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Persian Learner Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

What clause?

Hi.

I am unsure if he is coming.

I saw in a video clip that a native teacher said the underlined part is a noun clause and if is noun conjunction. But it is in contrast with what I've learned so far-- it is an adverbial clause because it modifies the adjective unsure.
  

Top answer

I agree with you. A noun cannot fit in that position. In careful English it should be "I am unsure whether he is coming", in my opinion, though "if" would be common in everyday English.

— GPY

  • I agree with you.
  • A noun cannot fit in that position.
  • In careful English it should be "I am unsure whether he is coming", in my opinion, though "if" would be common in everyday English.
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29 Answers
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I agree with you. A noun cannot fit in that position.

In careful English it should be "I am unsure whether he is coming", in my opinion, though "if" would be common in everyday English.
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Persian Learnerin contrast with what I've learned so far-- it is an adverbial clause because it modifies the adjective unsure.
No. That clause is a complement of "unsure", not a modifier. ("very" in "very unsure" would be a modifier.) "if/whether he is coming" is an indirect yes-no question.

direct ............ > indirect .......................
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CalifJimIt is common to omit "about" after "unsure"
Is it? I can't think of any case where you can say "I am unsure + noun", omitting "about". For example, you can say "I am unsure about the answer", but not "I am unsure the answer". To me, this indicates that "if he is coming" in "I am unsure if he is coming" does not have the role of a noun. Also, "I am unsu
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CalifJimso don't know where you got that from
I got it from here.
CalifJimMaybe it was "noun clause conjunction"?
Yes.

What about the following sentence?

I am happy that you have decided to come.
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Persian LearnerI am happy that you have decided to come
"that you have decided to come" is a noun clause (form) and complement of the adjective "happy" (function).
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GPYI can't think of any case where you can say "I am unsure + noun", omitting "about".
I meant with a clause.

I'm unsure about the answer, but I'm unsure (about) whether it happened.

CJ
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Persian LearnerWhat about the following sentence? I am happy that you have decided to come. He also brands the underlined part as a noun clause. Is it?
Within his terminology it is a noun clause. Yes. A lot of people these days are calling it a content clause, but it's the same idea.

You should note that there is a bit of a problem with all these on
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Persian LearnerI am happy that you have decided to come. He also brands the underlined part as a noun clause. Is it?
No. In "I know that you have decided to come", it would be a noun clause. It cannot be a noun clause in "I am happy that you have decided to come" because "I am happy + noun" makes no grammatical sense.
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GPYam happy + noun" makes no grammatical sense.
But "happy + complement" makes gramatical sense. There is a difference between the grammatical function and grammatical form. There are three grammatical forms which complement adjectival phrase: prepositional phrases (happy about/with...), verb phrases (happy to be...), noun clauses (happy that...).
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AnonymousBut "happy + complement" makes gramatical sense. There is a difference between the grammatical function and grammatical form. There are three grammatical forms which complement adjectival phrase: prepositional phrases (happy about/with...), verb phrases (happy to be...), noun clauses (happy that...).
In my opinion a noun clause should function as a no
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