[Grammar] which kind of clause is it in this sentence?

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jrgwstgm

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which kind of clause is it in below sentence?
I'm afraid you can't see Mr Brown at the moment.
 

5jj

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philo2009

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which kind of clause is it in below sentence?
I'm afraid you can't see Mr Brown at the moment.

I presume you are referring to the subordinate clause (you...moment), which is adverbial, specifying the reason why you are afraid.
 

TheParser

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which kind of clause is it in below sentence?
I'm afraid you can't see Mr Brown at the moment.

NOT A TEACHER


(1) I am afraid + that you cannot see Mr. Brown at the moment.

(2) "That you cannot see Mr. Brown at the moment" is either a noun clause or an

adverbial clause -- depending on which book you choose to believe.

(a) One book says that it is a noun clause that modifies the adjective "afraid."

According to this theory, it might be a short way of saying something like this:

I am afraid of this fact (that you cannot see Mr. Brown at the moment).

As you can see, it is a noun clause in apposition with the word "fact."

(b) Another book says that it is simpler to call "that you cannot see Mr. Brown at

the moment" an adverbial clause since adverbial clauses modify adjectives such as

"afraid."

(3) I do not know which idea is taught by most teachers, but I would guess that it

is easier to simply call it an adverbial clause. (I personally, however, feel more

comfortable in calling it a noun clause.)

(a) I have checked 5 books, and 3 of them classify it as an adverbial clause.

(i) You may know that there is a big grammar book written by Professor Quirk and

his colleagues. Many teachers use that book as their guide. That book classifies it

as a noun (substantive) clause, too.

(ii) The best thing to do is to ask your teacher as to which idea s/he accepts.
 

Rover_KE

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xversion1, please state that you are not a teacher, in accordance with the Notices at the top of the page.

Rover
 

Tdol

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I have deleted the posts as xversion1 was giving out a few curious grammar rules that I have never seen, like the one that says President Obama uses could not can because he is president.
 

jrgwstgm

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:) i need you teacher
 
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