Is this sentence correct?

Question

Hi.Nobody knew that how she felt.Is the above sentence correct?

Fivejedjon · Accepted Answer

Delete 'that'.

Persian Learner · Answer

Is how an adverb or a conjunction in the given sentence?

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Persian LearnerIs how an adverb or a conjunction in the given sentence?

Your original sentence is not grammatical.

Nobody knew that she felt that way.

Nobody knew how she felt.
See entry #12. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/how

Persian Learner · Answer

Nobody knew how she felt.

So, how is a conjunction in the above sentence, right? Can we say that how she felt is a noun clause? If so, how is in fact a subordinating conjunction, right?

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Persian LearnerCan we say that how she felt is a noun clause?

Yes.

Persian LearnerIf so, how is in fact a subordinating conjunction, right?

Yes, in the sense that the noun clause is a subordinate clause, and "how" is a conjunction.

CalifJim · Answer

Persian LearnerNobody knew how she felt. So, how is a conjunction in the above sentence, right? Can we say that how she felt is a noun clause? If so, how is in fact a subordinating conjunction, right?

how is an interrogative adverb in the indirect question how she felt. The corresponding direct question is How did she feel?

Negated know can take an indirect question as its complement. Negation can take forms such as nobody, never, or not.

I didn't know [when they left / how she felt / what they did / where you were / who they talked to / ...].

Corresponding direct questions: When did they leave? How did she feel? What did they do? Where were you? Who did they talk to?

Note: wonder and remember can also take indirect questions as complements. I wonder when they left, etc.

In traditional grammar all these indirect question complements are indeed called noun clauses.

CJ

Persian Learner · Answer

So, if how is an adverb in the following sentence, is the whole sentence simple or complex?

Nobody knew how she felt.

CalifJim · Answer

Persian LearnerSo, if how is an adverb in the following sentence, is the whole sentence simple or complex?Nobody knew how she felt.

"how she felt" is a dependent clause, so the sentence has to be complex. According to the definition I'm most familiar with, "complex" means there's at least one dependent (subordinate) clause in the sentence.

CJ

Persian Learner · Answer

Finally, can I say that the form of how in the given sentence is interrogative adverb and its function is subordinating conjunction?

CalifJim · Answer

Persian LearnerFinally, can I say that the form of how in the given sentence is interrogative adverb and its function is subordinating conjunction?

It's an interrogative adverb, and its function is to modify the verb "felt".

In my opinion, you can't use "form words" (determiner, noun, adjective, verb, adjective, preposition, conjunction) when describing functions (subject, direct object, complement, modifier, ...), so you can't say the function is a conjunction.

Others may have different opinions, but I don't see any conjunction in that sentence. All you have there is an interrogative clause complement (how she felt).

Note well that in your course work in preparation for your exams, the terminology may be different, so when you take your exam, you have to use the terms they want you to use. Some of what we tell you on this forum might not be what they are expecting. You'll have to use your own judgment on this.

CJ

Is this sentence correct?

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions