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Pymoonlight Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
reduced noun clause
hello:
I'm learning reduced noun clause. I wonder if the 'that' clause in the first sentence can be reduced to an infinitive phrase. According to the grammar rules I learned, if the main sentence and dependent clause both have the same subject, dependent clause could be reduced to a phrase. Are both sentences has the same meaning?
1.I was afraid that I might hurt him.
2. I was afraid to hurt him.
I'm learning reduced noun clause. I wonder if the 'that' clause in the first sentence can be reduced to an infinitive phrase. According to the grammar rules I learned, if the main sentence and dependent clause both have the same subject, dependent clause could be reduced to a phrase. Are both sentences has the same meaning?
1.I was afraid that I might hurt him.
2. I was afraid to hurt him.
Top answer
The meaning of 1 and 2 is different: 1 means you were concerned that your actions could do him harm. 2 means you hesitated to do him harm. The problem in the above two sentences is that the clause, "that I might hurt him," does not function as a noun in the sentence.
- The meaning of 1 and 2 is different: 1 means you were concerned that your actions could do him harm.
- 2 means you hesitated to do him harm.
- The problem in the above two sentences is that the clause, "that I might hurt him," does not function as a noun in the sentence.
- It has an adverbial function.
- In the following, you have a clause that functions as a noun, and this can be replaced with an infinitive phrase, with no change in meaning: I decided that I would go.
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1 Answers
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The meaning of 1 and 2 is different:
1 means you were concerned that your actions could do him harm.
2 means you hesitated to do him harm.
The problem in the above two sentences is that the clause, "that I might hurt him," does not function as a noun in the sentence. It has an adverbial function. In the following, you have a clause that functions as a noun, and this ca
1 means you were concerned that your actions could do him harm.
2 means you hesitated to do him harm.
The problem in the above two sentences is that the clause, "that I might hurt him," does not function as a noun in the sentence. It has an adverbial function. In the following, you have a clause that functions as a noun, and this ca
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