How to parse. ...

Par. 254.] OF SENTENCES.

163

254 Degrees of Sub-ordination (Analysis).
Reversing the process in the last paragraph, we
can take a Complex Sentence to pieces, beginning
first with the Principal Sentence, then taking the
first degree of Sub-ordination, then the second, and
so on. Take, for example -
" He said that I did not come last Tuesday though
I had promised that I would come to see him
before he left town."
1. The Principal Verb is " said." Read on from
( said" to the first Sub-ordinate Conjunction " that."
"Tlhat" introduces the Object of "said," viz., the
following Sub-ordinate Sentence: " I did not come
last Tuesday, though I had promised.. town."
This is a Sub-ordinate Sentence of the first Degree,
which is therefore underlined once.
2. The Principal Verb in the first Sub-ordinate
Sentence is " did (not) come." Read on from this
to the next Sub-ordinate Conjunction though."
The following words, " I had promised... town,"
make up a Sub-ordinate Sentence of the second
Degree, and must be underlined a second time.
3. The Principal Verb in the second Sub-ordinate
Sentence is "had promised." Read on to the next
Sub-ordinate Conjunction -"that." The words "I
would come... town" make up a Sub-ordinate