clause

Question

How to defer a noun clause used as an appositive clause from adjective  clause?

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Do you perhaps mean, "How do you distinguish a noun clause used as an appositive from an adjective clause?"

Regards, - A.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousHow to ~~defer~~ differentiate a noun clause used as an appositive clause from adjective clause?

I assume you are referring only to cases of a that-clause.

Usually, it's an appositive clause if it follows a noun which denotes an entity with informational content, such as 'fact', 'proposal', or 'suggestion'. The clause tells the contents of the entity in question.

I suddenly had the thought that someone was following me. ("Someone was following me" was the thought.)
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Otherwise it's usually adjectival, as when the noun denotes only a person or object.

That's not the book that I read last month.
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Note that in the case of apposition, the clause is complete in itself. That is, the noun that precedes is not needed to complete it. (Someone was following me. 'thought' is not part of it.) In the case of a relative (adjective) clause, the noun that precedes must be drawn into the clause to complete it. (I read the book last month. Not just 'I read last month'.)
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Ambiguity is possible, so there are cases where you cannot differentiate between the two clause types without selecting a particular reading of the sentence that you wish to analyze.

The suggestion that she had stolen from Jerry was preposterous.

Two meanings:

1. Someone suggested that she had stolen (something) from Jerry. This was a preposterous idea.
2. Jerry had a suggestion — a preposterous suggestion. She had stolen that suggestion from him.

1 is a case of an appositive clause.
2 is a case of a relative (adjectival) clause.

CJ

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