Lecture 12: Noun clauses

12.1 Complex Sentences

Introduction

When two sentences are equally important, you can use a compound sentence;
When one proposition is subordinate to another, use a complex sentence containing a main clause and one or more subordinate clauses;
Primary proposition: main clause
Subordinate proposition: subordinate clause
The main focus is how subordinate clauses are formed and used.

12.1.1 Composition of Complex Sentences

Composition Analysis

Main clause: America's new plan to buy up toxic assets will not work.
Clause 1: unless banks mark assets to levels
Clause 2: which buyers find attractive.
The main clause is a regular sentence, with a conjunction added before the clause;

12.1.2 Classification of clauses

Section 1: Noun clauses
Section 2: Relative clauses
Section 3: Adverbial clauses

12.2 What is a nominal clause?

Concept

A clause used as a noun in a sentence is called a noun clause;
Four types of noun clauses
1. Object Clauses (Most Tested)
2. Predicative Clauses (Slightly less tested)
3. Subject Clauses (Also Important)
4. Appositive Clauses (Also Important)
Similarities: The writing method is basically the same, just the position differs -> Once you master one method, the other three methods are similar;

12.3 Usage of Object Clauses

12.3.1 Basics of Object Clauses

What is an object clause

Core concept: a subordinate clause functions as the object of a verb, preposition, or adjective in the main clause;
Illustration:
Judge Kennedy wrote that the previous resolution was flawed;

12.3.2 Writing Object Clauses

How to Write Object Clauses

Core:
1. An embedded object clause normally uses declarative word order;
2. Even when the main clause is a question, the embedded clause does not use question inversion;
3. In short: use declarative word order inside an object clause;
1. Turn a statement into a that-clause
Add that before the statement and place the clause after the verb or expression that selects it;
Dr. Worm acknowledges （that）these figures are conservative.
that: Although omitted, it is not recommended to omit it;
We believe （that）consumers should have more control.
2. Turn a wh-question into an embedded clause
Keep the wh-word, but restore declarative subject–finite verb order;
We suddenly can't remember where we put the keys just a moment ago.
3. Turn a yes–no question into an embedded clause
Add if or whether before the clause; whether is often preferable in formal writing;
Yes–no question: Are other clients going to abandon me, too?
Answers generally only include yes or no;
After revision: I don't know if other clients are going to abandon me, too....

12.3.3 Usage and Position of Object Clauses

Summary: Usage of Object Clauses

Common principles
1. Embedded clauses normally use declarative word order;
2. A subordinator or interrogative word introduces the clause;
Method
1. Put the embedded proposition in declarative word order;
2. Choose an appropriate introductory word;
3. Choose it according to the missing meaning or grammatical role:
1. Time: when
2. Place: where
3. Person: who
4. Complete statement with no missing element: that
Example:
I know what you bought at the store yesterday;
I know what you bought at the store yesterday.

Summary: Position of Object Clauses

Core concept: Object clauses occur in three common grammatical environments;
1. Verb object:
Verb and simple object: transitive verb + clause;
Double-object pattern: transitive verb + indirect object (person) + object clause;
2. Object of a preposition;
3. Adjective + object clause (just understand);

Verb + Single Object Clause

... Scientists believe that intelligence can expand and fluctuate according to mental effort.
The that-clause answers “believe what?” and functions as the direct object of believe;
... Users could tell advertisers that they did not want to be followed
Supplement: non-finite verb + object
.. She wanted to know if vaccines come from animal research.
Supplement: Multiple object clauses
To filter out what is unique from what is shared might enable us to understand how complex cultural behavior arose and what guides it in evolutionary or cognitive terms.
what is unique: an object clause after filter out;
from what: preposition-object clause;
Supplement: A long object clause may be extraposed, with dummy it in the usual object position;
That kind of activity makes it less likely that the court's decisions will be accepted as impartial judgments
it is the dummy object; the that-clause is the extraposed semantic object;
Why is the object clause placed later:
1. In subject-verb-object-object complement, the object is followed by an object complement, so keeping a long object clause in its usual position would make the sentence difficult to process;
2. The object is too long;

12.4 Predicative Clauses

12.4.1 What is a predicative clause?

What is a predicative clause

Core concept: a subordinate clause functions as the subject complement after a linking verb;
Illustration:

12.4.2 Writing predicative clauses

How to write predicative clauses: The method is the same as for object clauses

Illustration:
Note: 'That' in object clauses can be omitted, but 'that' in predicative clauses cannot be omitted;

Examples

Part of the issue is that airports have only so much room for screening lanes.
Part of the problem is that airports have limited space;
This is where developing new habits comes in.
This is why repeated attempts at reform legislation have failed in recent years.

