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January 30, 2001
Clause Modifiers--Part III
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In the past two issues we've studied adjective and adverb clauses. This week we conclude our series on clause modifiers by discussing noun clauses.
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1. Noun clauses are dependent clauses; that is, they cannot stand alone but must be part of a longer sentence. Like simple nouns, noun clauses perform as subjects, objects, appositives, or complements.
EXAMPLES:
Everyone is asking why Donna divorced her husband.
[noun clause = "why Donna divorced her husband" = object of sentence]
How the fire started is the subject of speculation.
[noun clause = "How the fire started" = subject of sentence]
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2. Noun clauses begin with relative pronouns (who, whom, whomever, that) or subordinate conjunctions (how, where, wherever, whether, why).
EXAMPLES:
Who killed the cat is what everyone wants to know.
[noun clause = "Who killed the cat" begins with relative pronoun "who"]
Why the woman is crying is nobody's concern.
[noun clause = "Why the woman is crying" begins with "Why"]
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SPELLING OR WRITING TIP
LIE vs. LAY:
To avoid confusing these terms, keep in mind the following:
"Lay" requires a direct object to receive the action, as it means "to put" or "to place" something. The usual forms are lay, laid, and laid.
EXAMPLES:
Lay your hat on the desk, please.
He laid his briefcase on the counter before it exploded.
She had laid the sleeping child on her bed many times before.
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"LIE" (meaning "to rest" or "to recline") does not require an object. Its major forms are lie, lay, and lain:
Let me lie down for awhile.
She lay down every day after lunch following her surgery.
Having lain down for an hour, Jeffrey felt much better.
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WORD OF THE WEEK:
ACKNOWLEDGE (ak-nol-ij) verb: to confess, avow, or admit the reality or truth or something.
Will the sea captain acknowledge his role in the ship's leakage?
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YOUR GRAMMAR AND WRITING QUESTIONS
QUESTION: We have an ongoing "feud" in our office regarding quotation marks. Is there any time when a period or comma is placed outside the quote marks?
GRAMMARCHECK: In American English, commas and periods are placed before (or inside) a closing quotation mark except when the sentence is followed by a parenthetical citation:
EXAMPLES:
Marianne adopted the attitude of "wait and see."
When you use "ain't," expect someone to correct you.
BUT--
Bill Jerrick writes, "Music was always a comfort to me" (Jerrick 21).
Bill Jerrick wrote, "Music was always a comfort to me" (Jerrick 21), before dying.
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QUESTION: Would you please answer the following:
1. When combining two independent clauses with the conjunction "and," should a comma be used?
2. Should the abbreviation for time be capitalized (A.M.) or in lower-case letters (a.m.)?
3. When using a colon to set off information or a list, is it necessary to use the words "are as follows," "the following," or "these"?
Thanks for your help.
GRAMMARCHECK: Thanks for writing.
1. When combining two independent clauses using the conjunction "and," we recommend placing a comma before "and" to help signal the link as well as the break between the two clauses. However, some grammar books teach that the comma is optional.
2. The abbreviation for time may be capitalized, but more commonly it is not:
A.M.
-or-
a.m.
3. A colon should follow only a complete statement when introducing a list or additional information, as colons generally do not follow statements like "such as" or "like" when introducing such information:
WRONG:
Several clues appeared, such as: a knife, a flashlight, a camera.
CORRECT:
Several clues appeared, including the following: a knife, a flashlight, a camera.
-or-
Several clues appeared, such as a knife, a flashlight, and a camera.
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QUESTION: How would I punctuate the following sentence:
That that is is not that that is not is not that it.
GRAMMARCHECK: Whew! Let's have at it:
1. That that is is not that that is not--is not that it.
[translation: "That (which is) is not that (which is not)--is not that "it." (the last phrase apparently is used for emphasis)]
Here's another:
2. "That" that is, is not "that" (that is not), is not that "it."
One more:
3. That that is--is not that that is not; is not that it?
Perfectly awful, really! Other interpretations?
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QUESTION: I used the following phrase in an Internet post:
"So when I'm called stupid here, it really has no effect on me."
Many people e-mailed me saying I should have used "affect." I believe "effect" is correct. Could you please give me a ruling on this? Thank you.
GRAMMARCHECK: The primary meaning of "effect" is as a noun, meaning something brought about, a result; the way something acts upon or influences an object or person. On the other hand, "affect" principally serves as a verb meaning to have an influence or bring about a change in something. The restricted use of "affect" as a noun nowadays is limited to psychology.
Thus, your usage ("effect") is correct. Let no one call you "stupid" henceforth!
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