Noun Clauses

INTRO TO COMPLEMENTS
NOTES about NOUN CLAUSES * INTRO * PRACTICE * ANALYSIS

SUBJECT OR SUBJECT COMPLEMENT
NC+v s+be+NC It+v+NC
THAT-CLAUSES
indirect statements
(THE FACT) THAT+SV
WH-CLAUSES
indirect questions and nominal relative clauses
("anticipatory it" with indirect questions only)
WHETHER+SV
WHAT/WHO..+(S)V
(The fact) that he lost upset him
The problem was that he lost
It upset him that he lost		 Whether he won or lost is unimportant
Losing was what upset him
It is not clear what the score was
DIRECT OBJECT
sv+NC
THAT-CLAUSES
indirect statements
sv+(THAT)+SV
WH-CLAUSES
indirect questions and nominal relative clauses
sv+WHETHER+SV
sv+WHAT/WHO..+(S)V
He told her (that) he was in bed. She asked if he was sick
He didn't know how he should answer
OBJECT of a PREPOSITION
prep+NC
THAT-CLAUSES
indirect statements
(not possible, without inserting a noun:
prep.+THE FACT THAT +SV)
WH-CLAUSES
indirect questions and nominal relative clauses
prep.+WHETHER+SV
prep.+WHAT/WHO..+(S)V
How do you feel about the fact that he won?. He asked her about whether he should go
That depends on who else is going.
ADJECTIVE COMPLEMENT
adj.+NC
THAT-CLAUSES
indirect statements
adj.+(THAT) +SV)
WH-CLAUSES
limited adjectives -- indirect questions only!
adj.+WHETHER+SV
adj.+WHAT/WHO..+(S)V
I'm sorry (that) I'm late.. I'm not sure whether we can still go.
Aren't you curious what time the party starts?
NOUN COMPLEMENT
noun+NC
THAT-CLAUSES
indirect statements
noun +THAT +SV
WH-CLAUSES
indirect questions and nominal relative clauses
The news that he won surprised us all. (not possible)


NOTES:


  • FUNCTION OF THAT and "WH-WORDS" in NOUN CLAUSES:
  • TWO KINDS OF "WH-CLAUSES":
  • TENSE
  • REDUCTION OF NOUN CLAUSES TO INFINITIVES:
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    Ann Salzmann
    Intensive English Institute
    University of Illinois