1

~ 1 ~

Adjectival complementation
BASED ON QUIRK
I. Types of complementation:

1. [E1] C = PP Phrasal level
2. [E2] C = that-clause
3. [E3] C = wh-clause Finite
4. [E4] C = than-clause Clausal
5. [E5] C = to-inf. Clause Non-finite
6. [E6] C = -ing participle clause






Cannot normally be in a premodifying position: *a keen child on chess.
Discontinuity: adj. + head + compl.: The violin is a difficult instrument to play.
Other descriptions:

Prep. Adj.: averse to, conscious to;
Phrasal adj.: run down (=exhausted, depressed);
Phr-prep adj.: fed up with.

ii. [E1] C = PP
Distinctions:
1. Participial vs. non-participial
2. Phrasal vs. prepositional
3. Obligatory vs. compulsory complementation.

The lexical bond is strongest when in adj. for which, in a sense, the complementation is
obligatory: Max is averse to games. ~ * Max is averse.

Various prepositions can be used.

Sometimes the meaning doesnt change;
Sometimes the meaning changes:

Angry with sb
about sth
at sb/-ing passive/genitive


III. [E2] C = that-clause.

1. That + ind. verb: I am sure(that) he is here now.
E.g:

The violin is (rather) difficult to play. -> Adj. P. = C
s

Mary found the violin (rather) difficult to play. -> Adj. P = C
o
The violin is an instrument (rather) difficult to play. -> Adj. P. = pm
Concerned about sb/sth = anxious
with sth = involved
with sth = occupied
2

~ 2 ~

2. That + subj. verb: They were insistent (that) we beready. -> formal
3. That + putative should: Im sorry (that) he should haveleft. -> formal

After expressions of emotion: sorrow, joy, displeasure, surprise, wonder, etc.
Often accompanied by intensifying expressions: so, such, like this/that, ever or at all.
Choices:
(that) I haveto leave so early.
I am sorry
(that) you should havebeen (so) inconvenienced.

(that) you didnt call the doctor before.
I am surprised
(that) anyone of your intelligence should swallow a lie like this.

Should-clause paraphrased by inf.-clause:

E.g.: It was natural for him to go to London after the war.
= It was natural that he should go to London after the war.

Adj.+ prep. + that-clause:

of his innocence.
E.g.: I am convinced
(that) he is innocent.

In many cases: adj. + that-clause: It is lucky that you came. ~ That you came is lucky.
Extraposed subject.

1. [E2a] Adj. with experience as subject:

a) That-clause has ind. verb only: We were confident that Karen was still alive.
Express degrees of certainty or confidence: aware, certain, confident, sure.

b) That-clause has putative should or subjunctive: anxious, eager, willing

he should be permitted to resign:
E.g.: Are you willing that he be permitted to resign?
? he is permitted to resign?

c) That-clause has ind. verb of putative should: adj. of emotions

E.g.: I am so thankful that nobody was hurt. Non-participial
Were you surprised that Ray should win the prize? Participial
2. [E2b] Adj. with anticipatory it as subject.

a) That-clause has ind. verb only: truth or knowledge.

E.g.: It is true that she never comes on time.

b) That-clause has putative should or subjunctive: modality and volition.

3

~ 3 ~

should be lifted tomorrow.
E.g.: It is essential that the ban belifted tomorrow.
(?) is lifted tomorrow.

c) That-clause has ind. verb of putative should: emotive adjectives.
strange she was is so late. Non-participial
E.g.: It is that
upsetting she should be so late. Participial

Various -able/-ibleadjectives belong to this group: admirable, commendable, deplorable,
despicable, incomprehensible, inconceivable, lamentable, remarkable, etc.
Modal verb + adj. that-clause -> if-clause:

E.g.: It is sad that you have to leave.
It will be sad if you have to leave.
It would be sad if you had to leave.

3. [E3] C = wh-clause

a) [E3a]: S = experiencer: I was unsure (of) what I should say. [1]
(abou)t whether the problem was solved. [2]

The propositions are sometimes omitted before a wh-clause.
Sometimes adjectives take a wh-clause in assertive contexts:

intrinsically

negative in

meaning

E.g.: John is careful (about) what he does with his money.

In non-assertive contexts adj. + wh-clause:

E.g.: Are you sure(of) how much the machine costs?

