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.