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Sentence structure - Zinsstructuur of woordvolgordeVerbal cluster and final position in a subordinate clause In a subordinate clause the finite verb occurs together with any >non-finite verbal elements towards the end of the clause, the verbal cluster. Compare:
Following the verb(s) of a subordinate clause there may one final constituent. This often happens because of the pragmatics of a clause. This constituent is usually a prepositional phrase (either a prepositional object or more likely an adverbial adjunct).
This is similar to what happens at the >end of a main clause. We can think of a subordinate clause as a template with various positions in which we can slot constituents. Not all positions have to be filled. At the end there are two positions: final position and penultimate position. The penultimate position of the subordinate clause is reserved for the verbal cluster. The final position may remain empty, but is often used for pragmatic reasons, for example to highlight a particular constituent.
There are some rules on the precise order of the various elements in the verbal cluster. Click >here for details.
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