Chapter 2

2.4. Exercises
I. State whether the following statements are true or false:

1. Nominal clauses are non-finite clauses.

2. They start with a wh-word, if or that as a conjunction.
3. The initial that can be omitted in all cases.
4. Nominal clauses are often subjects of the clauses.
5. We also use them as direct and indirect objects.
6. Nominal clauses can stand in apposition.
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1. That he had been wrong was out of his mind.

2. Whatever he says doesn’t make me forgive him.
3. When he graduates is not important.
4. What you want to do seems very difficult and time consuming.
5. How he managed to win the championships is still a mystery
for his coach.
6. Why they divorced puzzled all their friends as they seem to be
the perfect couple.
7. Whether you come with me or not is entirely up to you.
8. Where he will attend the M.A. courses is something that
nobody knows yet.
9. It is important that you should be here on time.
10. It was Mike that did it.

III. Combine the following sentences into complex ones,

so that the interrogative sentences become the Subject of the
resulting complex sentences:
1. When is he coming? It’s his own business.
2. Why couldn’t he speak? It is an important question.
3. When can I go to fetch his luggage? It is for you to tell me.
 Chapter 2

4. Why didn’t they want to visit Africa? It is not known.

5. Why hasn’t he come back yet? It is easy to find out.
6. When are you going to give me the money? It is my concern.
7. What happened to that little boy? The old lady kept on asking.
8. Were the baby’s eyes blue or green? It was his first question.
9. Where could he go? It was the most puzzling question.
10. Which of them would Jane like best? It is hard to decide.

IV. Translate into English paying attention to Subject

clauses:
1. Ceea ce îmi spusese nu putea fi adevărat. 2. Dacă o să vină sau
nu era numai problema lui. 3. Indiferent ce spui nu mă
interesează. 4. Ceea ce conta cu adevărat era ca rezultatul
experimentului să dovedească ipoteza de lucru. Detaliile tehnice
ale experimentului erau mai puţin importante. 5. Motivul pentru
care era totuşi optimist este că avea convingerea că timpul va
dovedi că s-au înşelat în legătură cu el. 6. Ceea ce mă îngrijora cu
adevărat era faptul că ar fi putut să plece pentru totdeauna în
străinătate şi că era posibil să nu îl mai văd niciodată. 7. Îi întreba
pe toţi cei pe care îi întâlnea cum să ajungă la aeroport. 8.
Adevărul este că nimeni nu se gândise la această posibilitate. 9. Le
mărturisea tuturor celor care îl cunoşteau că era foarte nefericit
deoarece îl părăsise soţia. 10. Este irelevant dacă ai dreptate sau
nu.

V. Identify the predicative clauses and the subordinate

elements they are introduced by:
1. The problem is that he doesn’t understand the situation at all.
 Chapter 2

2. The question is where I can find enough money for my project.

3. His trouble is how he can give the money back.
4. The mystery is whether James is honest or not.
5. What I would like to know is when everything happened.
6. My opinion is that he makes a big mistake if he goes on holiday
with his colleagues.
7. My doubt is if they come.
8. In this case it is important that he should pass his exam.
9. His behaviour is what annoys me.
10. To be aggressive is what I expected less from my own child.

VI. Combine the following sentences into complex ones,

so that one of them becomes part of the Predicate (the Predicative)
of the resulting complex sentences. Pay attention to the sequence
of tenses:
1. What I want to say is this. He is sure to do it.
2. The question was this. Who wants to begin?
3. The truth is the one I told you. He is not very willing to do it.
4. What annoyed them is this. There is no other way to solve it.
5. What they were afraid of was this. They could lose their houses.
6. The important aspect of the problem is this. All the members of
the team should contribute to the success of the project.
7. The reason why he agreed with our proposal was this. He knew
the situation better than anyone.
8. The difficulty is this. There is no time to finish building the
hotel because the weather is too cold.
9. What bothered them was this. The children didn’t want to go to
the boarding school the parents chose for them.
 Chapter 2

10. What Mike said is this. There is no way out of the situation.

VII. Translate into English paying attention to predicative

clauses:
1. Problema noastră era cum să ajungem la gară. 2. Ceea ce mă
nedumerea cu adevărat era că nu înţelegea nimic din ce se
întâmpla. 3. Şansa lui a fost că s-a internat la timp într-un spital
unde a putut fi salvat. 4. Realitatea era că nu îi putea ierta
trădarea. 5. Ceea ce aş vrea să ştiu este dacă directorul a citit
raportul financiar cu atenţie şi dacă a luat vreo hotărâre. 6.
Îndoielile pe care le avea faţă de fiul său erau cu privire la talentul
pianist al acestuia. 7 . Surp riza tu tu ro r a fo st că a reu şit să treacă
testul pentru permisul de conducere. 8. Supărarea lui era că banii
fuseseră deja cheltuiţi şi nu îi mai putea recupera. 9. Dacă nu
acceptăm înţelegerea va însemna că nu avem destul curaj. 10.
Speranţa într-un viitor mai bun era ceea ce o făcea să studieze atât
de mult.