Inf. wh-clause: I was uncertain (of) what to do. -> preferable to the finite clause

b) [E3b]: S = anticipatory it: It was unclear what they would do.
[3]

No preposition can be inserted: *It was unclear of/about what they would do.
No infinite wh-clause is possible: It is unsure where to go. -> only if it = animate obj.
Intrinsically expressed doubt (assertive contexts): doubtful, uncertain, unclear, unsure,
unknown.
Careful (about) Puzzled (as to) Undecided (about)
Doubtful (as to) Unclear (about) Unsure (of)
Fussy (about) Uncertain (of) Unaware (of)
4

~ 4 ~

Adj. + that-clause: apparent, certain, obvious, plain:
E.g.: It was unclear whether an
amendment would be accepted.
+ wh-clause (nonassertive): It was not obvious how far the westernization process
would go.

4. [E4] C = than-clause the only adj. in this category is different.

E.g: Shes quite a different girl than she was five years ago.

Alternative: different from

E.g.: The unions are taking a very different attitude than the employers.
From

The adverb: The main languages of southern India are quite different in origin than
those
from
of the northern part of the country.

5. [E5} C = to-inf. clause

Patterns:

a) Bob is splendid to wait. Subject inf. = Subject main clause
b) Bob is slow to react. The main clause can have TrV + O:
c) Bob is sorry to hear it. Bob is splendid to build the house.
d) Bob is hesitant to agree with you.
e) Bob is hard to convince. Subject inf. = Subject unspecified ->
f) The food is ready to eat. the context often makes it clear.
g) It is important to be accurate. In (f) a for-subject is possible: The food is ready
(for
the children) to eat.

a) [E5a] Bob is splendid to wait. -> It is splendid of Bob to wait.
Bob must be a splendid craftsman to build/to have built this
house.

Evaluative of human behavior:



b) [E5b] Bob is slow to react -> Bob reacted slowly. Bob is slow in reacting.
c) [E5c] Bob is sorry to hear it. -> It is to hear it that Bob is sorry about.

Adj. p emotive adj.
Inf. clause expresses causation
Non-participial Participial

careful crazy mad silly wise
careless greedy nice unwise wrong
[E5b] Bob is slow to react. -> Bob reacts slowly.
E.g.: I am sorry to have kept you waiting.
5

~ 5 ~

Afraid Happy Annoyed Disgusted Overwhelmed
Angry Impatient Astonished Dissatisfied Perturbed
Ashamed Indignant Bored Embarrassed Puzzled
Content Jubilant Concerned Fascinated Relived
Furious thankful Delighted Frightened Surprised
Glad Depressed Interested worried
Disappointed Overjoyed

d) [E5d] Bob is hesitant to agree with you.

Adj. with volitional meaning: ability, possibility, liability.

Non-participial Participial

Able Eligible Liable Sure [E2b] Determined
Anxious Fit [E5] Likely [E2b] Unable Disposed
Apt Free [E5] Loath Welcome Fated [E2b]
Certain [E2b] Greedy Powerless Willing Inclined
Curious Hesitant Prone Worthy Poised
Due Impotent Ready [E5] Prepared
Eager Keen Reluctant (all) set
unqualified

[E2b] extraposition of that-clause [E5] inf. with passive meaning

Semi-auxiliaries - some of these adj. coalesce with the preceding copula:
Be able to Be willing to Be sure to

Aspectual meaning of some adj.:

E.g.: He was wont to leave the office at 5 p.m.

e) [E5e] Bob is hard to convince. -> To convinceBob is hard.
I t is hard to convince Bob.

Adj. Expressing degrees of ease and comfort:

Awkward Easy Nice <infml> Tricky <infml>
Convenient Hard Pleasant Unpleasant <infml>
Difficult impossible tough

f) [E5f] The food is ready to eat. -> Are these cups available (to use)?
Are these cups available (to be used)?
S main clause = O inf. clause
Adj.:

g) [E5g] I t is important to be accurate. -> To be accurate is important.
6. C = -ing participle clause

a) Busy: Margery is busy writing letters. -> no subject
Accustomed Wont
available fit free ready sufficient
6

~ 6 ~

b) Worth, worthwhile, pointless, useless: It is scarcely worth(while) (you/your) going home. ->
subject

Anticipatory it + participle clause as extraposed subject

c) Worth and worthwhile: The cartons were worth(while) saving. ->
Its worth(while) saving the cartons.

d) Adj. + prep. + participle clause.

Preposition optional: Im busy (with) getting the house redecorated.
Preposition obligatory: Im hopeless at keeping the garden tidy.