Final answer:
Extraposition of clausal subjects involves moving the subject clause to the end of the sentence and introducing a dummy subject like 'it' at the beginning. The effect is to shift the emphasis of the sentence and maintain proper subject-verb agreement despite the complex structure.
Step-by-step explanation:
What does it mean for clausal subjects to be extraposed? means that the subject of the sentence, which is a clause, is moved to the end of the sentence instead of its typical position at the beginning. The purpose of extraposition is often to put the focus of the sentence on the verb or another element rather than on the subject clause. A dummy subject, typically 'it,' is introduced to take the initial position in the sentence, paving the way for the actual subject clause to be placed later on. An example of extraposition would be turning the sentence 'To attend a party without pants is quite foolish' into 'It is quite foolish to attend a party without pants.' Here, 'To attend a party without pants' is the subject clause that has been extraposed.
In the process of identifying the subject in sentences, understanding that prepositional phrases and certain complex elements can come between the subject and the verb is essential. The subject may not always be immediately in front of the verb, especially when clausal subjects are involved. In the sentence 'The play with such true witticisms and parables comes highly recommended,' the subject 'play' is separated from the verb 'comes' by the prepositional phrase 'with such true witticisms and parables.' Correct subject-verb agreement is crucial.