Hello!
I would like to ask someone where i can find some information about Complex Subject. At my University we're studying this theme. But I dont understand it properly.
:-( Can someone explain me this theme, please!!!
***** NOT A TEACHER *****
Ksyu-k,
(1) Thank you
very much for your post. Until I read it, I had never
heard of that term.
(2) I did some googling and learned a little (very little) that I wish to
share with you.
(3) I think (repeat: think) that "complex subject" is another term for
"split subject," a theory developed by Professor Otto Jespersen. You say
that you are at the university, so I most respectfully suggest that you
check out some of Professor Jespersen's books in the library.
(4) I do
not understand university-level grammar, but I think that a
"complex/ split" subject is something like this:
(a) "They made
me cry."
If you change that to the passive, you get:
(b) "I was made to cry."
Here in American high schools, our books tell us that in (b), the
subject is "I"; the passive verb is "was made"; and the infinitive
"to cry" is the complement (it refers to "I").
It seems that Professor Jespersen feels that the matter is a little
more complicated than that:
(a) He says that in "I was made to cry," it is obvious that "was made"
does
not only refer to "I." The meaning of the sentence is
not that
"I was made." He says that the subject is in bold:
I was made
to cry. That is, the split (separated) subject is
really "I ... to cry." That is what "was made."
Thanks again for your question. I really learned something new.
