Lecture no.

3, Sentence Syntax, III

Lecture no. 3

II. OBJECT CLAUSES

A. DIRECT OBJECT CLAUSES
The Direct Object Clause discharges the function of a direct object to the predicate of the main clause within a
complex sentence.
1. Introductory elements
Similarly to subject clauses, Direct Object Clauses are introduced:
syndetically, by conjunctions that, if, whether
If and whether can introduce interrogative clauses, I wonder whether he is right or not.
the result being an indirect question or a
dependent alternative question (with the
correlative or).
Only whether can be followed directly by or not.
pronominal wh-elements. who, which, what, whoever, whatever,
When the wh- element is governed by a whichever
preposition, the preposition can be placed in initial He couldn’t remember on which shelf he
position (formal style) or in final position had placed it. / which shelf he had placed
(informal). it on.
adverbial wh-elements when, where, why, how
He asked me when I was to leave.
asyndetically deletion of the conjunction that after verbs such as I know he was lying.
believe, hear, hope, imagine, know, remember,
say, see, suppose, tell, think, understand (mostly
in informal speech with brief clauses).
In long, expanded sentences, especially when
there are words or phrases between the verb of the He had said, in a moment of reverie, that
main clause and the subject of the direc object our company was too limited for his great
clause – the conjunction that is obligatory because projects.
it clarifies the meaning of the whole sentence.
The conjunction that is never used after I wish,
I’d sooner, I’d rather etc I wish she were here.

2. Classes of verbs that trigger a Direct Object Clause

transitive verbs accept, acknowledge, affirm, announce, answer, appreciate, confess, declare, deduce, demand,
deny, desire, discover, doubt, dream, estimate, expect, explain, fancy, feel, figure (out), find,
forget, gather, guess, hear, imagine, imply, infer, know, learn, like, love, observe, own, plan,
postulate, predict, prefer, presume, profess, pronounce, propose, prove, provide, realize, recall,
reckon, recollect, recommend, remark, state, suggest, suppose, teach, testify, think, understand,
wonder, write etc.

2. The position of Direct Object Clause

final position
initial position
the direct object clause is anticipated by
the introductory pronoun it, according to
three patterns
a. verb + it + Direct Object Clause
b. verb + it + adjective + Direct Object
Clause
c. verb + it + prepositional object + Direct
Object Clause
in most cases He told me that I was right.
for emphatic reasons I thought I saw something. What it was I
(stylistic use) don’t know. (H.G. Wells).
after verbs such as
consider, find, make,
owe, put, take, think, I take it that she gives her consent.
I think it wrong that she didn’t go there.
I owe it to her that I am a teacher.

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Lecture no. 3, Sentence Syntax, III
4. Sequence of tenses in the Direct Object Clauses
Main Clause Direct Object Clause
a present pense or a any tense (according to meaning)
present perfect
Janet thinks her brother came last night.
I know she has read the letter.
I am sure he will come tomorrow.
a future tense any tense (according to meaning) except future
I’ll tell you what I saw /what I know.
I will tell her that I need her help tomorrow.
a past tense Past Tense for simultaneity
Present Tense to refer to general or universal truths, or to lasting,
INDICATIVE prolonged situations
Past Perfect for anteriority
MOOD Future in the Past for subsequence
Future to express general or universal truths
I knew he was there.
I saw he was stealing something from a man’s pocket.
The pupils were
taught that the earth is round.
I realized that he is a Hungarian.
He asked Adam if he had ever been to Romania.
She knew her father would come the following day.
We were said that the atomic energy used in science shall change the face of the
earth.
after a verb in the agree, arrange, ask, demand, desire, insist, move=suggest, propose;
main clause order, propose, recommend, regret, require, settle, suggest
expressing a request,
order or
recommendation
Main Clause Object Clause
the Analytic Subjunctive (with the auxiliary should) in BrE and
a Present Tense, colloquial or familiar style
a Past Tense the Synthetic Subjunctive (~the short Indefinite Infinitive) in
SUBJUNCTIVE American English, in formal style
Mr. Dombey
MOOD proposed that they should start. (Ch. Dickens)
Ivory insisted that he be present. (A.J. Cronin)
He recommended that the article be printed.
the verb wish
Main Clause Object Clause
wish(ed) Past Synthetic Subjunctive to express regret or present unreality

Past Perfect Synthetic Subjunctive to express regret for an action

not performed in the past
Analytic Subjunctive with the auxiliary would to express desire for
a future action or a polite request
I wish I were ten years younger. (I am sorry I am not younger).
I wish he hadn’t gone.
I wish I had told him the truth from the very beginning.
I wished I were ten years younger.;
I wished he hadn’t gone.
I wish the rain would stop for a moment.
after the verbs propose, recommend, suggest
INDICATIVE Main Clause Object Clause
or a Present Tense, Indicative Subjunctive
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Lecture no. 3, Sentence Syntax, III
SUBJUNCTIVE a Past Tense He recommends that He recommends that Mr. Smith should go
Mr. Smith goes. / go.
(colloquial)