VIII. Identify the object clauses and the subordinate

elements they are introduced by:
1. I didn’t know that he told my story to whoever wanted to listen
to him. 2. He was talking about what happened to all the people
who knew the details of the murder case. 3. I propose that we
should spend the night at this hotel because we can not go any
further towards the peak. 4. I saw how the man was killed in the
accident. 5. The president considered that the prime minister
should be changed as soon as possible. 6. My friends were trying
to arrive on time, but they missed the bus. 7. I was told that I
 Chapter 2

would be working as an accountant in a different department. 8.

Mike knows why his wife left him, but he didn’t want to tell the
reason to anyone. 9. Experienced teachers are always wondering
why younger people do not want to follow their advice regarding
education.10. My colleagues explained to me how I should
organize my work so I could finish it on time.

IX. Combine the following sentences into complex ones,

so that the interrogative sentences become Object of the resulting
complex sentences:
1. Why did he do it? It is no concern of yours.
2. Why did they ever make it public? It is better not to be said.
3. Who was the newcomer? It is what they wanted to find out.
4. Who had originally started the fight? It seemed to be the
policeman’s concern.
5. Who was to blame for all his misfortunes? It was quite easy to
find out, but more difficult to admit.
6. How could he spend all that money so quickly? It is beyond me.
7. When did they want to emigrate? You should know it.
8. How did he manage to arrive on time? It is still a mystery.
9. Whatever happened to his daughter? Nobody has ever been able
to find out.
10. Where could he borrow money from? It was the next point on
his agenda.

X. Translate into English paying attention to Object

Clauses:
 Chapter 2

1. Mi-a povestit că era supărat deoarece nimeni nu îi spusese

despre petrecerea care urma să aibă loc săptămâna viitoare. 2. Dă-
ne şi mie şi lui câte un pahar de apă pentru că am alergat ca să iti
spunem că ne-am întâlnit cu mama ta la aeroport. 3. Le-am
acordat o a doua şansă tuturor celor care au înţeles ce important
este să înveţi. 4. James bea întotdeauna apă rece ca gheaţa. De
aceea are mereu probleme cu gâtul. 5. I-am sugerat să îşi schimbe
slujba, dar nu a vrut să mă asculte. 6. I-am întrebat cum au reuşit
să câştige campionatul şi mi-au răspuns că au muncit foarte mult.
7. Motivul pentru care a plecat a rămas un secret pentru toată
lumea care o cunoştea. 8. Suntem foarte interesaţi de ceea ce va
face în viitor. 9. I-am explicat de ce sunt hotărâtă să renunţ la
cariera de avocat şi să mă fac judecător, dar nu mi-a înţeles
motivele. 10. Nu eram sigură că va face ce trebuie.

XI. Identify the various types of that clauses in the

following sentences:
1. That he is lazy is common knowledge. 2. He answered that he
didn’t want to disappoint us, but he didn’t have enough courage to
try again. 3. The problem is that they do not understand the
importance of the matter. 4. It is generally agreed that the
elections will be next October. 5. I am happy that I have passed
the exam. 6. That he stole the money amazed us all. 7. My idea
that we should try to leave for a foreign country was rejected by
everyone. 8. The fact that our children didn’t behave properly
made us feel ashamed.

