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hiromi525
Joined: 15 Jan 2008
Posts: 166
Location: Japan
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 Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 4:33 am Post subject: can be |
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Please take a look at the following paragraph.
I don't understand the structure of the bold part.
Does it indicates that clause? 
I also don't understand what "can be" means.
There is an explanation of the usage of "can't be" in the dictionary, but there is not any explanation for the usage of "can be"
In one sense , an allowance is a child's share of the family income. It can be a good experience that parents can provide for their children. The amount should be what the family can afford. Tt should be given to the youngster to do with as she pleases. It should not be used as a tool to win the youngster's good behavior. |
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rice07
Joined: 26 Oct 2007
Posts: 385
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| Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 6:34 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Does it indicates that clause? |
No. 'It' means 'an allowance'. And 'that clause' is an adjective subordinate clause modifying the antecedent ' a good experience'.
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| I also don't understand what "can be" means. |
In this case, 'can be' means 'is possibly '.
rice |
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hiromi525
Joined: 15 Jan 2008
Posts: 166
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 8:57 pm Post subject: that clause |
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Would it be possible to consider that to be Relative Pronoun?
I tried deviding the sentence into two part.
It (an allowance) can be a good experience.
Parents can provide an allowance for their children.
I understand that a good experience is the antecedent.
but I don't know what an adjective subordinate is.
Can you please make an example sentence using an adjective subordinate? |
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rice07
Joined: 26 Oct 2007
Posts: 385
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| Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 11:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Would it be possible to consider that to be Relative Pronoun? |
Yes. 'That' is a Relative Pronoun used as the object of provide in this case.
| Quote: |
It (an allowance) can be a good experience.
Parents can provide an allowance for their children. |
I am afraid it is not the case as you think, because, in this case, Relative pronoun 'that' refers to 'a good experience', but not 'it(an allowance)', despite the fact that 'a good experience' is possibly concerning 'an allowance'.
Example:
It is a good experience that you can personally discuss this question with your teacher.(= That you can personally discuss this question with your teacher is a good experience.)(But it is rare with a that clause in the beginning of a sentence, anyway.)
However, in this example, 'it' equals 'that clause(=appositive clause)'. And 'that is a conjunction, not a RP.
Is it an appositive clause or an attributive clause(adjective subordinate clause) for a 'that clause' in a sentence? You can see some useful grammar books for reference.
| Quote: |
| Can you please make an example sentence using an adjective subordinate? |
It(An allowance) can be a good experience .(main clause)
It(An allowance) can be a good experience that parents can provide for their children. (In this case 'that clause' is an adjective subordinate clause(attributive clause) added to explain what kind of 'a good experience' it is.
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| Can you please make an example sentence using an adjective subordinate? |
Example:
It is a dog.(Main clause)
It is a dog that can run very fast.('That can run very fast', an adjective subordinate clause, is added right after 'dog' to explain what kind of dog it is. 'That, a RP, is the subject of the adjective subordinate clause(attributive clause) in this case.
Hope this helps.
rice |
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hiromi525
Joined: 15 Jan 2008
Posts: 166
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 4:20 am Post subject: apposive clause |
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At first, let me try dividing the sentence again to see if I can understand how to use a Relative pronoun.
It (an allowance) can be a good experience that parents can provide for their children.
It can be a good experience.
parents can provide a good experience for their children.
so that is used as a relative pronoun which is indicating a good exprience.
that clause is called an adjective subordinate clause modifying the antecedent "a good experence.
Are the idea above correct this time?
Regarding the usage of appositive clause,
I look up one grammer book and there is one example sentence.
#1 It si certan that he will succeed.
I also another grmmer book and there are some example.
#2 Freud's point of departure was his recognition that human mental experience is like an iceberg.
#3 The fact that he was involved in hte affair was not known to his parents.
I was able to understand #2 and #3 is sentences using an appositive clause., but I don't understand why #1 is an appositive clause.
If so, are sentences below all appositive clause?
It is important that he be there on time.
It is natural that she should get upset. |
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rice07
Joined: 26 Oct 2007
Posts: 385
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| Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 6:34 am Post subject: |
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Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 4:20 am Post subject: apposive clause
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| Quote: |
At first, let me try dividing the sentence again to see if I can understand how to use a Relative pronoun.
It (an allowance) can be a good experience that parents can provide for their children.
It can be a good experience.
parents can provide a good experience for their children.
so that is used as a relative pronoun which is indicating a good exprience.
that clause is called an adjective subordinate clause modifying the antecedent "a good experence.
Are the idea above correct this time? |
Your logic reasoning for 'that' is correct, but your practice of rephrasing the sentence is not. 'It can be a good experience that parents can provide for their children' is better. English is tricky. In my humble opinion, I would rewrite it as follows, if need be:
It(An allowance) can be a good experience, and parents can provide such a good experience(of it/of an allowance) for their children.
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| I was able to understand #2 and #3 is sentences using an appositive clause., but I don't understand why #1 is an appositive clause. |
#1 It is certain that he will succeed.
Analyzing the example sentence above, first of all, you'll find there's no antecedent going right ahead of 'that clause'. Second, let see what kind of functions 'that' is serving in this case.
... that he will succeed.
Subject: he
Verb(intransitive): succeed
'He will succeed' is a complete sentence grammatically correct. So, we can say 'that', in this case, is a conjunction, and 'that clause' is an appositive one.
Yet again,why 'that parents can provide for their children' is not an appositive clause?
... a good experience that parents can provide for their children.
Subject: parents
Verb(transitive): provide
Direct object: ???
Antecedent: experience
So, there's an object missing in the 'that clause'. That is to say, RP 'that is doing the function of the object of 'provide' in this case.
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If so, are sentences below all appositive clause?
It is important that he be there on time.
It is natural that she should get upset. |
Yes.
It is important that he should be there on time.
It is important that he be there on time. (subjunctive mood)
Last edited by rice07 on Tue Feb 16, 2010 6:42 am; edited 1 time in total |
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