Harry feels confident that he will win the match.
Is the red clause an adjective complement?
If it modifies an adjective, doesn't it then function adverbially?
Thanks!
***** NOT A TEACHER *****
(1) There seem to be at least two theories.
(2)
IT IS A NOUN CLAUSE
(a) This theory holds that your sentence is a short way to say:
Harry is confident + of this fact (that he will win the match).
(i) As you can see, "that he will win the match" is clearly a noun clause
in apposition with the noun "fact."
Source: Among the scholars who accept this analysis are Professors House
and Harman in their
Descriptive English Grammar.
(3)
IT IS AN ADVERBIAL CLAUSE
(a) This theory says "that he will win the match" is an adverbial clause that
modifies the adjective "confident."
(i) Among scholars who hold this view are Professors Pence and Emery in their
A Grammar of Present-Day English.
(4) Personally, I am more comfortable with the theory of Professors House and Harman.