Nominal clauses in english and their vietnamese equivalents=mệnh đề danh ngữ trong tiếng anh và các cấu trúc tương đương trong tiếng việt

VINH UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

==== ?&@====

NOMINAL CLAUSES IN ENGLISH AND
THEIR VIETNAMESE EQUIVALENTS
(MỆNH ĐỀ DANH NGỮ TRONG TIẾNG ANH VÀ CÁC CẤU TRÚC
TƯƠNG ĐƯƠNG TRONG TIẾNG VIỆT)

GRADUATION THESIS
FIELD: LINGUISTICS

Supervisor: CAO THỊ PHƯƠNG, M.A.
Student:
NGUYỄN NHƯ HUỆ
Class:
47A - English

VINH, 2010

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Acknowledgements

For the accomplishment of this study, we have received a great deal of
support and assistance from many dedicated individuals.
First of all, I would like to express my thanks to the Directorial Board of the Foreign
Languages Department which awarded me an opportunity to do this thesis.
Secondly, I would like to express my faithful and deepest thanks to my

supervisor, Mrs. Cao Thi Phuong (M.A.), for her useful references, excellent
advices and readiness during my study process.
Thirdly, I want to show my gratitude to all teachers of Foreign Languages
Department who gave me useful advices and critical comments for the study.
My deepest thanks are for my beloved family and my friends who always
stand by my side and encourage me from my preparation until the completion of
this study.
Thank you to all!

Vinh, May 2010
Ngun Nh H

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List of Abbreviations

A:

Adverb

Adj:

Adjective

Co:

Object Complement

Cs:

Subject Complement

Eg:

Example

Od:

Direct Object

Oi:

Indirect Object

S:

Subject

V:

Verb

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Abstract

The importance of nominal clauses in English and their Vietnamese
equivalents in language teaching and learning has stimulated the author on this

study. When study English nominal clauses, we have to have a thorough
understanding of them as well as their sub – types and functions. In this thesis, the
author gives the background knowledge about sentences, clauses, sub – types of
clauses, especially nominal clauses and their functions in chapter I. In chapter II, the
author discusses about nominal clauses in English and their Vietnamese equivalents,
their similarities and differences. In addition, the study also gives out some
measures and suggested exercises to help students master English nominal clauses
and use them correctly.

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Table of contents

Acknowledgements ..............................................................................i
List of abbreviations ..........................................................................ii
Abstract.......................................................................................................iii
Table of contents ................................................................................iv
Part a: introduction............................................................................1
1. Reasons for choosing the study..................................................................1
2. Aims of the study.......................................................................................1
3. Research questions.....................................................................................2
4. Scope of the study.......................................................................................2
5. Methods of the study..................................................................................2
6. Design of the study.....................................................................................2
Part b: Investigation............................................................................4
Chapter I: Theoretical background.............................................4
1.1. Sentence........................................................................................................4
1.1.1. Definition of sentence................................................................................4
1.1.2. Structure of sentence..................................................................................5

1.1.3. Types of sentence.......................................................................................5
1.2. Clause............................................................................................................6
1.2.1. Definition of clause....................................................................................6
1.2.2. Elements of clause......................................................................................7
1.2.3. Classifications of clause.............................................................................9
1.2.3.1. Independent clauses..............................................................................9
1.2.3.2. Dependent clauses.................................................................................9
1.2.4. Functions of dependent clauses................................................................11
1.3. Nominal clauses in English .......................................................................12

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1.3.1. Definition of nominal clauses...................................................................12
1.3.2. Categories of nominal clauses..................................................................14
Chapter II: Nominal clauses in English and their
Vietnamese equivalents.....................................................................16
2.1. That nominal clauses...................................................................................16
2.1.1. That nominal clauses as subject................................................................16
2.1.2. That nominal clauses as direct object.......................................................19
2.1.3. That nominal clauses as subject complement...........................................21
2.1.4. That nominal clauses as adjectival complement.......................................22
2.1.5. That nominal clauses as appositive...........................................................22
2.2. The dependent interrogative clauses............................................................23
2.2.1. Wh – interrogative nominal clauses.......................................................24
2.2.1.1. Wh – interrogative clauses as subject..................................................25
2.2.1.2. Wh – interrogative clauses as direct object.........................................25
2.2.1.3. Wh – interrogative clauses as subject complement.............................28
2.2.1.4. Wh – interrogative clauses as adjectival complement.........................29
2.2.1.5. Wh – interrogative clauses as appositive.............................................29

