II.

The conjunctive but (that, what) is used to introduce only the first of several successive clauses that depend in like manner upon the head-sentence. The others open with that.

Meanwhile Costigan had not the least idea but that his company was perfectly welcome to Messrs. Pendennis and Bows, and that the visit of the former was intended for himself. PEND. II, CH. XI, 123.

8. Lest is sometimes used after a word that expresses fear.

She had had a great doubt and terror lest Arthur should not know
her. PEND. II, Сí. XV, 154.

I feared lest I should be deceived.
He felt a little uneasy lest she
scene. LITTLE LORD, 36.

H. E. Gr., 113.

should begin to cry or make a

I was in mortal fear lest the captain should repent of his confession and make an end of me. TREAS. ISLAND, 32.

Note. Lest, however, is seldom found in any but dignified style;
that is mostly used instead.

I was only afraid that something might have occurred to vex you.
HEIR OF REDC., I, CH. V, 83.

I am afraid that he will not succeed. MAS., § 405.

He fell into a melancholy, apprehending that his wealth would be taken from him. DOLF HEYL.

Dunstan was not without fear that he might meet with some acquaintance. SIL. MARN., CH. IV, 31.

9. That is by far the commonest of these conjunctives. It is often omitted before objective clauses following their head-sentence, especially in familiar style.

I fear I wrong the honourable men. JUL. CAES., III, 2.
I am glad you are so sensible of my attention. Riv., II, 1.

I think I have the honour of addressing Mr. Smith? MAS., 250. When that is separated from the rest of the clause by a wordgroup or a clause, in which case it receives what is called by SWEET (N. E. GR., 1895) break-stress, it would be harsh to suppress it.

Tell him that, if he likes to come, I shall be glad to see him. Equally objectionable would be the suppression of that when followed by a personal pronoun that is in like manner separated by some parenthesis from the rest of the clause.

I am afraid that you, who have always had a profound contempt for the man, would not care to meet him.

Note. In Early Mod. English that is also found suppressed
before other than objective clauses.

It happened there came a pilgrime to Jerusalem called Peter, an
Hermite. FULLer 1).

10. What is found to introduce subordinate statements only in dialects and vulgar language.

I see what it is plain enough. SIL. MARN., Cн. VI, 40.

1) FRANZ, E. S., XVIII.

CHAPTER XIV.

SUBORDINATE QUESTIONS.

1. Subordinate questions are found in the function of:

a) subject. Who can have told you this puzzles me. MAS., 250. How I found the matter out is no concern of yours. ib.

b)

nominal part of the predicate. That is why I am angry. MAS., 251.

With these admirable moralists it was who should fling the stone at poor Pen. PEND., II, CH. XIII, 138.

c) non-prepositional object. I want to know when this happened. MAS., 250.

d) prepositional object. The preposition is but rarely suppressed. See also the quotations in CH. III, 41.

by

i.

ii.

He enlarged on what a loss he would be to the magistrates' bench.
PEND., I, CH. II, 29.

But let us see a little more about what Jesus came on earth for.
AD. BEDE, CH. II, 20.

Where we went and what we saw my memory is not very clear
upon. JEROME, VARIETY PATTER, 146.

He began to reflect as to whether or no he should call upon her.
MEES. WILL, CH. IV, 35.

She felt curious as to how he would take her remark. Eт. Woм., CH. XVI.
The survivors are restless and uncertain whether the war is actually
at an end. STEAD, REV. OF REV.

I don't care who marries him. VAN. FAIR, I, CH. IV, 30.

Note. The suppression seems to be regular before subordinate questions introduced by if. (CH. III, 41.)

e) attributive adnominal adjunct, consisting of a noun preceded a preposition. The preposition is but rarely suppressed.

Compare also PAUL, PRINC., § 119; MÄTZN., III, 445.

i.

ii.

Have they any sense of why they sing? MAS., § 404.

Visions of how he would manage the property floated before his eyes.
FOR HIS SAKE, I, CH. XII, 204.

Have you money enough to carry on the daily quarrels of man
and wife about who shall squander most? GAY. 1).
Great doubts exist as to which of these

expressions is correct.

H. E. GR., 319.
My dear mother wished to see him before she consented to the
arrangement so as to be able to form her own judgment as to
whether he was a fit and proper companion for me. JEROME,
VARIETY PATTER, 142.

Who can want the thought how monstrous it was for Malcolm and
Donalbain to kill their gracious father. ib. § 550.

2. Subordinate questions answer to:

a) interrogative sentences of the first kind. (CH. VII, 3.) These open with conjunctions: if, whether;

b) interrogative sentences of the second kind. These open with 1) interrogative pronouns: what, whether, which, who;

2) interrogative adverbs: how, when, whence, where, whither, why.

3. If is the commonest conjunction to introduce a simple subordinate question. It is, however, doubtful if it is much used at the head of clauses mentioned under d, and e) of I.

Noah sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated
from off the face of the ground. GEN., VIII, 8.

He asked her if she wished to break off their engagement. SIL.
MARN., CH. I, 7.

Silas asked himself if he had been asleep. ib., CH. I, 8.

Note. In poetry if may also be met with when a subordinate question is followed by another.

"T is hard to say, if greater want of skill | Appear in writing or in judging ill. POPE 2).

My prime request, Which I do last pronounce, is, O you wonder! If you be maid or no. TEMP., II, 1, 425.

1) MäтZN.. III, 445; 2) SCHMIDT, § 468.

Judge if I have done amiss or whether that such cowards ought to wear this ornament. HENRY VI, A, IV, 1, 28.

Know of the duke if this last purpose hold | Or whether since he is advised by aught | To change the course. LEAR, V, 1, 2.

4. Whether is used to introduce:

a) simple subordinate questions. In this case it is interchangeable with if, from which it is only distinguished in being slightly. less familiar.

He once asked himself whether this could be the Eve Madeley
whose history he had heard. G. GISSING, EVE'S RANS., CH. VI.
We doubt whether any name in literary history be so generally
odious as that of the man whose character and writings we now
propose to consider. MAC., MACH., 28b.
I have in command from
take you in to supper.

Lady Rockminster to ask whether I may
PEND., I, CH. XXVII, 284.

b) each of two (or more) subordinate questions connected by or. There will be no room left for doubt in regard to the intentions of the Government, whether the Bill is to be pressed forward as it stands, or whether certain concessions are to be made in detail. TIMES.

Whether Alcide was as irresistible a conqueror as his namesake, or whether he was simply crazy, is a point which must be left to the reader's judgment. PEND. I, CH. XXV, 248.

Whether he remained still upon the mountain, or whether by some false step he had perished upon that night, we never learnt. JEROME, WOMAN OF THE SETER, 137.

Whether it was the following Sunday when I saw the same gentleman again, or whether there was any greater lapse of time before he re-appeared, I cannot tell. CoP., CH. II, 11a.

Note. Before an incomplete
regularly dropped.

subordinate question whether is

I'll drive you home at such a rate that you won't know whether the frosty wind is hot or cold. MY FIRST HAPPY CHRISTM.

5. Obs. Also whether, when introducing a subordinate question, was in Older English sometimes followed by that.

Then judge, great lords, if I have done amiss, | Or whether that such cowards ought to wear | This ornament of knighthood, yea or not. HENRY VI, A, IV, 1, 28.

POUTSMA, A Grammar of Late Modern English. II.

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