“When such a spirit breaks forth into complaint, we are aware how
great must be the suffering that extorts the murmur.”

The relation of the parts is as follows:—­

we  are    aware
_______    _____
|         |
__|  when such a spirit breaks
|        forth into complaint,
|
how great must be the suffering
|
that extorts the murmur.

This arrangement shows to the eye the picture that the sentence forms in the mind,—­how the first clause is held in suspense by the mind till the second, we are aware, is taken in; then we recognize this as the main statement; and the next one, how great ... suffering, drops into its place as subordinate to we are aware; and the last, that ... murmur, logically depends on suffering.

Hence the following definition:—­

[Sidenote:  Definition.]

368.  A complex sentence is one containing one main or independent clause (also called the principal proposition or clause), and one or more subordinate or dependent clauses.

369.  The elements of a complex sentence are the same as those of the simple sentence; that is, each clause has its subject, predicate, object, complements, modifiers, etc.

But there is this difference:  whereas the simple sentence always has a word or a phrase for subject, object, complement, and modifier, the complex sentence has statements or clauses for these places.

CLAUSES.

[Sidenote:  Definition.]

370.  A clause is a division of a sentence, containing a verb with its subject.

Hence the term clause may refer to the main division of the complex sentence, or it may be applied to the others,—­the dependent or subordinate clauses.

[Sidenote:  Independent clause.]

371.  A principal, main, or independent clause is one making a statement without the help of any other clause.

[Sidenote:  Dependent clause.]

A subordinate or dependent clause is one which makes a statement depending upon or modifying some word in the principal clause.

[Sidenote:  Kinds.]

372.  As to their office in the sentence, clauses are divided into NOUN, ADJECTIVE, and ADVERB clauses, according as they are equivalent in use to nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.

Noun Clauses.

373.  Noun clauses have the following uses:—­

(1) Subject:  “That such men should give prejudiced views of America is not a matter of surprise.”

(2) Object of a verb, verbal, or the equivalent of a verb:  (a) “I confess these stories, for a time, put an end to my fancies;” (b) “I am aware [I know] that a skillful illustrator of the immortal bard would have swelled the materials.”