2.2.1.6. Wh – interrogative clauses as prepositional complement...................30
2.2.2. Yes – no interrogative clauses ...............................................................31
2.2.2.1. Yes – no interrogative clauses as subject ...........................................32
2.2.2.2. Yes – no interrogative clauses as direct object....................................32
2.2.2.3. Yes – no interrogative clauses as subject complement.......................33
2.2.2.4. Yes – no interrogative clauses as adjectival complement ..................33
2.2.2.5. Yes – no interrogative clauses as appositive.......................................34
2.2.2.6. Yes – no interrogative clauses as prepositional complement..............34
2.3. Nominal relative clauses..............................................................................34
2.3.1. Nominal relative clauses as subject..........................................................35
2.3.2. Nominal relative clauses as direct object.................................................37

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2.3.3. Nominal relative clauses as indirect object..............................................38
2.3.4. Nominal relative clauses as subject complement.....................................39
2.3.5. Nominal relative clauses as object complement.......................................40
2.3.6. Nominal relative clauses as prepositional complement............................40
2.3.7. Nominal relative clauses as appositive.....................................................41
2.4. Nominal to – infinitive clauses..................................................................42
2.4.1. Nominal to – infinitive clauses as subject..............................................42
2.4.2. Nominal to – infinitive clauses as direct object.....................................43
2.4.3. Nominal to – infinitive clauses as subject complement.........................43
2.4.4. Nominal to – infinitive clauses as adjectival complement.....................43
2.4.5.Nominal to – infinitive clauses as appositive..........................................44
2.5. Nominal –ing clauses.................................................................................44
2.5.1. Nominal –ing clauses as subject.............................................................45
2.5.2. Nominal –ing clauses as direct object....................................................45
2.5.3. Nominal –ing clauses as subject complement........................................45

2.5.4. Nominal –ing clauses as appositive........................................................46
2.5.5. Nominal –ing clauses as prepositional complement..............................46
2.5.6 Nominal –ing clauses as adjectival complement.....................................46
2.6. Nominal bare infinitive and verbless clauses..............................................46
Chapter III: Some errors made by Vietnamese students
suggestions for teaching English nominal clauses......48
3.1. Predictions of errors made by Vietnamese students when learning
English nominal clauses...................................................................................48
3.1.1. Inversion between subject and verb in nominal interrogative clauses.....48
3.1.2. Subject and verb disagreement ................................................................49
3.1.3. Misuse of “whether” and “if” in yes – no interrogative clauses............49
3.1.4. Omission of “that” in that – clauses functioning as subject......................49

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3.1.5. Unsuitable change from quoted speech to reported speech......................50
3.2. Some actual errors that Vietnamese learners commit when learning
English nominal clauses...................................................................................51
3.2.1. Inversion between subject and verb in nominal interrogative clauses.....51
3.2.2. Subject and verb disagreement ................................................................52
3.2.3. Misuse of “whether” and “if” in yes – no interrogative clauses............52
3.2.4. Omission of “that” in that – clauses functioning as subject.......................53
3.2.5. Unsuitable change from quoted speech to reported speech......................54
3.3. Some suggestions for teaching English nominal clauses............................55
Part c: conclusion...............................................................................58
References
Appendix