X. Translate the following text into English:

 Chapter 2

De-abia după ce am ajuns acasă mi-am dat seama că mă

gândisem la toate, afară de locul cel mai important: locul unde se
va adăposti prietenul meu. Îmi vorbise de o cabană în munţi, dar
trebuia găsită această cabană şi trebuia să ajungem la ea înainte de
a se lumina bine de ziuă, ca să nu atragem atenţia. Planul nostru
părea copilăresc: să începem a urca în munte cu o duzină de pături
în spinare, cu merinde, fără să ştim încotro ne îndreptăm, riscând
ca prietenul meu să se oprească după câteva sute de metri, pentru
că era nemâncat de o săptămână şi, mai ales, pentru că va trebui să
urce, aproape sigur, în ciorapi, neştiind dacă îi voi putea găsi o
pereche de ghete pe măsura lui, în cele şase ore cât aveam timp să
caut…
(Mircea Eliade, În curte la Dionis)
 Chapter 3

3.4. Exercises
I. Decide whether the following statements are true or
false:
1. Restrictive and non-restrictive clauses are all post-modifiers.
2. Relative pronouns which introduce relative clauses are all wh-
words.
3. Non- restrictive relative clauses are separated in writing by
commas.
4. All relative pronouns can refer to both singular and plural
antecedents.
5. Defining relative clauses are essential to the sentence meaning,
the non-defining are not.
6. Who, whose, whom normally refer to [+animate] antecedents.
7. Relative adverbs can never replace relative pronouns.
8. Relative clauses are adjectival in nature.
9. Relative pronouns can be omitted sometimes, obtaining a
contact clause.
10. Relative pronouns stand first in the clause except when
preceded by a preposition.
 Chapter 3

II. All the following examples contain a finite subordinate

clause. Underline those that are relative, and identify the
antecedent and the function of the relativized element:
1. I wonder who they have in mind for the job.
2. I have made a mistake I will never forget.
3. Go back the way you came.
4. The prize was awarded to the girl who spoke first.
5. He is not the man he used to be.
6. It’s the best movie I’ve seen all year.
7. The fact that they are cousins is irrelevant.
8. She started a shelter for women whose husbands beat them.
9. She goes to the school that her mother went to.
10. Which is the one you said you liked best?

III. Transform the non-wh relative clauses into their wh-

relative counterparts:
1. The reason he gave was that he wanted to spend more time with
his family.
2. The reason he resigned for was that he wanted to spend more
time with his family.
3. The one that impressed me most was your sister.
4. Do you remember the time we first went out together?
5. The concept that he came up with was really ingenious.
6. That’s a person I wouldn’t want to cross a river with.
7. Do you have a screwdriver that I could borrow?
8. They said that the one that I wanted was sold out.
9. Jenny’s new car made the one that I was driving look crummy.
 Chapter 3

IV. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate relative

pronouns and motivate your choice. In some cases several options
are possible:
1. They have managed to finish their task, for ….. they should be
happy.
2. Anything …..you like you can buy.
3. I haven’t found any of the books ….I looked for.
4. This is the man ….. I lent my car to.
5. My colleagues didn’t agree upon our boss’s idea, half of ….
fought against it bitterly.
6. I’m afraid that in these conditions there is little …we can do to
improve the situation.
7. She has always wanted to study physics, …. I respect about her.
8. Paris is the most beautiful city … I have visited in my life so
far.
9. My parents decided to move to the old house…. I was born in.
10. All the people….. want to help can do it.

V. Fill in the blanks with the corresponding relative

pronouns:
1. The woman…. Is crossing the street is our headmaster.
2. This is the school in ……. William Shakespeare learnt.
3. The child to ……. You gave that toy was very happy.
4. She is the sort of girl …. will do her best to persuade him.
5. All…….they can do is pacify him.
6. Pollution is a problem……must be solved as soon as possible.
 Chapter 3

7. You are the only man……I’ve ever met……..can really play

bridge.
8. They have cut down the tree………… used to stand here.
9. Mr Jones…….I have an immense respect for, has taught me a
lot of interesting things.
10. The most unusual book ….has appeared this winter is a book
on the caterpillar.

VI. Join the following sentences. Use or omit the relative

pronouns where necessary.
1. This is the girl. She lives next door. 2. These are the books. I
bought them yesterday. 3. The student got the first prize. He wrote
the best composition. 4. The woman was very old. I helped her to
cross the street. 5. My friend has made another translation. She is
very good at English. 6. Your neighbour bought a new car. I lent
him a lot of money. 7. My parents have a big house. It was built in
the 19th century. 8. Where are the cakes? Grandma made them
yesterday.

VII. Remake the following sentences omitting which and

whom:
1. The book which these pages belong to was published last year.
2. The rope with which they had tied him had cut into his skin. 3.
The thieves from whom he defends his house will be caught soon.
4. The car with which we collided is badly damaged. 5. They
didn’t say a word about the weather conditions to which he had to
adjust. 6. The man with whom I play tennis is really good. 7. The
man for whom she has deserted her husband did not really love
 Chapter 3

her. 8. The people with whom she lives are very rude. 9. The
reform about which he had spoken to his headmaster was never
carried out. 10. The glass out of which you are drinking is made of
crystal.

