Noun Clauses (Analysis)

Directions:

  1. Read each sentence closely to comprehend its message.
  2. Identify each sentence as Simple, Compound, Complex, or Compound-Complex.
  3. In each sentence, identify a subject-verb combination in all dependent and independent clauses.
  4. Identify dependent clauses as Adverbial, Adjective, or Noun.
  5. When finished, hover the cursor over the sentence to check your answers.

from “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde

You seem to forget that I am married, and the one charm of marriage is that it makes a life of deception absolutely necessary for both parties. I never know where my wife is, and my wife never knows what I am doing.

The reason I will not exhibit this picture is that I am afraid that I have shown in it the secret of my own soul. The moment I met you I saw that you were quite unconscious of what you really are, of what you really might be. There was so much in you that charmed me that I felt I must tell you something about yourself. I thought how tragic it would be if you were wasted.

Sentence Type: Compound-Complex (C-Cx)
Clause Combination: 2+2
IND #1: You seem to forget
DEP #1 (N-OV): that I am married
coordinator: and
IND #2: the one charm of marriage is
DEP #2 (N-SC): that it makes a life of deception absolutely necessary for both parties
Sentence Type: Compound-Complex (C-Cx)
Clause Combination: 2+2
IND #1: I never know
DEP #1 (N-OV): where my wife is,
coordinator: and
IND #2: my wife never knows
DEP #2 (N-SC): what I am doing
Sentence Type: Complex (Cx)
Clause Combination: 1+3
IND: The reason…is
DEP #1 (adj): I will not exhibit this picture
DEP #2 (N-SC): that I am afraid
DEP #3 (N-OV): that I have shown in it the secret of my own soul
Sentence Type: Complex (Cx)
Clause Combination: 1+4
DEP #1 (adv): The moment I met you
IND: I saw
DEP #2 (N-OV): that you were quite unconscious of
DEP #3 (N-OP): what you really are,
DEP #4 (N-OP): what you really might be
Sentence Type: Complex (Cx)
Clause Combination: 1+3
IND: There was so much in you
DEP #1: that charmed me
DEP #2 (N-NC): that I felt
DEP #3 (N-OV): I must tell you something about yourself
Sentence Type: Complex (Cx)
Clause Combination: 1+2
IND: I thought
DEP #1 (N-OV): how tragic it would be
DEP #2 (adv): if you were wasted

Abbreviations

  • S – simple sentence     C- compound sentence   CX – complex sentence    C-Cx – compound-complex sentence
  • IND – independent clause     DEP – dependent clause
  • Adv – dependent adverbial clause
  • Adj – dependent adjective clause
  • N-S – dependent noun clause functioning as a subject
  • N-OV – dependent noun clause functioning as object of a verb
  • N-OP – dependent noun clause functioning as object of a preposition
  • N-NC – dependent noun clause functioning as noun complement
  • N-AC – dependent noun clause functioning as adjective complement