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part a: Introduction

I. Reasons for Choosing the Study
Nowadays English has become an international language. It plays an important
role at enhancing the solidarity among the countries all over the world and it is also
used in every field of society. Realizing its importance, most of Vietnamese schools
choose it to be one of the obligatory subjects. However, learning English as a
foreign language brings learners certain problems, especially with English
construction. In this study, we choose the topic: “Nominal clauses in English and
their Vietnamese equivalents” for the following reasons:
Firstly, nominal clauses play an important role in both spoken and written
English. However, they are not easy to use and are one of the most difficult English
grammatical phenomenons, especially, with their sub - types and their functions.
Secondly, because of their difficulties, students often make mistakes or commit
errors when using English nominal clauses. Sometimes they cannot realize what
nominal clauses are and what functions they are acting.
For example, they may think “that – clauses” in these two following
sentences:
“1. The news that you told me is not true.
2. The news, that he has left home, is not true.”
are of the same type, that is, relative clause (or adjectival clause). In fact, these two
that – clauses are of absolutely different types: “that – clause” in the first
sentence is relative clause but “that – clause” in the second sentence is nominal
clause functioning as appositive.
Thirdly, being a student of English and a teacher of English in the future, we
should do something to help our students overcome these confusions so that they
can use English nominal clause in an excellent way with as few error as possible.
Finally, there has been no research on English nominal clauses and their

Vietnamese equivalents and the ways to help learners overcome the confusion until
recent years.

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II. Aims of the Study
Nominal clauses in English and their Vietnamese equivalents are a
complicated problem, causing confusion for Vietnamese students who learn English
as a foreign language. Thus, we would like to give an over view about this type of
clause in the two languages so that we can understand it and find it easy in learning
process. Our study is aimed at:
- Giving the description of English nominal clauses and their Vietnamese
equivalents.
- Illustrating the differences and similarities of nominal clauses in these two
languages.
- Offering suggestions for teaching English nominal clauses to Vietnamese students.
III. Research Questions
This study tries to find out the answers for the following questions:
1. What is a nominal clause?
2. What is the classification of English nominal clauses and the features of each
sub – type?
3. What are the differences and similarities between English nominal clauses
and their Vietnamese equivalents?
4. What are predicted errors Vietnamese students may commit when learning
English nominal clauses?
5. What are suggestions to the teaching of English nominal clauses?
IV. Scope of the Study
This thesis is about English nominal clauses, their sub – types and functions
of each type. Moreover, we concentrate on giving examples of nominal clauses in

English and their Vietnamese equivalents. Finally, we will offer Vietnamese
learners some suggestions to overcome errors in using English nominal clauses.
V. Methods of the Study
1. Descriptive method
2. Comparative and contrastive method
3. Analytic and statistical method
VI. Design of the Study

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The study is developed in three main parts:
Part A: Introduction:
1. Reason for choosing the study
2. Aims of the study
3. Research questions
4. Scope of the study
5. Method of the study
6. Design of the study
Part B: Investigation:
Chapter I: Theoretical Background
Chapter II: Nominal clauses in English and their Vietnamese equivalents
Chapter III: Some errors made by Vietnamese students and suggestions to
teaching English nominal clauses
Part C: Conclusion

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Part B: Investigation

Chapter I: Theoretical background

1.1.

Sentence

1.1.1. Definition of sentence
So far there have been a lot of concepts about sentence. Many people believe
that a sentence simply begins with a capital letter and ends with a full stop. In fact,
the term sentence is more complicated than they expected.
The traditional grammars defined sentence is the minimum part of language
that expresses a complete thought, and certainly some sense of completeness is
essential to it. They also considered a sentence as a group of words (composed of
words), or even one word which conveys a complete and self – contained message.
A linguistic definition of sentence must be in terms of its internal structure. A
sentence will be composed of certain specified elements in a certain order,
ultimately, of course, of word, or parts of word.
In addition, Bloomfied defined a sentence as “an independent linguistic form,
not included by virtue of any grammatical construction in any larger linguistic
form”. He considered the example: “How are you? It’s a fine day. Are you going to
play tennis this afternoon?” as three separate units, that is to say, three sentences.
(Palmer, 1994: 68).
Moreover, Tuyet extracted on her graduation thesis (2008) the Oshima –
Ann Hogue’s definition of sentence as: “A sentence is a group of words that you use
to communicate your idea in your writing or in speech. It is a complete, independent
unit of thought and consists of two main parts: a subject and a predicate.”
According to Leech and Svartvick (1992: 208), “Sentences are units made up
of one or more clauses. Sentences containing just one clause are called simple, and

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sentences that containing more than one clause are called complex”. In this thesis,
the author will follow these two authors’ definition of sentence.

