ESL 650
Answers to Relative clauses, complement clauses: exercise

Look carefully at the following sentences and determine whether there are relative and/or complement clauses in each. For relative clauses identify the head NP. For complement clauses identify its function (ordinary, noun, or adjective).

I have used brackets to set off the clauses.

1. [That I forgot to bring the quiche] was stupid of me. This is an ordinary complement clause. Notice that the entire clause is functioning as the subject of the whole sentence.

2. It is unlikely [that the computer [James ordered] is extremely expensive]. The larger clause is an adjective complement clause because it follows the adjective 'unlikely'. Inside this clause is a relative clause with the head NP 'the computer'. Notice that the relative pronoun (which or that) after computer has been deleted.

3. The story [that Melville related] was [that this sea captain had caught a huge fish]. The first clause is a relative clause with the head NP ' the story'.

The second clause is an ordinary complement clause.

4. That pony [Anita bought ] got out of the barn [where she kept him]. The first clause is a relative clause with the head NP 'that pony'. Again the relative pronoun has been deleted.

The second clause is also a relative clause. The head NP is 'the barn'.

Notice that the first word, 'that', is a demonstrative determiner, not a complementizer or a relative pronoun. It could be replace with 'the' and still be meaningful.

5. Someone is spreading a rumor [that Tom's sister is remarrying her ex-husband]. This is a noun complement clause. Notice that if you delete the complementizer 'that' you still have a complete sentence with no gap. If it were a relative clause there would be a gap.

6. The grapes [that we bought today] are sour. Relative clause, head NP 'the grapes'.

7. Bill's fear [that comets might strike the earth] amused Dave immensely. Noun complement clause.

8. The idea [that amazed them] was [that camels would carry a person]. The first is a relative clause with head NP 'the idea'. The second is an ordinary complement clause.

9. Charles's manager explained [that accountants would probably catch any errors]. An ordinary complement clause.

10. The teacher assigned a book [that I don't want to read]. A relative clause, head NP 'a book'.

11. Mark bought a ticket to the dance [that his girlfriend's sorority was sponsoring]. A relative clause, head NP 'the dance'.

12. I saw the cathedral [where Chaucer is buried]. Relative clause, head NP 'the cathedral'.

13. Madge shouted back at us [that she was late for her appointment]. Ordinary complement clause.

14. No one believed the story [he told ] about [being given a ride in a space ship]. The first is a relative clause, head NP 'the story'. The relative pronoun has been deleted. The second is a gerund complement clause.

On could also analyze it as one big relative clause with the gerund complement clause inside of the relative clause. [[he told about [being given a ride in the space ship]]

15. She is the engineer [I worked with]. Relative clause, head NP 'the engineer'. Relative pronoun has been deleted.

16. I believe [the engineer completed the project]. Ordinary complement clause. Complementizer 'that' has been deleted.

To return to the exercise, click here.

To return to Lesson 11, click here.