What is a matrix sentence?

Definition
	A matrix sentence is a sentence in which a clause has been embedded as a constituent.
	The clause may or may not be an immediate constituent, but it must be embedded by means other than coordination.

Example (English)
	In the following sentences, the dog died is the matrix sentence: After eating the raw fish, the dog died. The dog that ate the raw fish died.

Generic
	A matrix sentence is a kind of
	What is a sentence?

Sources
	Crystal 1980 222
	Lyons 1968 266

Context for this page:

Concept module: matrix sentence
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): M
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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