1.1.2. Structure of Sentence
A sentence usually consists of two main parts: Subject and Predicate. The
Subject is the person, place, thing, or idea doing on being something. The Predicate
complete the thought of the sentence. It is usually the verbs that tell what the person,
place, thing, or idea is doing or being. In other words, Quirk et al (1972) said that
“the subject of the sentence has a close general relation” to “what is discussed”, “the
theme” of the sentence with the normal implication that something new. “The
predicate” is being said about a “subject” that has already been introduced in an
earlier sentence. The predicate is rather a “complex and heterogeneous” unit. They
divided it into auxiliary as operator and predication as follows:
Sentence
Subject

predicate.

auxiliary

predication

as operator
Eg:

She

has

visited Ho Chi Minh City twice

1.1.3. Types of Sentence
One traditional scheme for classifying English sentences is by the number of
types of finite clauses. According to structure, there are usually four main types of
sentence: simple sentence, compound sentence, complex sentence and compound –
complex sentence.
The simple sentence: contains a single independent clause. It may contain
a compound subject or a compound predicate or both. It may also contain
complements and modifiers, but it does not contain any dependent clause.
Eg:- The dog jumps.

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subject predicate
- Nam and Lan are two of my classmates.
compound subject
- Mr Brown owns and manages a big company.
compound predicate
- My sister and I went to Hanoi and brought home many souvenirs.
compound subject

compound predicate

The compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses with no
dependent clauses. These clauses are joined together by a coordinating conjunction.
They may also be formed with a semicolon.
Eg: The weatherman said that it will not rain today, but I will bring an

independent clause

independent clause

umbrella to school anyway.
(Frost,2003: 71)
The complex sentence contains one independent clause and one or more
dependent clause.
Eg: When Pat is twenty – one year old, he began to work in a small
dependent clause

independent clause

office in a city.
(Hill, 2003: 75)
The compound – complex sentence contains two or more independent
clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
Eg: Catherine finished typing her report before the deadline, but she
dependent clause

independent clause

lost the file when her computer crashed.
independent dependent clause
clause
(Frost, 2003: 71)
1.2.

Clauses

1.2.1. Definition of Clauses

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A clause is a part of a sentence that usually consists of a subject and a
predicate of its own.
Traditional grammars defined clauses which are “sentences that are part of
larger sentences”. This definition is strictly, self – contradictory, but it still
indicates what is meant, and illustrates a very important characteristic of natural
languages. They considered the term sentences as the “larger’ or “maximal”
sentences and clauses as the “minimal’ sentences. (Palmer (1994:71)).
According to Leech and Svartvick (1992), clauses are “the principal
structures of which sentences are composed”. They also indicate three important
ways in which clauses may be described and classified:
1) In terms of the clause elements (subject, verb, etc.) from which they are
constructed, and the verb patterns which are formed from these elements.
2) In terms of the amount of use which a clause makes of verb phrase
structure. Based on this, they distinguish between finite clauses, non – finite
clauses and verbless clauses.
3) In terms of clause function, that is to say, the function of a clause performs
in a sentence, such as: nominal clause (acting as a noun phrase) and adverbial clause
(acting as adverbial element), etc.
1.2.2. Elements of Clauses
There are five elements that can be part of a clause: subject(S), verb(V),
object(O), complement(C), and adverbial(A). Concentrating on those elements that
are normally obligatory, Quirk et al (1972: 343) distinguished seven clause patterns
as follows:
1. S + V(intransitive)
Eg:

