Clause vs main clause

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Ipodmini

#254493 Thu, 10 Aug 06 07:31 PM

and has a deposit down on a second town house under construction. "They keep telling me 1,000 people a day move to Florida," she says. "I don't know where they're going. They're not buying." The house party had to end eventually, even if sellers refuse to believe it. Many remain defiant to the point of delusion, demanding one more drink at the housing bar Real estate bulls point out that the nation's median home price is still up 0.9% this year, to $231,000. But that stat is misleading. ....

In this case, why "demanding one more drink at the housing bar" does not precede "Many remain defiant..........."

What's the difference?

In other words, When a clause should be put after the main clause?

Ipodmini

Joined on Fri, Jul 14 2006

Full Member (177)

Constructions, Clauses

Goodman

#254503 Thu, 10 Aug 06 08:10 PM

Many remain defiant to the point of delusion, demanding one more drink at the housing

Bar.

The highlighted part is not a clause to me but a phrasal expression which in essence means they are still in the celebration mood for the housing party. It’s additional information to the main sentence.

Goodman

Joined on Mon, Nov 7 2005

Calif. USA

Senior Member (3,250)

The name says it all!

Clauses, Expressions

Maple

#254530 Thu, 10 Aug 06 09:27 PM

Hi, I agree that "demanding one more drink at the housing Bar." is not a clause, it's just a PP Phrase.

I think it's also acceptable to put this pp phrase at the beginning of the sentence.

Demanding one more drink at the housing bar, many remain defiant to the point of delusion.

(PS, I think the full stop after bar is necessary, otherwise there can be horrible misreading)

Maple

Joined on Tue, Jul 11 2006

An ESL student in China

Contributing Member (1,110)

Clauses

Clive

#254535 Thu, 10 Aug 06 09:34 PM

Hi,

When a clause should be put after the main clause?

Generally speaking, there is no rule that says they must only be put before it, so I don't recommend that you think that way. Clauses and phrases that relate to particular parts of the sentence should, generally speaking, be put near that part, although not always as long as the meaning is clear.

Putting something at the front, rather than the rear, of the sentence tends, again generally speaking, to give it more emphasis.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (23,116)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

Clauses

Ipodmini

#254641 Fri, 11 Aug 06 06:02 AM

I got it, Thank you, Clive, and others:-)

Ipodmini

Clauses

Ipodmini

#257308 Sat, 19 Aug 06 07:40 AM

Recently, I read an article, and one sentence reminds me of this thread.

Here's the sentence:

Voters in Kansas ensured this month that noncreationist moderates will once again have a majority (6 to 4) on the state school board, keeping new standards inspired by intelligent design from taking effect.

Is it equal to:

"Voters in Kansas ensured this month that noncreationist moderates will once again have a majority (6 to 4) on the state school board, which will keep new standards inspired by intelligent design from taking effect."?\

How about this one:

Voters in Kansas's ensuring this month that noncreationist moderates will once again have a majority (6 to 4) on the state school board ,keeps new standards inspired by intelligent design from taking effect.

:-)

How does the emphasis shift?

Ipodmini