Like noun phrases, nominal clauses name a person, place, thing, or idea.

They may function as subject

(Why he did that is a mystery to be)object (I do not know why he did it) subject complement (the
problem is whether we need it) appositive (The question, whether we need it, has not yet been
considered) prepositional complement (They argued about how they should pay the bill. The decision
must depend on whether we need it ). The occurrence of nominal clauses is more limited than that of
noun phrases , because semantically the clauses are normally abstract, they refer to vents, facts and
ideas. The one exception is the nominal relative clause which may refer to persons and things and may
be alternatively analysed as a noun phrase.

There are five main types of nominal clauses

That –cluases: That he has been to America is unbelievable

Interrogative subclauses:Do you know whether the shops are open now. How the book will sell depends
on the author

Nominal relative cluases What John really needs is a wife

Nominal to –

+infinitive clauses: Forhim to be so rude with the boss was a huge misake

Nominal –ing cluases: On hearing the good news the were jumping for joy

Nominal that-clauses:

Subject: That his ideas were revolutionary is clear. That she is still alive is sheer luck.

Direct object:I noticed that he spoke English with an Australian accent. I told him that he was wrong

Subject complement: My assumption is that he knows our secret.

Appositive: Your assumption, that things will improve, is not well –founded

Complement of an adjective: We are glad that you came.

When the that clause is object, complement or postponed subject the conjunction that is often omitted
in informal use

I told him he was wrong.

I am sure he will come

It’s a pity you are leaving.

Nominal to-infinitive clauses can occur as

Subject: To be neutral in this conflict is out of question.

Direct object: he likes to relax

Subject complement: His ambition is to be a pilot

Appositive: His ambition, to be a pilot, was never fulfilled

Complement of an adjective I am eager to meet her

Extraposition is used with subject clauses: It is out of question to be neutral in this conflict

The presence of a subject in the to-infinitive clause normally requires the presence of the preceding for:

For your country to be neutral in this conflict is out of question.

Nominal -ing clauses participle clauses can act as

Subject Telling lies is wrong

Direct object No one enjoys being disturbed in the middle of the night

Subject complement What he likes best is playing the piano

Appositive: He was absorbed in his bobby, collecting stamps

Complement of an adjective: They are busy preparing for a test.

Complement of a preposition I am tired of being treated like a child.

When the –ing clause has a subject, there is sometimes a choice between genitive case (in formal style)
– I am surprised at John’s/ his making that mistake- and (in informal style) objective case (for personal
pronouns) or common case (for nouns)-I am surprised at him/John making that mistake-. There is a
traditional prescription in favour of the genitive : it is preferred if the subject is apronoun, the noun
phrase has personal reference and the style is formal. The genitive is alos preferred if the subject is
initial in the sentence: My forgetting her name was embarrassing.