Overview
Complex embedded clauses nest one clause inside another, creating multi-layered sentence structures. Example: The committee that reviewed the policy that the board had approved recommended changes. Understanding and producing such structures marks C1/C2 grammatical competence.
Deep Embedding
- SingleThe report [that the committee submitted] was approved.
- DoubleThe report [that the team [who won the contract] produced] was praised.
- Nominal[What the data reveals] is [that behaviour changes when observed].
- RuleIdentify the MAIN verb — it belongs to the outermost clause.
Types of Embedding
- Relative clause: the fact [that X holds], the claim [which Y defended]
- Nominal clause: [What concerns experts] is [whether the trend persists]
- Reported embedding: She suggested [that the findings indicated [that X was possible]]
- Academic prose regularly uses 2–3 levels of embedding.
Agreement Trap
- Find the main subject — not the nearest noun.
- ❌ The team of researchers who worked on this were → ✅ was awarded the grant.
- Three levels of embedding is typically the readable limit in formal prose.
When to use
Academic prose
The assumption that the data supports the model has been contested.
Legal language
The clause providing that the party who breaches the agreement shall...
Scientific writing
The evidence suggesting that the compound isolated has therapeutic properties is preliminary.
Journalism
The politician whom the committee that oversees the inquiry named...