5. Non-finite Direct Object Clauses

 an infinitival phrase (when the subject of the main clause is co-referential with that of the object clause);
I don’t know where I should go. – I don’t know where to go.
o Accusative+Infinitive construction, preferred in more formal language - after verbs of mental perception
(believe, consider, feel, find, guess, judge, know, suspect, think), the Direct Object Clause can be
transformed into an Accusative+Infinitive construction, that is the subject of the Direct Object Clause is
moved into the main clause in the position of a direct object:
I consider that he is a very sensible man. – I consider him to be a very sensible man.
- with verbs of physical perception (feel, hear, notice, see, watch), the infinitival construction is acceptable only when
the verbs refer to immediate physical perception; when they refer to mental perception, a Direct Object Clause should
be used.
I saw that he hit the cat . – I saw him hit the cat. (saw – physical perception)
I saw/felt that he disliked the cat. – * I saw him dislike the cat. (the asterisk marks that the sentence is
incorrect). (saw – mental perception)
- for verbs such as offer, promise, swear, threaten, vow, the infinitive constructions are possible only if there is identity
of the two subjects.
He promised me that he would clean the room. He promised me to clean the room.
He threatened me that I would clean the room. * He threatened me to clean the room.
 a gerundial phrase
He admitted that he had made the same mistake again. – He admitted having made the same mistake again.
Do you mind my/me making a suggestion?
I don’t like his visiting us so often.

▲ A variety of the direct object clause is THE PREDICATIVE ADJUNCT CLAUSE TO THE DIRECT
OBJECT (propoziţia predicativă suplimentară pe lângă complementul direct), introduced by as or what:
They made him what he is now.

B. INDIRECT OBJECT CLAUSES

The Indirect Object Clause discharges the function of an indirect object to the predicate of the main clause
within a complex sentence.
1. Introductory elements:
 relative conjunctive pronouns: who(m), what, who(m)ever, whatever, whichever preceded (governed) by the
preposition to
He told the story to whoever would listen. Give the ticket to who(m)ever you like.

C. PREPOSITIONAL OBJECT CLAUSES

The Prepositional Object Clause discharges the function of a prepositional object to the predicate of the main
clause within a complex sentence. It occurs after a number of prepositins which are required by certain verbs.

1. Introductory elements
o conjunctions: that, whether.
It all depends on whether he will sign the papers or not.
o pronominal wh-elements: who/whom, what, whoever/whomever, whatever, whichever
They couldn’t agree on who should tell him the bad news.
They were interested in what he was saying.
Think of what you are doing.
o adverbial wh- elements: when, where, why, how
There are many theories as to why the earth is warming up.
It all depends on how you are speaking to him.

2. The deletion of the preposition

 The preposition is always omitted /deleted when the clause is introduced by the conjunction that.

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Lecture no. 3, Sentence Syntax, III
He complained of unfair treatment. – He complained that he had been treated unfairly.
 The preposition is not deleted if the object that-clause is anticipated by the (semantically) empty pronoun it: He
insisted upon it that I was wrong.
 Intransitive verbs such as admit of, complain of, decide on, depend on, hope for, insist upon, worry about, etc. can
take either a prepositional object or a that-clause.
He decided on attending the University of California. – He decided that he would attend the University of
California.
 A large group of transitive verbs combine with a Direct Object (usually expressed by a [+animate] NP) and a
prepositional object or a that-clause: advise smb. of, assure smb. of, convince smb. of, inform smb. of, notify smb.
of, persuade smb. of. warn smb. of/against. etc.
He informed her of our willingness to help. – He informed the manager that he was was willing to work
overtime.

3. Sequence of Tenses in Prepositional Object Clauses

Main Clause Prepositional Object Clause
a present pense or any tense (according to meaning)
a present perfect
a future tense any tense (according to meaning) except future
a past tense Past Tense for simultaneity
Present Tense to refer to general or universal truths, or to lasting, prolonged
situations
Past Perfect for anteriority
INDICATIVE Future in the Past for subsequence
Future to express general or universal truths
MOOD We agreed upon it that his arguments were credible. (simultaneous action).
We informed our
colleagues that our project had been rejected by the board of directors. (anterior
action)
I hoped that my father would survive the surgical operation. (subsequent action)
after verbs be sorry / surprised / astonished / amazed / disappointed
expressing a
INDICATIVE psychological state
Main Clause Prepositional Object Clause
MOOD a Present Tense, Indicative Analytic Subjunctive
a Past Tense suggests that the whole stresses the subjective reaction, emotional
or sentence is a statement of attitude of the speaker (should + short
a fact (a report of a indefinite infinitive)
ANALYTIC reaction or evaluation)
I am surprised that your brother should object.
SUBJUNCTIVE I am surprised that your
brother objects. for anteriority, the Analytic Past Subjunctive
I was sorry she should have moved to another
town.

