Noun Clauses

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

SUBJECT OR SUBJECT COMPLEMENT

NC+v THAT-CLAUSES indirect statements (THE FACT) THAT+SV
(The fact) that he lost upset him The problem was that he lost It upset him that he lost

s+be+NC It+v+NC WH-CLAUSES indirect questions and nominal relative clauses ("anticipatory it" with indirect questions only) WHETHER+SV WHAT/WHO..+(S)V
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
He told her (that) he was in bed.

WH-CLAUSES indirect questions and nominal relative clauses sv+WHETHER+SV sv+WHAT/WHO..+(S)V

She asked if he was sick He didn't know how he should answer

OBJECT of a PREPOSITION
prep+NC THAT-CLAUSES WH-CLAUSES indirect statements indirect questions and nominal relative clauses (not possible, without inserting a noun: prep.+WHETHER+SV prep.+THE FACT THAT +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)
I'm sorry (that) I'm late..

WH-CLAUSES limited adjectives -- indirect questions only! adj.+WHETHER+SV adj.+WHAT/WHO..+(S)V

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
The news that he won surprised us all.

WH-CLAUSES indirect questions and nominal relative clauses (not possible)

NOTES:
FUNCTION OF THAT and "WH-WORDS" in NOUN CLAUSES: THAT does not have any function within a noun clause (unlike adjective clauses). It simply introduces it, and is, therefore, often omitted: He told me (that) he (subject) bought (verb) a car (direct object). WHETHER and IF also do not have any function within a noun clause, but because they carry important information, cannot be omitted: I wonder whether he (subject) bought (verb) an expensive car. Other "WH-words" DO have a function within a noun clause, just as they do in adjective clauses, and, therefore, cannot be omitted ... even when they're not the subject. I wonder who(m) (indirect object) he (subject) told. (verb) TWO KINDS OF "WH-CLAUSES": Who is it? I know WHO IT IS. indirect questions: When did we I don't remember WHEN WE WENT. Was go? it Tuesday? that thing which I'm sorry about WHAT I DID. nominal relative I did I often remember WHEN WE WENT... It clauses: the time that we was so much fun! went TENSE

backshifting in "reported speech": If the "reporting" verb is in the past tense, the verb in the main clause is usually "backshifted." Exceptions include certain modal verbs, or situations in which the verb refers to something that is a general fact or is still not "past" "I'M tired." --> He said he WAS tired. "My mother GAVE me this book." --> He said his mother HAD GIVEN him the book. "I WOULD LIKE another one." --> He said he WOULD LIKE another one. "This WILL BE finished by 1999." --> He said it WOULD/WILL BE finished by 1999.

urgent requests or desires: After certain verbs, nouns, and adjectives expressing urgent requests or desires, the verb in the noun clause is in the "subjunctive" ... which, in English, is the "base" or "dictionary" form of the verb: He recommended that she STUDY German. It's important that we BE ready to go at 6. I don't understand the request that the audience NOT APPLAUD until the end.

REDUCTION OF NOUN CLAUSES TO INFINITIVES:

noun clauses with will, should, can, etc. commands requests for action / permission questions He told me THAT I SHOULD DRIVE. == He told me TO DRIVE. He asked me IF I WOULD HELP. = He asked me TO HELP. I'm not sure HOW I CAN HELP. = I'm not sure HOW TO HELP. etc.