I am trying to understand matrix clauses. Today at the lecture, two sentences were discussed, of which one contains a matrix clause and one does not. I'm going to post them here:
- He knew immediately that in some way he had erred.
- He wondered whether the suggestion was worth trying.
I was told the first sentence consists of only one clause, whereas the second one consists of two clauses. I am puzzled as to how it is possible. Can anyone explain the difference between the two? As I see it, both contain two finite verbs, so I would classify them the same.
Oh, and a matrix clause means that a clause has a subordinate clause embedded within it.