All men must die.
S

V
(Nguyet & Tien, 2009: 220)

2. S + V(intensive) + Cs
Eg:

The water looked peaceful and quiet.
S

V

Cs

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(Nguyet & Tien, 2009: 274)
John was so shocked.
S

V

Cs
(Nguyet & Tien, 2009: 80)

3. S + V(monotransitive) + Od

Eg:

They saw the end.
S

V

Od
(Nguyet & Tien, 2009: 224)

His servant killed him.
S

V

Od
(Hill, 2003: 72)

4. S + V(intensitive) + A
Eg:

She is in London
S V

A
(Quirk et al, 1972: 43)

5. S + V(complex – transitive) + Od + Co
Eg:

The gentle noises of night made him sleepy.
S

V

O Co
(Nguyet & Tien, 2009: 274)

We have proved him wrong.
S

V

O

Co
(Quirk & Greenbaum,1976: 168)

6. S + V(complex – transitive) + Od + A
Eg:

She put the keys in his hand.
S

V

Od

A
(Hill, 2003: 173)

He pushed his hand deep into his pocket
S

V

Od

A

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(Nguyet & Tien, 2009: 86)
7. S + V(ditransitive) + Oi + Od

Eg:

Somebody gave one of the boys a magazine.
S

V

Oi

Od
(Hill, 2003: 176)

John paid the jugde one hundred fifty dollars.
S

V

Oi

Od
(Nguyet & Tien, 2009: 86)

1.2.3. Classification of Clauses
Clauses are generally classified into two main types: independent clauses and
dependent clauses or “main clauses” and “subordinate clauses”. Quirk et al (1972:
721) claimed that an independent clause is “a clause capable of constituting a
simple sentence” and a dependent clause is “a clause which makes up a grammatical
sentence only if subordinate to a further clause”.
The traditional grammars described the dependent clause as “subordination
and being embedded within another. (the main clause).
Eg: I hate him.  Independent clause.
because I hate him.  Dependent clause.
1.2.3.1.

Independent clauses (Main clauses)

An independent clause is a clause “that can stand alone as a sentence” (Böu,
(1994: 35)). It is a group of words that has a subject and a finite verb.
Eg:

He kept on working though he was not well.
Independent clause
I heard the story again when I went to college in India.
Independent clause

(ViÖt & TuÊn, 1990: 54)

1.2.3.2.

Dependent clauses (Subordinate clauses)

A dependent clause is a clause “that cannot stand alone as a sentence” (Böu,
(1994: 35)). It is usually connected with the main clause by a relative pronoun or

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subordinator such as: who, whom, which, what, where, when, whether, if, that,
because, as, etc. A dependent clause can be divided into dependent finite clause,
dependent non – finite clause and verbless clause.

 Dependent finite clause is a clause which is introduced with a subordinator
and contains a finite verb phrase.
Eg: He learned that the other doorman had seen it.
(E. Corley, 212)

 Dependent non – finite clause is a clause whose verb element is a non –
finite verb phrase and it can be constructed without a subject. The four classes of
non – finite verbal construction serve to distinguish four classes of non – finite
clause:
Infinitive with “to”:
Eg: The best thing would be to tell him the truth.
dependent non – finite infinitive clause
(Quirk & Greenbaum, 1976: 187)
 Infinitive without “to”:

Eg: The teacher made his father go away.
dependent non – finite infinitive clause
(Nguyet & Tien, 2009: 260)
Ing – clause:
Eg: Winning or loosing is not important.
dependent non – finite –ing clause
(Nguyet & Tien, 2009: 250)
Ed – clause:
Eg: Blamed for having broken the vase, she was very angry.
dependent non – finite –ed clause

 Verbless clause: is a clause which contains no verb element, and often
also no subject. It is usually assumed that the form of the omitted verb is the verb
“to be”.
Eg: Whenever in trouble, Bill rang his girl – friend.
verbless clause

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(Http://grammar.about.com/od/tz/g/verblessclauseterm.html)

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1.2.4.