VIII. Translate into English:

1. Femeia pe care am întâlnit-o la magazin era foarte frumos
îmbrăcată.
2. Cum poţi să lucrezi cu un om care s-a purtat atât de urât cu tine
dintotdeauna?
3. Tânăra a cărei mamă ai cunoscut-o ieri este studentă la Şcoala
de balet la Julliard.
4. Care a fost cel mai bun hotel la care ai stat vreodată?
5. I-am vorbit despre ceea ce mă interesa.
6. Îmi împrumuţi şi mie cartea la care s-a referit profesorul?
7. Îl cunoşti pe omul care tocmai a intrat pe uşă?
8. Asta e tot ceea ce ştiu.
9. Cei care au terminat lucrul pot să plece acasă.
10. M-a bucurat tot ceea ce ai spus despre el.

IX. Translate into English, paying attention to the relative

pronouns:
1. Sunt sigur că acesta e omul pe care l-am întâlnit ieri la recepţia
de la ambasadă.
2. Femeia al cărei copil a început să plângă este vecina mea.
3. Filmul pe care l-am văzut săptămâna asta e unul dintre cele mai
bune pe care le-am văzut vreodată.
4. Tocmai i-am dat rochia pe care vrea să o poarte la nuntă.
 Chapter 3

5. Fetiţa, care se juca cu păpuşile în acel moment, nu a auzit că ne-

am întors.
6. Mama e singura persoană în care pot avea încredere deplină.
7. Cu banii pe care îi economisisem am reuşit să îmi achiziţionez
o casă la malul mării.
8. Cu cine ai petrecut vacanţa pe care ţi-o doreai atât de mult?
9. Câinele care stă sub copac e foarte agresiv.
10. Muzeul pe care l-ai vizitat e unul dintre cele mai interesante
din lume.

X. Translate into English:

1. Femeia pe care o vezi la capătul străzii este foarte elegantă.
2. Casele pe care le vezi dincolo de lac sunt construite de un om
deosebit de bogat care vrea să le vândă foarte scump.
3. Toţi englezii pe care i-am întâlnit sunt foarte politicoşi, dar cam
plicticoşi.
4. Ar fi vrut să-i explice fostului lor valet de ce părinţii ei care
muriseră tineri nu îi putuseră lăsa şi lui bani prin testament, dar
ştia că suferinţa pe care ar fi provocat-o ar fi fost prea mare.
5. În continuare vei găsi o serie de informaţii care te vor ajuta să te
familiarizezi cu limba engleză.
6. Oricine doreşte să emigreze trebuie să înţeleagă că viaţa e
foarte complicată departe de ţară.
7. Matematica este o materie la care nu am avut nici o problemă în
timpul liceului.
8. Cine crede că fabrica nu va da faliment se înşeală.
9. Orice copil care practică un sport va fi mai sănătos şi mai
puternic.
 Chapter 3

10. Mama lui crede că hotărârea pe care a luat-o e cea mai bună.

XI. For each of the bold clause, give an extraposed

counterpart if it is possible or if it is not possible, explain why:
1. Why you put up with it is unbelievable.
2. It is not clear to me whether he was even listening.
3. The fact that they got married should make no difference.
4. It feels good to be back in my home town.
5. For you to do that would be totally unethical.
6. I appreciate that you told the truth.
7. That you should have to clean it all up seems a bit unfair.
8. I’m afraid whining about the pain is no use.
9. Why she had to do that will always be a mystery.
10. Meeting you and your family has been a great pleasure.

XII. For each of the following statements form an it-cleft

counterpart using the same truth conditions; the bold constituent
should be employed as foregrounded element:
1. I blame you.
2. Most of the leaf growth occurs in the spring.
3. They left the campground only reluctantly.
4. Mike took the bike.
5. I like the other house most.

XIII. For each of the following statements form an pseudo-

cleft counterpart using the same truth conditions; the bold
constituent should be employed as foregrounded element:
1. The absurd waste of all amazed us all.
 Chapter 3

2. Most of the leaf growth occurs in the spring.

3. The backgrounded material gets put in the fused relative
constructions.
4. Mike took the bike.
5. I liked the music most.