§ 155. Like objects in a simple sentence, object clauses may vary in their relation to the principal clause and in the way they are attached to, the word they refer to or depend on.

1. An object clause may directly follow the word it refers to (a non-prepositional object clause). In this case it is parallel in function to a direct object.

Jon wondered if he had offended her.

I know when I am wasting time.

A typical most recurrent type of object clauses is indirect speech following verbs of saying.

He said he had never heard of it.

He asked me if I wanted to stay.

Object clauses of this subtype are more informative than their main clauses, the role of the latter being relegated to that of introducing the source of information.

Like subject clauses, object clauses may be preceded by the formal it, usually after the verbs to feel, to believe, to consider, to find, 16take, to like, to insist on, etc.

You may take it that it is a genuine check,.

I like it when people are nice to me.

I insist upon it that you tell me all the details.

You are to see to // that there should be no quarrel.

An object clause may refer to formal it followed by the objective predicative after the verbs to think, to find, to make, to consider, etc,

I found it strange that she could speak so calmly.

I think it necessary that you should go there at once.

He made it clear that his intentions were honest.

2. Object clauses parallel in function to in direct objects are very rare. However, they are possible, the necessary condition for it being that the object clause should be followed by a direct object.

You may give whoever you like any presents.

3. There are also cases when an object clause functions like a соgnate object to a verb.

He and his mamma knew very few people and lived what might have been thought very lonely lives,

4. An object clause may be joined to the main clause by the prepositions after, about, before, beyond, for, near, of, as to, except, etc. (a prepositional object clause). In this case it is parallel in function to a prepositional non-recipient object. If a preposition is very closely attached to the preceding verb or adjective (to agree upon, to call for, to comment upon, to depend on, to hear of, to insist on, to be certain of, to be sorry for, etc.) it generally precedes the object clause.

I am not certain of what he did.

I want to be paid for what I do.

Some prepositions which would be indispensable before nouns or gerunds used as objects are not always necessary before object clauses.

We insisted that he should stay with us. (We insisted on his staying with us.)

We agreed that the experiment should be stopped. (We agreed upon stopping the experiment.)

The preposition is retained when there is a formal object it followed by an object clause.

We insisted on it that he should stay with us.

We agreed upon it that the experiment should be stopped.

The complex sentence with an appositive (content) clause

§ 156. An appositive clause may be introduced by conjunctions (that, if, whether, as if, as though), conjunctive pronouns and adverbs (why, how). They are not separated by a comma and cannot be joined asyndetically.

Unlike an apposition in a simple sentence, ;which usually gives another name to the person or thing designated by the antecedent, an appositive clause discloses the meaning of a noun (which is also called the antecedent) with a very general meaning, such as; thing, reason, point, moral, comment, remark, probability, idea, fact, consequence, feature, etc. The following sentences can be given as examples:

The question whether it was he or his enemy was hotly discussed.

She had a strange sensation as if something had happened.

Andrew had a warm desire that the conversation might continue.

The question how and why those people got the information still worried him.

Appositive clauses may refer to a whole clause.

Cecilia at once noted what Stephen in his preoccupation had not ‑ that Hilary had come to tell them something.

She said it had only convinced her of what she had known from the first, that the creature had low taste.

The complex sentence with an attributive clause

§ 157. Attributive clauses function as modifiers to a word of nominal character, which is generally called the antecedent. Usually an attributive clause immediately follows its antecedent, although some types may occasionally be distant.

An attributive clause may be introduced by connectives ‑ relative pronouns (who, whose, whom, what, which, that, as), or relative adverbs (when, where, whence, wherein). The choice of relative word depends on the categorical meaning of the antecedent.

a) If the antecedent denotes a living being, the relative pronoun who, whom, whose, or that is used.

A man whose voice seemed familiar to me gave commands.

Those of Big Lanny's friends who saw him for the first time had to be told that he couldn't see.

b) If the antecedent denotes a thing or notion, the relative word which, whose, or that is used; of these that is less formal.

At this remark, to which he did not reply, Gerald's ears grew hot.

He went to the next house, which stood in a small garden.

C

Note:

Which may be used with reference to animals, although they are living beings.

He called back his dog, which returned obediently to its master.

lyde bowed and then took the cool hand that Myra extended to him.

c) If the antecedent is expressed by all denoting a living being the pronoun who or that is used; if it denotes a thing or notion only the pronoun that is generally used.

All that remained was to enter his name and send off the high entrance fees for the examination.

d) If the antecedent is expressed by everything, something, anything h nothing the relative pronoun that is generally used, or else the clause is joined asyndetically.

There was nothing in his face that spoke of his character.

Everything that you may want is in the wardrobe.

There was something in his low, languid voice that was absolutely fascinating.

e) If the antecedent is modified by the adjective only, the pronoun 'my, or by an adjective in the superlative degree, the attributive clause is introduced by the pronoun that or is joined asyndetically.

The only object that gave her satisfaction during those days was the white monkey.

This is the best chance that we have.

She could jump at any opportunity that she might have.

f) If the antecedent is modified by the demonstrative pronoun such, the relative pronoun as is used.

She was playing the piano with such feeling as couldn't he expected from a girl of her age.

g) After the antecedent modified by same, several relative expressions may be used:

the same children as..., the same person who..., the same island that..., the same time when..., the same place where..., etc.

h) Attributive clauses joined by the relative adverbs when, where, whence, whereon (rather obsolete) refer to antecedents designating spatial or temporal notions.

It is the hour when we sleep,

He turned to that huge globe whereon were marked all discoveries of the moment concerning the origin of modern Man...

i) The relative adverb why refers to antecedents denoting cause or reason.

They see no reason why they should not do so.

T

Note:

As the word-forms coincide, care should be taken not to confuse relative pronouns and adverbs with conjunctive pronouns and adverbs, which are used to introduce nominal clauses. The difference between the two functions lies in that the relative words always refer to an antecedent, whereas in the case of conjunctive words there is no such reference. Compare the following three sentences:

That is the place where we always meet. (a relative adverb)

That is where we always meet. (a conjunctive adverb)

I know where you always meet. (a conjunctive adverb)

ypes of attributive clauses