Welcome to our lesson on object clauses. An object clause, or 宾语从句 in Chinese, is a type of subordinate clause that functions as the object of a verb, preposition, or adjective in the main sentence. Let's examine this example: 'I know that he is coming.' Here, 'I know' is the main clause, and 'that he is coming' is the object clause that acts as the object of the verb 'know'.
Object clauses can be introduced by different types of words. First, we have that-clauses, like 'I believe that she is right.' Second, we have wh-clauses introduced by question words such as what, where, when, like 'I wonder what he wants.' Third, we have if or whether clauses that express uncertainty, like 'I don't know if he will come.' Each type serves a different purpose in expressing the object of the main verb.
An important rule for object clauses is word order. Object clauses always use statement word order, not question order. For example, we say 'I know where he lives' with statement order, not 'I know where does he live' with question order. The subject comes before the verb in the object clause, just like in a regular statement. This is different from direct questions where we might invert the subject and verb.
Certain types of verbs are commonly followed by object clauses. Mental verbs like think, believe, and know express thoughts or opinions. Communication verbs like say, tell, and ask involve speaking or conveying information. Perception verbs like see, hear, and feel relate to our senses. Each of these verb categories naturally takes object clauses to complete their meaning and express what is thought, said, or perceived.
Let's summarize what we've learned about object clauses. Object clauses function as the object of verbs, use statement word order, and are introduced by words like that, wh-words, or if and whether. They commonly follow mental verbs, communication verbs, and perception verbs. Now let's practice with some examples. Fill in the blanks: 'I believe that he is honest,' 'She asked if or whether I was ready,' and 'We know when the meeting starts.' Understanding object clauses will help you express complex ideas more clearly in English.