12.4.3 Position of predicative clauses

Composition

Subject + linking verb + subject complement
Common linking verbs:
1. Forms of be
2. Sensory linking verbs such as look, sound, and seem
3. Verbs such as remain and appear
A clause that follows a linking verb and functions as the subject complement is a predicative clause;
The most common is following a form of “be” used as the main linking verb;

Examples

yet the fact remains that the merger movement must be watched
remains: linking verb;
Human nature being what it is, most people stick with default settings.
The explanation for insensitivity to smell seems to be that the brain finds it inefficient to keep all smell receptors working all the time but can create new receptors if necessary.
After the verb 'be', it is followed by a long predicative clause;

12.5 Subject Clauses

This is an important exam point

12.5.1 What is a subject clause?

What is a subject clause

Core concept: a subordinate clause functions as the subject of the main clause;
Illustration:

12.5.2 Writing Subject Clauses

How to write subject clauses: Use the same internal word order as other noun clauses

1. In the subject clause, 'that' must be kept;
2. Use whether, not if, for an initial subject clause;
Composition:

Examples

That the seas are being overfished has been known for years.
And whether the community's work contributes much to an overall accumulation of knowledge is doubtful.
The opening And links this sentence to the previous one; it is not part of the subject clause;
The entire whether-clause is the subject of is doubtful;

12.5.3 Position of the subject clause

Composition

Core concept: The same subject clause can be placed at the beginning or end; their meanings are the same;
First type: at the beginning of a sentence
Note: At the beginning of a sentence = placed before the finite verb, not necessarily at the very beginning (for example, the very front may be an and);
Second: Place at the end of the sentence
Note: Use dummy subject it, then place the extraposed subject clause later;
Supplement: Initial and extraposed subject clauses can express the same proposition. Extraposition is often more natural when the clause is long; it is not inherently “more advanced”;

Examples

Just how people think is still far too complex to be understood...
The subject clause is at the beginning of the sentence;
how: How people think about this is already far too complicated;
Natural reformulation: It is still far too complex to understand just how people think.
What is needed is a technology of behavior...
The subject clause is at the beginning of the sentence;
This initial what-clause is already natural; *It is a technology of behavior what is needed is not a grammatical extraposition;
It did not matter what was done in the experiment...
The subject clause is at the end of the sentence (this is the most commonly used in graduate entrance exams);
Forward: What was done in the experiment did not matter...
It is becoming less clear, however, that such a theory would be a simplification...

12.6 Appositive Clauses

12.6.1 What is an appositive clause?

What is an appositive clause

Core Concepts:
1. An appositive/content clause follows a noun within the main clause;
2. It states the content of an abstract noun such as fact, idea, belief, or evidence;
Note: Not all nouns require explanation. Nouns that require explanation: abstract nouns (facts, ideas);
Illustration:
that introduces a clause giving the content of the preceding abstract noun;

12.6.2 Writing Appositive Clauses

How to write appositive clauses: Use the same internal word order as other noun clauses

Place the clause after the abstract noun it explains;
The most common pattern is abstract noun + that + declarative word order;
Illustration:

Examples

Evidence that the Lovelife program produces lasting changes is limited and mixed.
Evidence is limited and mixed.
Used to explain evidence: the Lovelife program produces lasting changes.
Since plants don't have nerve systems, the chances that they have consciousness are effectively zero.
The that-clause gives the content of the chances;
Main structure: the chances ... are effectively zero;
For my part, I have no idea whether Gilbert is a great conductor or even a good one.
The whether-clause gives the content of idea;

12.6.3 Position of appositive clauses

Position of appositive clauses

Core: placed after the abstract noun being explained;
Abstract nouns: idea, opinion, view, fact, evidence, question, doubt, reason, demand, theory, belief, possibility, chance, hope, contention, guarantee...

Examples

In other words, they all share a view that the international tax system has failed to keep up with the current economy.
Explain abstract nouns like view;
But the idea that the journalist must understand the law more profoundly than an ordinary citizen rests on an understanding of the established conventions and special responsibilities of the news media.

12.7 Summary

12.7.1 Key Points

Nominal clauses are divided into four categories: object clauses, predicative clauses, subject clauses, appositive clauses;
Noun clauses generally use an introductory word plus declarative word order;
Choose the introductory word according to meaning and grammatical role. Use that for a complete statement; that may often be omitted in an object clause;
The four types are distinguished by their grammatical positions and functions;

Position of Nominal Clauses

Object clause
Verb object
Verb and simple object: transitive verb + clause
Double-object pattern: transitive verb + indirect object (person) + object clause
Object of a preposition
Adjective + object clause
Predicative clause:
After a linking verb (most commonly a form of “be”)
Subject clause
Sentence beginning
Extraposed after dummy subject it
Appositive clause
After an abstract noun

12.7.2 Why Study Nominal Clauses

When expressing a concept, it is often necessary to use nominal clauses

When a sentence contains more information and a phrase cannot express meaning, clauses need to be used to convey information;
Many essay templates use noun clauses;