentence may function as an NP is evidenced by abstract sentential subjects and objects. Such constituents are NP's externally, but sentences internally: [ [S] ] : NP NP (1) It surprised me that you arrived so soon. The rule which accounts for this pattern is NP/S S, where the first S indicates the portion of the subordinate sentence incorporated into the superordinate NP, and the second S simply represents the subjoined sentence. In this case, of course, the entire sentence is incorporated into the NP. In English, the antecedent of S is generally pronounced as it, or -ing, if the option for the gerundive nominalization (factive) is selected. An illustrative phrase marker for sentences embedded in NP's is given in Figure 5.1. Abstract sentential constituents occur with antecedents other than NP. They may occur as adverbials, corresponding to AdvP/S S. Consider, for example, a sentence where an entire subjoined sentence functions as the manner adverbial; (2a) Dad fixed the door so that it wouldn't slam; as an adverb denoting cause; (2b) Dad oiled the hinges because the door was squeaking; 64 HETEROGENEOUS SUBJUNCTION