1) Nominal Clauses
There are five main types of nominal clauses: that-clauses,interrogative sub-clauses, nominal relative clauses, nominal to-infinitiveclauses and nominal -ing clauses. Nominal clauses function like nounphrases. They can occur as subject, object, complement, apposition, andprepositional complement.
For example:
The hope is [that we will succeed]. (complement)
The hope [that we will succeed] is unrealistic. (apposition)
[Whatyou do] does not concern me. (subject)
I didn’t ask [where you live]. (object)
I had prepared myself very carefully for [what I must say]. (prepositionalcomplement)
[To send him money now] would be [to put the cart before the horse].(subject; complement)
Practice
Combineeach pair of sentences into one, using nominal clauses.
① Did he evergo there at all? Do you know?
Do you know if/whether he ever went there at all?
② What do you need? You need a good rest.
What you need is a good rest.
③ Whodoes it belong to? You must give it back.
You must give it back to whoever it belongs to.
④I decided to resign, which was wise.
My decision to resign was wise.
⑤It is proposed that we shouldimport more equipment. The proposal is to be discussed at the meeting.
The proposal that we shouldimport more equipment is to be discussed at the meeting.
⑥Who can have told you that? It puzzles me.
Who can have told you that puzzles me.
2) so that
So that introduces an adverbialclause of purpose, which usually contains a modal verb.
For example:
The teachermust speak clearly [so that his students can understand well].
They climbedto the top of the mountain [so that they could get a bird’s-eye view of thecity].
Practice
Combine each pair of sentences into one, using “so that”.
① He wore glasses and a false beard. Nobody would recognizehim.
He woreglasses and a false beard so that nobodywould recognize him.
② They are hurrying. They don’t want to miss the train.
They arehurrying so that they may not miss the train.
③ Please arrive early. We want to be able to start themeeting on time.
Please arriveearly so that we can start the meeting on time.
④ John wanted to be heard in every room. He spoke through amicrophone.
John spokethrough a microphone so that he could be heard in every room.
⑤ Shelocked the door. She didn’t want to be disturbed.
Shelocked the door so that she wouldn’t be disturbed.
⑥ John has bought a bicycle. He may save money on fares.
John has bought a bicycle so thathe may save money on fares.
3) Adverbial Clauses of Concession
Adverbial clauses of concession express a contrast ofmeaning or implication of ‘unexpectedness’ in relation with the main clauses. They are oftenintroduced by concessive conjunctions such as although, though orprepositions such as despite.
For example:
[Althoughthe car was badly damaged], none of the passengers was hurt.
We enjoyedour holiday [despite the fact that it rained sometimes].
[Howeverdifficult the situation is], we shall stick to it.
Practice
Combine each pair of sentences into one, using adverbialclauses of concession.
① He had beenprevented by illness from studying. He passed the exam.
② He might beor not be here. I shouldn’t have time to see him.
③ Mr. Johnsonis rich. Mr. Johnson is by no means a happy man.
④ He is ill.He works hard.
⑤ The minister escaped without ascratch. Everything around the minister was blown to pieces.
