A clause is a grammatical structure that consists of a subject and a predicate. Dependent or subordinate clauses are clauses that cannot function independently as complete sentences but that must appear with another independent or main clause. Noun clauses are a type of dependent clause that perform nominal functions.
In grammar, an object complement is a word, phrase, or clause that directly follows and describes or completes the direct object of an attributive ditransitive verb. In addition to nouns, noun clauses also perform the grammatical function of object complement. Examples of noun clauses as object complements include the following:
- The judges will announce the winner whoever brought the green velvet cake.
- The assessment committee announced the problem us refusing to try new procedures.
- Most critics consider one theme of the story what you wrote about in your final paragraph.
- You may call your husband whatever you wish.
- I declare the problem that you do not want to learn about grammar.
- The committee has announced the winner whoever wrote the essay on noun clauses.
Noun Clause as Object Complement
References
Brinton, Laurel J. & Donna M. Brinton. 2010. The linguistic structure of Modern English, 2nd edn. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Hopper, Paul J. 1999. A short course in grammar. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
Huddleston, Rodney. 1984. Introduction to the grammar of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
