在句子中起名詞作用的句子叫名詞從句 (Noun Clauses）。 名詞從句的功能相當(dāng)于名詞詞組, 它在復(fù)合句中能擔(dān)任主語、賓語、表語、同位語、介詞賓語等，因此根據(jù)它在句中不同的語法功能，名詞從句又可分別稱為主語從句、賓語從句、表語從句和同位語從句。
（一）主語從句
1、 由that引起的主語從句
這是用的最廣泛的主語從句，但真正放在句首的這類從句是比較少的，因?yàn)橹髡Z太長會顯得頭重腳輕。不過有時為了強(qiáng)調(diào)或謂語較長時也有這樣安排的。
e.g. That she became an artist may have been due to her father’s influence.她成為一名藝術(shù)家也許是受她父親的影響。
絕大多數(shù)包含主語從句的句子都借助先行詞it作為形式上的主語，而把主語置于句末，例如：
It is quite clear that the whole project is doomed to failure.
很清楚，整個計(jì)劃注定要失敗。
It’s a pity that you should have to leave. 你非走不可真是件憾事。
用it作形式主語的that-從句有以下四種不同的搭配關(guān)系：
a. It + be +形容詞+ that-從句
It is necessary that… 有必要……
It is important that… 重要的是……
It is obvious that… 很明顯……
b. It + be + -ed 分詞+ that-從句
It is believed that… 人們相信……
It is known to all that… 眾所周知……
It has been decided that… 已決定……
c. It + be +名詞+ that-從句
It is common knowledge that… ……是常識
It is a surprise that… 令人驚奇的是……
It is a fact that… 事實(shí)是……
d. It +不及物動詞+ that-分句
It appears that… 似乎……
It happens that… 碰巧……
It occurred to me that… 我突然想起……
2、由連接代詞、連接副詞或由連詞whether引起的主語從句
Who is to head the delegation hasn’t been made public.誰來領(lǐng)到這個代表團(tuán)還沒有宣布。
When we arrive doesn’t matter.什么時候到?jīng)]有關(guān)系。
Whether the plan is feasible remains to be proved. 這一計(jì)劃是否可行還有等證實(shí)。
3、由關(guān)系代詞型what引起的主語從句
What he said was perfectly true.他講的都是事實(shí)。
What you have to do is to choose a company to invest in.你需要做的是選一家公司投資。
Whatever，whoever，whichever都可引起主語從句
Whatever she says goes.一切她說了算。
Whoever comes will be welcome.誰來都?xì)g迎。
Whichever you want is yours.你要哪一個，哪一個就是你的。
例題解析：
P41/ 10．______ is more important is not to lose the business, even though this price will leave us no profit at all.
A. such B. It C. That D. What
翻譯：更加重要的是不失去這筆生意，即使該價格將使我們無利可圖。
（二）表語從句
表語從句在句子中作表語, 位于主句中的系動詞之后。引導(dǎo)表語從句的連詞主要有：that, whether, when, where, because, etc。
1、表語從句多數(shù)都由that引起（有時that可以省略）
The fact is that he has not been seen recently. 事實(shí)是近來誰也沒有見過他。
My idea is that we should start making preparations right now.我的意見是我們馬上就做準(zhǔn)備開始工作。
2、表語從句也可由連接代詞、副詞引起：
That’s why I object to the plan. 這就是我反對這個計(jì)劃的原因。
The problem is who can be sent to replace him. 問題是能派誰去頂替他。
3、關(guān)系代詞型的what也可引起表語從句：
That’s what I want to stress.這是我想強(qiáng)調(diào)的。
Fame and personal gain is what they pursue.他們追求的是名利。
（三）賓語從句
賓語從句就是在復(fù)合句中作賓語的名詞性從句，通常放在主句謂語動詞（及物動詞）或介詞之后。
1、 作動詞的賓語
1）由that引起從句做賓語的情況十分普遍：
John said that he was leaving for London on Wednesday. 約翰說他星期三要到倫敦去。
有些動詞后的連詞that常可省略，如believe，think，suppose，presume（假定，假設(shè)，認(rèn)為），在say，see，know， hear
propose，understand和be told等動詞后連詞that可以用，也可以不用，在書面語中還是不省略為好。
例題解析：
P40/ 3. We find ______ transshipment and partial shipment of the Printed Shirting are not possible.