Functions of Dependent Clauses
Dependent clause may function as subject, object, complement, or adverbial

in the superordinate clause:
 Subject (S):
Eg: What I saw seemed familiar to me.
dependent finite clause as S
(Nguyet & Tien, 2009: 244)
 Direct object (Od):
Eg: I can understand why he did it.
dependent finite clause as Od
(Nguyet & Tien, 2009: 246)
 Indirect object (Oi):
Eg: She gave whoever she met this piece of paper.
dependent finite clause as Oi
 Subject complement (Cs):
Eg: The question is how to change this idea.
dependent non - finite clause as Cs
 Object complement (Co):
Eg: The Prime Minister will appoint someone who has real ability.
dependent finite clause as Co
 Disjunct:
Eg: I was off duty, strictly speaking.
dependent non - finite clause as disjunct.
(Quirk & Greenbaum, workbook, 1976: 77)
 Adjunct:
Eg: When we met, I shall explain everything.
dependent finite clause as adjunct
(Quirk et al, 1972: 731)

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 Conjunct:
Eg: What’s more, I’m going to tell him that myself when I see him tomorrow.
dependent finite clause as conjunct
(Quirk et al, 1972: 622)
In addition, dependent clause may function within these elements as post
modifier, prepositional complement, adjectival complement, etc.
 Postmodifier in noun phrase:
Eg: A friend who remains loyal is the real one.
The problem to be solved is money.
 Prepositional complement:
Eg: My decision will depend on whether it costs too much.
(Quirk & Greenbaum, workbook, 1976: 98)
 Adjectival complement:
Eg: He was sure he had imagined it. (Rowling, 2002: 696)
In terms of function, Leech and Svartvick (1992: 215) further divide
dependent clauses into categories such as: nominal clauses, adverbial clauses,
relative clauses, etc. In which, the nominal clauses can function as subject, object,
complement, prepositional complement, adjectival complement and appositive. The
adverbial clauses are considered as modifying the verbs of the main clauses or
sometime as modifier of the entire sentence. Whereas, the relative clauses (or
adjectival clauses) modify a preceding noun or pronoun.
In this study, we only mention about the nominal clauses in order to
understand more about their functions and to use them appropriately.
1.3.

Nominal clauses in English

1.3.1. Definition of Nominal Clauses
Nominal clause or noun clause is one category of dependent clause. Quirk et
al (1972: 732) stated that nominal clauses have functions of a noun phrase. Just as

noun phrases may act as subject, object, complement, appositive, adjectival
complement and prepositional complement in a clause, hence every nominal clause
may act in some or all of these roles.

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Nominal clauses are usually connected with the main clause by that, if,
whether, whom, which, what, when, where, why, how, etc. (noticing that the
meanings of these words are different when they are used to connect adjectival and
adverbial clauses). One common use of nominal clauses is the object in reported
speech. Below are common functions of nominal clauses:
o Subject (S):
Eg: That the spacecraft were too big was maintained by many critics.
S
(Http://www. encyclopedia.com/doc/1209_clause.html)
o Direct object (Od):
Eg: Adam could not believe what he heard.
Od
(Nguyet & Tien, 2009: 28)
o Indirect object (Oi):
Eg: He gave whoever came into the door a winning smile.
Oi
(Quirk et al, 1972: 737)
o Subject complement (Cs):
Eg: The trouble was that February the twenty – fourth looked a lot closer
Cs
from this side of Christmas.
(Rowling, 2002: 434)
o Object complement (Co):

Eg: You can call me whatever you like.
Co
o Appositive:
Eg: The question, where my husband was last night, has not been
appositive
answered yet.
o Prepositional complement:
Eg: Then he thought about why he could not sell Lady.
prepositional complement

