Higher Lessons in English by Alonzo Reed and Brainerd Kellogg (small books to read TXT) 📖

The +noun clause+ may be used as +object complement+.

8. Galileo taught that the earth moves.

that

––- ‘

earth | ‘ moves ––|––- the | | Galileo | taught | / =========|============== |

+Explanation+.—Here the clause introduced by that is used like a noun as the object complement of taught.

9. The Esquimau feels intuitively that bear’s grease and blubber are the dishes for his table. 10. The world will not anxiously inquire who you are. 11. It will ask of you, “What can you do?” 12. The peacock struts about, saying, “What a fine tail I have!” 13. He does not know which to choose.

(See explanation of (7), above.)

14. No one can tell how or when or where he will die. 15. Philosophers are still debating whether the will has any control over the current of thought in our dreams.

*

LESSON 72.

NOUN CLAUSE—CONTINUED.

Analysis.

The +noun clause+ may be used as +attribute complement+.

1. A peculiarity of English is, that it has so many borrowed words. 2. Tweed’s defiant question was, “What are you going to do about it?” 3. The question ever asked and never answered is, “Where and how am I to exist in the Hereafter?” 4. Hamlet’s exclamation was, “What a piece of work is man!” 5. The myth concerning Achilles is, that he was invulnerable in every part except the heel.

The +noun clause+ may be used as +explanatory modifier+.

6. It has been proved that the earth is round.

that

––- ‘

earth | is ‘ round ––|––––— the | | It (/ ) | has been proved ==========|================== |

+Explanation+.—The grammatical subject it has no meaning till explained by the noun clause.

7. It is believed that sleep is caused by a diminution in the supply of blood to the brain. 8. The fact that mold, mildew, and yeast are plants is wonderful. 9. Napoleon turned his Simplon road aside in order that he might save a tree mentioned by Caesar.

+Explanation+.—Unless in order that is taken as a conjunction connecting an adverb clause of purpose (see (7), Lesson 65), the clause introduced by that is a noun clause explanatory of order. [Footnote: A similar explanation may be made of on condition that, in case that, introducing adverb clauses expressing condition.]

10. Shakespeare’s metaphor, “Night’s candles are burnt out,” is one of the finest in literature. 11. The advice that St. Ambrose gave St. Augustine in regard to conformity to local custom was in substance this: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” 12. This we know, that our future depends on our present.

The +noun clause+ may be used as +principal term+ of a +prepositional phrase+.

13. Have birds any sense of why they sing?

birds | Have | sense =======|================ they | sing | any –—|–– of | why / -––––

+Explanation+.—_Why they sing_ is an indirect question, here used as the principal term of a prepositional phrase.

14. There has been some dispute about who wrote “Shakespeare’s Plays.” 15. We are not certain that an open sea surrounds the Pole.

+Explanation+.—By supposing of to stand before that, the noun clause may be treated as the principal term of a prepositional phrase modifying the adjective certain. By supplying of the fact, the noun clause will become explanatory.

16. We are all anxious that the future shall bring us success and triumph. 17. The Sandwich Islander is confident that the strength and valor of his slain enemy pass into himself.

*

LESSON 73.

COMPOSITION—NOUN CLAUSE.

+COMMA—RULE.—The Noun Clause used as attribute complement is generally set off by the comma.+

+Remarks+.—Present usage seems to favor the omission of the comma with the clause used as subject or as object complement, except where the comma would contribute to clearness.

The punctuation of the explanatory clause is like that of other explanatory modifiers. See Lesson 34. But the real subject made explanatory of it is seldom set off. See next Lesson for the punctuation of noun clauses that are questions or quotations.

+Direction+.—_Give the reasons for the use or the omission of the comma with the noun clauses in the preceding Lesson_.

By using it as a substitute for the subject clause, this clause may be placed last.

+Example+.—_That the story of William Tell is a myth_ is now believed = It is now believed that the story of William Tell is a myth.

+Direction+.—_By the aid of the expletive it, transpose five subject clauses in Lesson 71_.

Often the clause used as object complement may be placed first.

+Direction+.—_Transpose such of the clauses used as object complements, in the preceding Lessons, as admit transposition. Punctuate them if they need punctuation_.

The noun clause may be made prominent by separating it and inserting the independent clause between its parts,

+Example+.—The story of William Tell, it is now believed, is a myth. (Notice that the principal clause, used parenthetically, is set off by the comma.)

+Direction+.—_Write the following sentences, using the independent clauses parenthetically_:—

1. We believe that the first printing-press in America was set up in Mexico in 1536. 2. I am aware that refinement of mind and clearness of thinking usually result from grammatical studies. 3. It is true that the glorious sun pours down his golden flood as cheerily on the poor man’s cottage as on the rich man’s palace.

+Direction+.—_Vary the following sentence so as to illustrate five different kinds of noun clauses_:—

+Model+.— 1. That stars are suns is the belief of astronomers. 2. Astronomers believe that stars are suns. 3. The belief of astronomers is, that stars are suns. 4. The belief that stars are suns is held by astronomers. 5. Astronomers are confident that stars are suns.

