Gerunds, Infinitives and Participles
 
Compounding and Coordination
 
Subordination
 
Subordinate Adverb Clauses
 
Subordinate Noun Clauses
 
Subordinate Adjective Clauses
 
Reduced Subordinate Clauses
 
Focus Structures
 
Logical Connectors

 

Sentence Complexity and Embedding

Subordinate Noun Clauses

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Activity 15.3: Noun Clause Sentence Structure

Each sentence below is a complex sentence with a noun clause in it.  Draw a vertical line to separate the subordinate clause from the main clause.  Then describe the differences in structure and meaning between the two sentences in each pair.

1. That he stole a necklace | is indisputable.
2. It is indisputable | that he stole a necklace.

3. That Lisa won the lottery | is true.
4. It is true | that Lisa won the lottery.

5. That I could lift a Hummer | surprised everyone.
6. It surprised everyone | that I could lift a Hummer.

7. Whether he likes fish | is unimportant.
8. It is unimportant | whether he likes fish.

9. If he likes fish | is unimportant.
10. It is unimportant | if he likes fish.

Differences:

The first sentence in each pair has a noun clause subject in a matrix clause.

The second sentence in each pair has a noun clause subject, but it has been moved to the end of the sentence, and the dummy subject it has been added to the empty subject slot in the matrix clause. This turns the matrix clause into an independent clause.

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