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Moon7296 Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

a clause or phrase?

1. [What he said] was interesting.

My book explains that the part in the square brackets is a cluase, and not a phrase.
As far as I know it should be a phrase. [What he said = The thing that he said] was interesting.
"The thing" is tied with "that he said." The head is "the thing."
Isn't the way I see "what he said" as a phrase correct?
  

Top answer

moon7296 My book explains that the part in the square brackets is a clause, Your book is right. There is a subject (he) and a verb (said). Noun clauses can be objects as well as subjects.

  • moon7296 My book explains that the part in the square brackets is a clause, Your book is right.
  • There is a subject (he) and a verb (said).
  • Noun clauses can be objects as well as subjects.
  • I know what he said.
  • He was questioned about what he said.
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1 Answers
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moon7296My book explains that the part in the square brackets is a clause,
Your book is right. There is a subject (he) and a verb (said).

Noun clauses can be objects as well as subjects.

I know what he said.

He was questioned about what he said.

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