Object clauses perform the function of an object to the predicate-verb of the principal clause.
I don’t know what you are talking about.
An object clause may also refer to a non-finite form of the verb, to an adjective, or to a word belonging to the part of speech expressing state.
(She was aware that someone else was there.)
Object clauses are connected with the principal clause in the following ways:
(a) by means of the conjunctions that, if, whether.
(Time will show whether I am right or wrong.)
(b) by means of the connectives who, which, what, whatever, whoever, whichever (conjunctive pronouns); where, when, how, why (conjunctive adverbs).
(I’ll do just what I say. He wondered why he should look back... )
(c) asyndetically.
(He said there was nothing much the matter with me.)
An object clause may be introduced by a preposition.
(I found it hard to keep my mind on what the colonel was saying.)
An object clause is sometimes preceded by the introductory object it.
(I insist upon it that you tell me what you mean.)
As a rule object clauses are not separated by a comma from the principal clause. A comma may or may not be used if the object clause precedes the principal clause.
(What I used not to like, I long for now.)
If we have two or more homogeneous object clauses they are separated from each other by a comma.
(I can’t tell you what tricks they performed, or how they did it.)
Attributive clauses serve as an attribute to a noun (pronoun) in the principal clause. This noun or pronoun is called the antecedent of the clause. According to their meaning and the way they are connected with the principal clause attributive clauses are divided into relative and appositive ones.
Attributive relative clauses qualify the antecedent, whereas attributive appositive clauses disclose its meaning.
(The facts those men were so eager to know had been visible, tangible, open to the senses.-ATTRIBUTIVE RELATIVE CLAUSE)
(The fortunate fact that the rector’s letter did not require an immediate answer would give him time to consider.-ATTRIBUTIVE APPOSITIVE CLAUSE)
Attributive relative clauses can be restrictive and non-restrictive or descriptive.
1. An attributive relative restrictive clause restricts the meaning of the antecedent. It cannot be removed without destroying the meaning of the sentence. It is not separated by a comma, from the principal clause because of its close connection with it. Attributive relative restrictive clauses are introduced by:(a) relative pronouns (who, whose, which, that, as1 ); (b) relative adverbs (where, when);(c) asyndetically.
(I don’t like girls who talk too much)
2. An attributive relative non-restrictive clause does not restrict the meaning of the antecedent; it gives some additional information about it. It can be left out without destroying the meaning of the sentence. As the connection between the principal clause and the attributive non-restrictive clause is loose, they are often separated by a comma.
Attributive relative non-restrictive clauses are in most cases introduced syndetically by means of:
(a) relative pronouns (who, which);
(b) relative adverbs (where, when).
(The cellphone which you cracked can’t be repaired)
The relative pronoun that is hardly ever used to introduce an attributive relative non-restrictive clause.
(He had emotion, fire, longings, that were concealed behind a wall of reserve.)
A variant of the attributive non-restrictive clause is the continuative clause, whose antecedent is not one word but a whole clause. Continuative clauses are always separated from the principal clause by a comma.
(Mr. Manston was not indoors, which was a relief to her. )
Attributive appositive clauses disclose the meaning of the antecedent, which is expressed by an abstract noun. An attributive appositive clause is not separated from the principal clause by a comma.
Appositive clauses are chiefly introduced by the conjunction that, occasionally by the conjunction whether or by the adverbs how and why. They are not joined to the principal clause asyndetically.
(The confidence that he passed all his exams was the news for me)
The use of relative pronouns in attributive relative clauses.
As has already been stated, attributive relative clauses are introduced by the following relative pronouns: who, which, that, as. In using these pronouns the following rules should be observed:
1. If the antecedent is a noun denoting a living being, who is mostly used.
(Kate turned to the general, who was near her, his face expressionless, yet alert.)
2. If the antecedent is a noun denoting an inanimate object, wwhich is mostly used.
(In this room, which was never used, a light was burning.)
3. The pronoun that may be used both when the antecedent is a noun denoting a living being and when it is a noun denoting an inanimate object. But it should be noted that the use of this pronoun in attributive clauses is limited; it is chiefly used in the following cases:
(a) if the antecedent is the pronoun all, everything or nothing.
(All that she dreams comes true.)
(b) if the antecedent is modified by an adjective in the superlative degree, by the adjective only, or by the indefinite pronoun any
(Any evil that people say of him is false.)
4. If the antecedent is a noun modified by the demonstrative pronoun such the relative pronoun as is used.
(For on the evening appointed for the Vauxhall party ... there came on such a thunderstorm as only happens on Vauxhall nights, and as obliged the young people, perforce, to remain at home.)