4. Non-finite Prepositional Object Clauses

A Prepositional Object Clause may be reduced to a gerundial phrase:
 a simple construction when the subject of the main clause is co-referential with that of the prepositional clause:
I am tired of being treated like a helpless person.
 a complex construction, when the subject of the subordinate clause assumes the form of the genitive case (formal
style) or of the object case (informal style):
I’m surprised at his / John’s paying me a visit.
I’m surprised him / John paying me a visit.

EXERCISES
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Lecture no. 3, Sentence Syntax, III
Exercise 1. Identify the nominal clauses and their function:
1. She confesses her love story to whoever is about.
2. Their marriage depends on whether their parents are willing to help them.
3. They’re not sure whether she’ll be successful with her new part.
4. The team knew that their chances were scanty and God only could still work miracles.
5. Never has she paid attention to whatever he says.
6. The kid always tells lies to whoever he meets on his way back home.
7. She was told that solitude was hard to stand for people like her.
8. I’m afraid she’s unhappy.
9. That he left town no one knew.
10. He could hardly know what he was talking about.
11. He’s glad she’s here.
12. They are such pious people that they give food and money to whoever comes to their place.
13. They were not certain that she would accept their suggestion.
14. His men told us that he was in the hands of a savage tribe.
15. The question is where she made such a deep impression.
16. “Charlotte's first letters were received with a good deal of eagerness; there could not but be curiosity to know how
she would speak of her new home, how she would like Lady Catherine, and how happy she would dare pronounce
herself to be; though, when the letters were read, Elizabeth felt that Charlotte expressed herself on every point exactly
as she might have foreseen.” (J. Austen)
17. “And have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but over-acuteness of the sense?” (E. A. Poe)
18. “She saw instantly that her cousin's manners were not altered by his marriage; his formal civility was just what it
had been… “ (Jane Austen)
19. “What I had taken for masonry seemed now to be iron, or some other metal, in huge plates, whose sutures or joints
occasioned the depression.” (E. A. Poe)
20. “I observed that the outlines of these monstrosities were sufficiently distinct, but that the colors seemed faded and
blurred, as if from the effects of a damp atmosphere.” (E.A. Poe)

Exercise 2. Change the following sentences to Past Tense paying attention to the rules of the sequence of tenses:
1. They say they live in the north. 2. I don’t know what their address is. 3. I’m afraid I have lost my wallet. 4. She
thinks she will finish the letter in ten minutes. 5. They say it may rain. 6. He says he has to wrap the package in
white paper. 7. Where do you think I can find her? 8. I hear she has been ill for a couple of days. 9. She doesn’t
believe everything they tell her. 10. I suppose she is right.

Exercise 3. Put the verbs in brackets in the correct tense form: 1. We were thinking what a pleasure it … (to be) to
go on a round trip. 2. She told me that before she … (to leave) the town she … (to visit) all her friends. 3. I am sure
I … (to get) a letter from her by Monday. 4. When I … (to ring) you up, your sister … (to tell) me you just … (to
leave). 5. I was sure that water … (to boil) at 100°C. 6. She was the woman who … (to look) after our children
while we … (to be) away. 7. We were sure it … (to rain) the following day. 8. Everybody was sure that after his
return from England, he … (to speak) English correctly. 9. He told me he … (to read) Shakespeare’s plays in the
original. 10. I didn’t know your brother … (to become) an engineer.

Exercise 4. Translate into English: 1. Ne-a spus că trenul va întârzia cu o jumătate de oră din cauza furtunii. 2.
Ştiam că nu este în stare de nimic şi nu se poate întreţine singur. 3. Nu cred că va ieşi curând din această încurcătură
în care s-a băgat singur. 4. Îmi dau seama că am greşit mult, având încredere în acei oameni. 5. Încă de pe atunci
ştia că apa fierbe la o sută de grade. 6. Mi-a răspuns că nu este în măsură să ne dea nicio explicaţie pentru ceea ce s-a
întâmplat şi a refuzat să facă orice alt comentariu. 7. Insistară ca vasul să fie încărcat imediat. 8. Ştiu că nu e un om
pe care îl poţi înşela uşor. 9. Îţi sugerez să te mai gândeşti înainte de a lua o hotărâre. 10. Au cerut creşterea
salariilor şi o primă de Crăciun. 11. Te sfătuiesc să-ţi păstrezi impresiile pentru tine. 12. Problema era că nu luase în
considerare toate detaliile. 13. I-am sugerat să-şi găsească altă slujbă dar nu m-a luat în seamă. 14. Eram surprinsă
că ei se comportă astfel.