A. that B. what C. where D. there
整句翻譯：我們認(rèn)為印花細(xì)布的轉(zhuǎn)船和分批裝運(yùn)使不可能的。
2）賓語從句也可以由連接代詞、副詞或連詞whether（if）引起：
She inquired how we are going on. 她問我們情況怎樣？
I wonder what’s happened. 我想知道發(fā)生了什么事。
He asked me where I was going. 他問我到哪兒去。
Let us know whether / if you can finish the article before Friday. 請讓我們知道你是否能在星期五以前把文章寫完。
例題解析：
P41/ 4. Bearing this in mind, we are inquiring ______ we could now begin discussing the issue of sole agency.
A. if B. that C. what D. where
Inquire: ask about
整句翻譯：考慮到這一點(diǎn)，我們正在問我們是否現(xiàn)在可以開始討論代理的問題。
P41/ 9. In order to obtain the needed information, the inquirer should write simply, clearly, and concisely ______ he wants to know.
A. what B. that C. so D. because
整句翻譯：為了得到需要的信息，調(diào)查者應(yīng)該把他想知道的東西寫得簡明扼要、一清二楚。
2、作介詞的賓語
Our success depends upon how well we can cooperate with one another.我們的成功取決于我們之間合作得如何。
例題解析：
P42/ 12. From ______ you say it seems that some of the goods escaped the inspection we normally give to all our products.
A. that B. what C. which D. it
從你所說的來看，好像有些商品逃過了我們對所有產(chǎn)品的正常檢查。
P43/ 19. We are arranging for an inspection tour of ______ the material was processed.
A. place B. the place C. where D. there
我們正在安排到加工原料的地方進(jìn)行檢查巡視。
P46/ 44. To make profitable use of the Net, cyber-enterprises need to appreciate its uniqueness. It’s more like direct marketing, but a lot of people try to apply existing skills to ______ is an entirely new medium.
A. that B. what C. which D. when
Apply...to...: 把…應(yīng)用于…
整句翻譯：為了充分使用網(wǎng)路，網(wǎng)際企業(yè)應(yīng)該認(rèn)識到它的獨(dú)特性。網(wǎng)絡(luò)更像直接市場營銷，但是很多人試圖把現(xiàn)有的技巧運(yùn)用到一個完全嶄新的媒介上去。
3、作形容詞的賓語
I am afraid (that) I’ve made a mistake. 恐怕我弄錯了。
I am glad that you are satisfied with your job. 你對工作滿意我感到很高興。
I’m not sure why she refused their invitation. 我尚不能肯定她為什么拒絕他們的邀請。
That 引導(dǎo)的從句常跟在下列形容詞后作賓語：
Anxious, aware, certain, confident, convinced, determined, glad, proud, surprised, worried, sorry, thankful, ashamed, disappointed, annoyed, pleased, hurt, satisfied, content 等。也可以將此類詞后的that 從句的看作原因狀語從句。
4、It 可以作為形式賓語
It 不僅可以作為形式主語，還可以作為形式賓語而真正的賓語that 從句則放在句尾，特別是在帶復(fù)合賓語的句子中。 例如：
We heard it that she would get married next month.我們聽說她下個月要結(jié)婚了。
例題解析：
P40/ 1. We made it clear ______ shipment will be effected in August.
A. what B. that C. which D. when
整句翻譯：我們已經(jīng)說明貨物將于八月份運(yùn)到。
（四）同位語從句
同位語從句就是在復(fù)合句中作名詞的同位語的名詞性從句。
1、同位語從句的功能
同位語從句對于名詞進(jìn)一步解釋，說明名詞的具體內(nèi)容，一般由that引導(dǎo)，例如：
The king’s decision that the prisoner would be set free surprised all the people.
The order that all the soldiers should stay still is given by the general.
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