I found the truth

[panicmonger]

I am a truth seeker. I love the truth.

After long dwelling on it, I think I have found something.
Hopefully, you can read on no matter it is correct or not.

Subordinator
Why do we call 'when' below subordinator?
I was cooking when the phone rang.

There are 2 clauses in the sentence above.
a) I was cooking.
b) the phone rang.

1. "the phone rang" clause gives the information of time to "I was cooking" clause and it is connected by 'when'.

2. However, "I was cooking" clause does not provide information of time to "the phone rang". Therefore, "when" is definitely subordinator because
when-clause acts as adverbial clause to the main clause, and thus adds information to the main clause, but the main clause does not provide any information back to the subordinating clause.

There is only one unilateral relationship between main and sub clauses.

Nominal Connective Adverb
Why do we call 'when' below 'Nominal Connective Adverb'?
Sunday is when I can relax.

There are 2 clauses in the sentence above.
1. Sunday is ???.
2. I can relax on ???.

We have to find something to represent the '???' above, right?
This ??? is an information of time.

When we connect the 2 clauses together into one sentence with 'when'.
1. "I can relax on ???" gives information to the main clause because it is an object in the main clause.

2. At the same time, the main clause gives back information to the subordinating clause, and thus we know from the main clause that 'sunday' modifies the subordinating clause.

There is a bilateral relationship between main and sub clauses.


At last, the where in "This is where I live." is nominal connective adverb because main and subordinate clauses provide information to each other, reciprocal relationship.

Thanks. I just love the truth and sharing.
That's it, not other things.

 

[Tdol]

2. However, "I was cooking" clause does not provide information of time to "the phone rang". Therefore, "when" is definitely subordinator because
when-clause acts as adverbial clause to the main clause, and thus adds information to the main clause, but the main clause does not provide any information back to the subordinating clause.

It might not provide such direct information about the time, but it provides information about my activities, so I don't think that the relationship can be said to be entirely one-way; the two parts are inter-dependent to create a meaning. Also the tense + aspect (past + incomplete) does provide some relevant temporal information beyond the dictionary definition of the verb.

 

[panicmonger]

It might not provide such direct information about the time, but it provides information about my activities, so I don't think that the relationship can be said to be entirely one-way; the two parts are inter-dependent to create a meaning. Also the tense + aspect (past + incomplete) does provide some relevant temporal information beyond the dictionary definition of the verb.

Thanks for you sharing.
By the way, this English forum is a success.
I like it. This forum is very helpful and valuable.
I am sure it has enormous potential to become as popular as facebook.
May it long exist.