* College English Grammar: Grammar and Writing Unit 14 Object clause and appositive clauses  Grammar: 1) Object clause 2) Appositive clauses Writing: Correcting: Mixed Construction Rewriting: Variety in sentence length 1. Object clauses When a noun clause functions as an object, it is called an object clause. Object clauses usually begin with subordinating words like how, why, what, where, when, who, which, whose, whether, if, that, etc. No comma is needed when the object clauses are used in the complex sentences. Why was he wanted by the police？ Daniel wondered the reason. ? Daniel wondered why he was wanted by the police. Has any decision been made? Do you know the question? ? Do you know whether/if any decision has been made? He is honest. No one doubts it. ? No one doubts that he is honest. Noun clauses that function as objects of prepositions are named object clauses too. Can we succeed? The question depends on this. How well do we cooperate? ? Whether we can succeed depends on how well we cooperate  She walked up to the place. I stood at the place. ? She walked up to where I stood. 1. As long as the main clause s verb is in neither the past nor the past perfect tense, the verb of the subordinate clause can be in any tense that conveys meaning accurately. Both of them will know that they have made a right choice. The teacher tells us when we will pay a visit to Mr. Jackson. 2. If the main verb of a sentence is in the past or past perfect, then verbs in the subordinate clause must also express a past viewpoint. She asked me where I was off to. I wondered how he could make such rapid progress in his study of French. 3. If the subordinate clause expresses what is commonly known as a general truth or fact, simple present tense is used even though the main verb of a sentence is in the past or past perfect: Columbus somehow knew that the world is round. The teacher told the students why the computer is a wonderful machine. 4. If there is a specific past time in the clause, past tense is used even though the action of the object clause occurs before the action of the main clause. She told her students that the English Channel was officially opened on March 7, 1994. No one knows how the Houses of Parliament was burned down in 1834. In everyday English, especially spoken English, the word that is usually omitted. But, the subordinating word that can not be omitted in the following cases: 1) when there are two or more object clause; He said that he couldn’t tell you right away and that you wouldn’t understand. 2) when there is a parenthesis between the predicate verb of the main clause and the object clause; Just then I noticed, for the first time, that our master was wearing his fine green coat and his black silk cap. 3) when that-clause is direct object of double objects; I must never tell anyone that I could not see the cloth. 4) when there is a logic object “it” before the real object. We think it important that we apply the theory into practice.  In addition, whether and if can replace each other in object clauses, but if can not be used when it goes after a preposition or when it go together with the phrase “or not” He wants to learn about whether the meeting has been cancelled. Please let us know whether you find the terms acceptable or not. 2. Appositive clauses Different from the appositives, the appositive clauses are not separated by a comma. They are familiar with the opinion. The opinion is this. All matter consists of atoms. ? They are familiar with the opinion that all matter consists of atoms. No one can settle the question. The question is this. Should the new rule be adopted? ? No one can settle the question whether the new rule should be adopted. Appositive clauses are usually placed immediately after the words they modify. But, if the main clause is short, the appositive clause of the subject can be placed at the end of the sentence as well. Maybe the enemy had fled the city. The thought came to him. ? The thought came to him that maybe the enemy had fled the city. Napoleon himself was coming to inspect them. The word came several years later. ? Several years later，the word came that Napoleon himself was coming to inspect them. In grammar, the subordinating words that introduce appositive clauses play no role in the clauses whereas the relative pronouns that introduce adjective clauses play roles in the clauses. They were all shocked at the news that Germany had declared war on Russia. They were all shocked at the news that was announced on the radio. Combine the sentences in each set into a single clear sentence containing at least one object clause or appositive clause. 1. How soon are they coming?I have no idea. ? I have no idea how soon they are coming. 2. Our team had won. We heard the news. ? We heard the news that our team had won. 3. You can cross Canada in less than five days The idea is just wrong. ? The idea that you can cross Canada in less than five days is just wrong. One of the boxes was extremely heavy.No one could account for the fact. ? No one could account for the fact that one of the boxes was extremely heavy. 5. Experts confirmed this.A puma is cornered.It will attack a human being. ? Experts confirmed that a puma will not attack a human being unless it is cornered. 6. The wallet must have been found by one of the villagers. Sam was sure of that.It was no returned to him. ? Sam was sure that the wallet must have been found by one of the villagers, but it was no returned to him. 7. I rang the bell.I was not surprised to see this.Mr. Smith was still as fat as ever. ? I rang the bell and was not surprised to see that Mr. Smith was still as fat as ever. Mixed Construction Sometimes we start to say something in one way, but in the middle of our statement, we make a change to say it in another way. A sentence that starts with one grammatical form and ends with another is called a mixed construction. The improperly mixed forms result in confusion. ? Some of the students were trapped in a cave have already been brought out. ? Some of the students trapped in a cave have already been brought out. ? There are so many people haven’t houses after the earthquake. ? There are so many people who haven’t houses after the earthquake. ? There are so many people without houses after the earthquake. ? So many people haven’t houses after the earthquake. Particular attention should be paid to the following mixed constructions. 1. Imperative sentence + is + the best way …. ? Don’t interfere with each other is the best way to keep friends. ? Not to interfere with each other is the best way to keep friends. ? Keep silent is the best policy when you are not clear about the situation. ? To keep silent is the best policy when you are not clear about the situation. To correct the problem, you can turn the imperative sentence into an infinitive phrase. *

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