1714. In a complex sentence, that is one consisting of a main and a
subordinate sentence, the subordinate member is introduced by some
subordinating word: such are,
I. Interrogative words, in indirect questions; II. Relative pronouns;
III. Relative conjunctive particles, or conjunctive particles not of
relative origin.
1715. Subordinate sentences may have the value of a substantive, usually
as subject or as object; of an attributive; or of an adverb or adverbial
adjunct: as,
(_a._) #eādem nocte accidit ut esset lūna plēna#, 4, 29, 1, _it came to
pass the same night that there was a full moon_. #videō quid agās#,
_Fam._ 16, 17, _I see what you are driving at_. (_b._) #fundus quī est
in agrō, quī Sabīnus vocātur, eum meum esse aiō#, _Mur._ 26, _the estate
which is in the territory which is called Sabine, that I maintain is
mine_, lawyers’ wordiness for #fundus Sabīnus#. (_c._) #cum
advesperāsceret, ad pontem Mulvium pervēnērunt#, _C._ 3, 5, _when it was
getting dark, they reached the Mulvius bridge_, i.e. #vesperī#, or
#prīmō vespere#.
1716. Subordinate sentences which express time or place, are called
_Temporal_ or _Local_ sentences; comparison or manner, _Comparative_ or
_Modal_ sentences; condition, cause, or concession, _Conditional_,
_Causal_, or _Concessive_ sentences; purpose, _Final_ sentences; result,
_Consecutive_ sentences.
1717. In a main sentence, the indicative present, future, and future
perfect, and the imperative, are called _Primary Tenses_; the indicative
imperfect, historical perfect, and pluperfect, and the infinitive of
intimation, are called _Secondary Tenses_. The perfect definite and the
present of vivid narration are sometimes regarded as primary tenses,
oftener as secondary tenses.
1718. Verbs which have an implication of futurity, such as those meaning
_can_, _ought_, _must_, &c., with an infinitive, also subjunctives of
wish (1540) or of exhortation (1547), may be called _Virtual Futures_.
1719. Sometimes the subjunctive serves as a main sentence: see 1762;
sometimes a noun of the verb: see 1766.