Finding the Base Clause (of Sentences with Noun Clauses)
Almost every sentence in the English language can be boiled down to one of five basic clause patterns:
equative (S=C) |
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intransitive (SV) |
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transitive (SVO) |
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ditransitive (SVOiOd) |
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dummy subject |
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Let's analyze a few sentences with noun clauses, just for fun.
In each of the following examples, the highlighted words form a noun clause, and therefore they can be treated like one big noun.
Example 1:
- That John is a doctor is a well-known fact.
What's the subject of that sentence?
- That John is a doctor
What's the main verb?
- is
What is the complement? (In other words, what is the subject equal to?)
- a well-known fact.
- Hence, the pattern of the main clause is equative (S=C).
Example 2:
- The truth is that Billy was not very smart.
In this case, the noun clause is the complement. It "completes" the main clause by telling us what "the truth" is equal to. Again, the pattern of the main clause is equative (S=C).
Example 3:
- Islam holds that the sole of a shoe is unclean.
Here, the subject of the main clause is "Islam". The main verb is "holds". What does Islam hold? It holds "that the sole of a shoe is unclean". That noun clause is the object of the verb. Hence, the pattern of the main clause is SVO, or transitive.
Example 4:
- The teacher told me that I did well.
This pattern ditransitive (SVOiOd).
- "The teacher" is the subject.
- "told" is the main verb.
- "me" is the indirect object.
- "that I did well" is the direct object.
Example 5:
- It is strange that she hasn't called yet.
Did you catch the dummy subject? Remember, any sentence that starts with the following words is a dummy subject pattern.
- There is / There was / There has been
- It is / It was / It has been
Instructions for the Quiz
Identify the pattern of the main clause.
To make things a bit easier for you, I have highlighted the noun clause, which means that the highlighted words can be treated like one big noun.
Quiz