Noun Clause Devices

Lesson 31Joseph C. Blumenthal

A noun clause is one that is used as a .

A noun clause is one that is used as a noun.

Many noun clauses begin with the clause signal that.

That I had saved the receipt was fortunate.

The noun clause is the of the verb was.

Many noun clauses begin with the clause signal that.

That I had saved the receipt was fortunate.

The noun clause is the subject of the verb was.

Using a “that” noun clause at the beginning of a sentence sounds rather stiff and formal for ordinary conversation.a. That I had saved the receipt was fortunate.b. It was fortunate that I had saved the receipt.

Which sentence sounds more informal? __

Using a “that” noun clause at the beginning of a sentence sounds rather stiff and formal for ordinary conversation.a. That I had saved the receipt was fortunate.b. It was fortunate that I had saved the receipt.

Which sentence sounds more informal? b

That I had saved the receipt was fortunate.

. . . was fortunate that I had saved the receipt.

Moving the noun clause to the end of the sentence leaves a gap that must be filled before the verb .

That I had saved the receipt was fortunate.

. . . was fortunate that I had saved the receipt.

Moving the noun clause to the end of the sentence leaves a gap that must be filled before the verb was.

It was fortunate that I had saved the receipt.

We fill the gap left as a result of moving the noun clause with the introductory word .

It was fortunate that I had saved the receipt.

We fill the gap left as a result of moving the noun clause with the introductory word It.

That anyone should believe this story seems absurd.It seems absurd that anyone should believe this story.

After moving the noun clause to the end of the sentence, we put the introductory word It in the (subject, object) position, which has become vacant.

That anyone should believe this story seems absurd.It seems absurd that anyone should believe this story.

After moving the noun clause to the end of the sentence, we put the introductory word It in the (subject, object) position, which has become vacant.

That the weather affects people’s moods has been proved.

Supply the missing words, using the introductory word It: that the weather affects people’s moods.

That the weather affects people’s moods has been proved.

Supply the missing words, using the introductory word It: It has been proved that the weather affects people’s moods.