COMPLEX SENTENCES

Complex sentences contain the principal clause and one or more subordinate clauses. The latter may follow the principal clause, precede it or break the main clause into two parts.

If the subordinate clause in post-position and the principal clause present a single semantic whole they do not form sepa­rate intonation groups. The choice of the final terminal tone in this case is determined by the communicative type of the sen­tence, eg:

You can Vstay here as 'long as you _xwant. (E. Hemingway)

VDoesn't it oc'cur to you that I'm the 'mistress of the ,class? (A. Cronin)

If the principal clause implies continuation, or each of the clauses (principal and subordinate) is semantically independent they arrange separate intonation groups. The principal clause in this case may be pronounced with the falling, rising or even fall­ing-rising tones, eg:

You can _x drive if you _xlike. (O'Connor)

I ""* can't ,see | why you Vshouldn't 'bury at 'least two _Nmore. (J. Osborne)

"* Doesn't it ^matter to ,you | what "* people ,do to me? (J. Osborne)

Long subordinate clauses may fall into a number of intona­tion groups. It should be noted that in this case the principal clause does not necessarily form a separate intonation group. The borderline between the intonation groups often passes with­in the subordinate clauses, eg:

I'm "* wondering how much _xlonger | I can Vgo on 'watch ing 'you _vtwo | V tearing the 'insides 'out of each _xother. (J. Osborne)'

Subordinate clauses preceding the principal clause form sep­arate intonation groups, as a rule. The terminal tone of the first intonation group is determined by its semantic value, eg:

What _vthey had .done, | _xhe could do. (J. London)

If >that's how you .want it, | ~* don't ask _xme to ,help a,gain. (O'Connor)

Note: We do not analyse other communicative types of com­plex sentences as the choice of tones for non-final and final into­nation groups in them is subjected to the same principles as mentioned above, eg:

You're "* wondering who I ,am, | ^aren't you? (disjunctive question)

~* Write to me when you ,get there, | _vwill you? (imperative)