1. Our conclusion is, that different forms of government suit different stages of civilization.

The noun clause may be contracted by changing the predicate to a participle, and the subject to a possessive.

+Example+.—_That he was brave_ cannot be doubted = His being brave cannot be doubted.

+Direction+.—_Make the following complex sentences simple by changing the noun clauses to phrases_:—

1. That the caterpillar changes to a butterfly is a curious fact. 2. Everybody admits that Cromwell was a great leader. 3. A man’s chief objection to a woman is, that she has no respect for the newspaper. 4. The thought that we are spinning around the sun at the rate of twenty miles a second makes us dizzy. 5. She was aware that I appreciated her situation.

The noun clause may be contracted by making the predicate, when changed to an infinitive phrase, the objective complement, and the subject the object complement.

+Direction+.—_Make the following complex sentences simple by changing the predicates of the noun clauses to objective complements, and the subjects to object complements_:—

+Model+.—King Ahasuerus commanded that Haman should be hanged = King Ahasuerus commanded Haman to be hanged.

1. I believe that he is a foreigner. 2. The Governor ordered that the prisoner should be set free. 3. Many people believe that Webster was the greatest of American statesmen. 4. How wide do you think that the Atlantic ocean is? 5. They hold that taxation without representation is unjust.

+Direction+.—_Expand into complex sentences such of the sentences in Lesson_ 41 as contain an objective complement and an object complement that together are equivalent to a clause.

A noun clause may be contracted to an infinitive phrase.

+Example+.—_That he should vote_ is the duty of every American citizen = To vote is the duty of every American citizen.

+Direction+.—_Contract these noun clauses to infinitive phrases_:—

1. That we guard our liberty with vigilance is a sacred duty. 2. Every one desires that he may live long and happily. 3. The effect of looking upon the sun is, that the eye is blinded. 4. Caesar Augustus issued a decree that all the world should be taxed. 5. We are all anxious that we may make a good impression. 6. He does not know whom he should send. 7. He cannot find out how he is to go there.

*

LESSON 74.

COMPOSITION—NOUN CLAUSE—CONTINUED.

+QUOTATION MARKS—RULE.—Quotation marks (””) inclose a copied word or passage+.

+Remarks+.—Single marks (‘ ‘) inclose a quotation within a quotation. If, within the quotation having single marks, still another quotation is made, the double marks are again used; as, “The incorrectness of the dispatches led Bismarck to declare, ‘It will soon come to be said, “He lies like the telegraph.”’” This introduction of a third quotation should generally be avoided, especially where the three marks come at the end, as above.

When a quotation is divided by a parenthetical expression, each part of the quotation is inclosed; as, “I would rather be right,” said Clay, “than be president.”

In quoting a question, the interrogation point must stand within the quotation marks; as, He asked, “What are you living for?” but, when a question contains a quotation, this order is reversed; as, May we not find “sermons in stones”? So also with the exclamation point.

+CAPITAL LETTER—RULE.—The first word of a direct quotation making complete sense or of a direct question introduced into a sentence should begin with a capital letter+.

+Remarks+.—A +direct quotation+ is one whose exact words, as well as thought, are copied; as, Nathan said to David, “Thou art the man.” An +indirect quotation+ is one whose thought, but not whose exact words, is copied; as, Nathan told David that he was the man. The reference here of the pronoun he is somewhat ambiguous. Guard against this, especially in indirect quotations.

The direct quotation is set off by the comma, begins with a capital letter, and is inclosed within quotation marks—though these may be omitted. The indirect quotation is not generally set off by the comma, does not necessarily begin with a capital letter, and is not inclosed within quotation marks.

A +direct question+ introduced into a sentence is one in which the exact words and their order in an interrogative sentence (see Lesson 55) are preserved, and which is followed by an interrogation point; as, Cain asked, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” An +indirect question+ is one which is referred to as a question, but not directly asked or quoted as such, and which is not followed by an interrogation point; as, Cain asked whether he was his brother’s keeper.

The direct question introduced into a sentence is set off by the comma (but no comma is used after the interrogation point), begins with a capital letter, and is inclosed within quotation marks—though these may be omitted. An indirect question is not generally set off by a comma, does not necessarily begin with a capital letter, and is not inclosed within quotation marks.

If the direct quotation, whether a question or not, is formally introduced (see Lesson 147), it is preceded by the colon; as, Nathan’s words to David were these: “Thou art the man.” He put the question thus: “Can you do it?”

+Direction+.—_Point out the direct and the indirect quotations and questions in the sentences of Lesson_ 71, tell why they do or do not begin with capital letters, and justify the use or the omission of the comma, the interrogation point, and the quotation marks.

+Direction+.—_Rewrite these same sentences, changing the direct quotations and questions to indirect, and the indirect to direct_.

+Direction+.—_Write five sentences containing direct quotations, some of which shall be formally introduced, and some of which shall be questions occurring at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence. Change these to the indirect form, and look carefully to the punctuation and the