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(Nguyet & Tien, 2009: 32)
o Adjectival complement:
Eg: He was not sure what he was saying.
adjectival complement
(Nguyet & Tien, 2009: 36)
In order to check whether a clause is a nominal clause or not, we can substitute it with an
appropriate pronoun such as: he, she, it, or them. For instance: “Whoever said it is wrong.”
We can substitute “Whoever said it” with “he” or “she”, therefore we have
sentence: “He/ She is wrong.”
1.3.2. Categories of Nominal Clauses
According to Quirk et al (1972: 734), nominal clauses are classified into five major
categories: the That – clause (or dependent declarative clause); the dependent interrogative
clause; the nominal relative clause; the to – infinitive clause; and the –ing clause.
1.3.2.1.
Eg:

That – clauses

That she accepted his behavior is unbelievable.
S
They found that Kish had not only killed the bear but had also cut it
Od

into pieces.
(Nguyet & Tien, 2009: 108)
1.3.2.2.

Dependent interrogative clauses

The dependent interrogative clause consists of two main sub – types: “wh
– interrogative” clause and “yes – no interrogative” clause.
 Wh – interrogative clause:
Eg:

What is coming will come.

(Rowling, 2002: 719)

S
Grandmother then told him how her husband won her heart.
Od
(Nguyet & Tien, 2009: 8)
 Yes – no interrogative clause:
Eg:

The question is whether he is able to do that job.
Cs

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(ý, 97)
He wasn’t sure if this wonderful smell came from the flowers or
adjectival complement
from her breath.
(Nguyet & Tien, 2009: 154)
1.3.2.3. Nominal relative clauses
The nominal relative clause is also introduced by a wh – element.
Eg:

I’ll do whatever I want.
Od
(Nguyet & Tien, 2009: 34)
What he looking for is a wife.
S
(Quirk et al, 1972: 737)

1.3.2.4.

Nominal to – infinitive clauses

Eg: He likes everyone to be happy.
Od
(Quirk et al, 1972: 739)
1.3.2.5.

Nominal – ing clauses

Eg: Looking after the garden takes me several hours a week in the summer.
(www. encyclopedia.com/doc/1209_clause.html)
The two minor types of nominal clause which we must briefly consider are:
the bare infinitive clause (without to) and the nominal verbless clause.
The to of the infinitive is optionally omitted in a clause which, as
complement, expands the meaning of the verb do.
Eg: All I could do was (to) sit and look at her in class.
(Nguyet & Tien, 2009: 168)
In addition, the category of a verbless nominal clause is required to account
for a type of subject which, although superficially a noun phrase, has some of the
structural as well as semantic characteristics of a clause.
Eg:

A friend in need is a friend indeed. (Proverb)

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Chapter II: Nominal clauses in English and their
Vietnamese equivalents
As we have mentioned in 1.3, nominal clauses consist of five major
categories: That – clause, dependent interrogative clause, nominal relative clause,
nominal to – infinitive clause and –ing clause. Nominal clause can also function
as subject, object, complement and appositive. Can the categories of nominal
clauses act all of these functions? And how are they expressed in Vietnamese? We
are going to supply the answers to these questions by investigating each category, its
functions and equivalents in Vietnamese.
2.1. That Nominal Clauses
A nominal clause, which begins with that, is so called that – nominal clause

(that – clause). That clause can occur as Subject, Direct object, Subject
complement, Appositive and Adjectival complement. However, it cannot occur as
Prepositional complement or as Object complement. When the that - clause acting
object or complement, the conjunction that is frequently omitted in informal use,
leaving a zero – that clause. For example:
Harry thought (that) he was having a heart attack. (Rowling, 2002: 496)
Od
I’m not sure (that) he trusts anyone at all. (Rowling, 2002: 532)
adjectival complement
In contrast, when that - clause is subject of a sentence, that cannot be omitted. In
stead, it can be paraphrased by “the fact that….”. For instance:
(The fact) that she is still alive consoles me.
S
(Quirk et al, 1972: 735)
2.1.1. That – Clauses as Subject
When that clauses function as Subject, they can be placed at the beginning of
the sentence or in the following patterns:

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