A clause that serves as an object in a complex sentence is called an object clause.
1. Word order
Whether the main sentence is a declarative sentence or a question, the object clause must use the declarative word order, that is, "the sentence pattern of main sentence+conjunction+object clause (subject+predicate+"...) ".According to the different components of conjunctions in clauses, they can be divided into the following four categories:
1) conjunction+predicate. Connectives are used as subjects in clauses. Common conjunctions are: who, what, which, etc. For example:
Can you tell me who knows the answer? Can you tell me who knows the answer?
Children don't know what's in their stocks. These children don't know what's in their socks.
2) Conjunction+noun+predicate. Connectives are used as attributives of subjects in clauses. Common conjunctions are: who, what, which, how much, how much, etc. For example:
He asked who wrote the best in our class. He asked who had the best handwriting in our class.
The teacher asked us how many people were in the room. The teacher asked us how many people were in the room.
3) Conjunction+subject+predicate. Connectives are used as objects, adverbials or predications in clauses. Common conjunctions are: who(m), what, which, how much, how much, when, why, how, where, if/where (which does not act as any component in a sentence) and so on. For example:
He hasn't decided whether to travel to Wuxi. He hasn't decided whether to travel to Wuxi.
Can you tell me what to do with the money? Can you tell me what to do with the money?
4) Conjunction+noun+subject+predicate. Connectives are used as objects or attributes in clauses. Common conjunctions are: what, which, how much, how much, and so on. For example:
Do you know which class he is in? Do you know which class he is in?
She asked me if I knew whose pen this was. She asked me if I knew whose pen this was.
2. Connectives
1) When a declarative sentence is used as an object clause, it is guided by that and has no meaning. It is often omitted in spoken or informal style. For example:
He said that he could finish the work before supper. He said that he would finish the work before supper.
2) When a general question is used as an object clause, it is guided by if or what, indicating "whether". For example:
I don't know whether he still lives here after so many years. I don't know whether he still lives here after so many years.
However, you can only use "No" if:
(1) is selective, with or without, especially directly with or without, often used (if … or not is also available). For example:
Let me know whether he will come or not. Let me know whether he will come or not.
I don't know whether he washes clothes. I don't know whether he washes clothes. I don't know if he washed clothes.
I want to know where we are staying or going. I don't know whether we should go or stay.
② Use when after preposition. For example:
I'm interested in what he likes about English. What I care about is whether he likes English.
We are considering how to finish the work on time. We are considering whether we can finish the work on time.
I am worried about where I hurt her feelings. I'm worried about whether I hurt her feelings.
③ when is used before infinitive. For example:
He hasn't decided where to visit the old man. He hasn't decided whether to visit the old man.
I don't know where to go. I don't know whether to go or not. Or not.
He hasn't decided when to go by bus or by train. He hasn't decided whether to go by bus or by train.
When where is placed at the beginning of a sentence, it cannot be replaced by if. For example:
Whether this time is true or not, I can't say. I can't say whether this is true or not.
⑤ Use it when guiding subject clauses and predicative clauses. For example:
Whether she will come is still a question. Whether she can come is still a question.
The question is when we can catch the bus. The question is whether we can catch the bus.
6. if using if will cause ambiguity, use when. For example:
Please tell me if you like this book.
Please tell me if you like this book. Please tell me whether you like this book.
B. If you like this book, please tell me ... If you like this book, please tell me.
3) If the object clause turns out to be a special question, use the original special question words to guide it. For example:
Can you tell me why you were late for the meeting this morning? Can you tell me why you were late for the meeting this morning?
3. Tense
In a complex sentence with an object clause, the time response of the subject and the predicate verb of the clause should include the following three points:
1) If the predicate verb of the main clause is the simple present tense, the predicate verb of the clause can choose any corresponding tense as needed. For example:
I don't know when he will come back. I don't know when he will come back. ..
He told me that his sister came back yesterday.
2) If the predicate verb of the main clause is the past tense, the predicate verb of the object clause can only choose one form of the past tense, that is, the general past tense, the past continuous tense, the past future tense or the past perfect tense. For example:
The children don't know who he is. The children don't know who he is.
He asked his father how it happened. He asked his father how it happened.
3) If the object clause expresses objective facts, universal truths, natural phenomena or habitual actions, the tense of the clause is the general present tense regardless of the tense of the main clause. For example:
The teacher said that the earth moves around the sun. The teacher said that the earth moves around the sun.
4. Note:
If and when can guide both object clauses and adverbial clauses, so we should pay attention to their different meanings and usages in these two clauses. When if and when introduce object clauses, they mean "whether" and "when" respectively, and their tenses should echo those of the main clause; When they lead adverbial clauses, they mean "if, if" and "when" respectively. When the tense of the main clause is the simple future tense, its tense is the simple present tense. It is often placed in the stems containing adverbial clauses and object clauses for comprehensive examination. For example:
Do you know when he will be back tomorrow? Do you know when he will come back tomorrow?
I'm sorry, I don't know. I'll tell you when he comes back. I'm sorry, I don't know. I'll tell you when he comes back.
I don't know whether he will come. I don't know whether he will come.
He will come if it doesn't rain.
Usage of attributive clauses
Concept: Attributive clauses are clauses that modify nouns or pronouns. Composition: The attributive clause must include antecedent and relative word. Precedents are assumed by nouns or pronouns; Relative words include relative pronouns and adverbs. Relative pronouns: that which who who when why relative pronouns that, which, who, as Usage: 1. Must be the subject or object in the attributive clause. 2. Act as a guide word. The relative pronoun whose is used as an attribute in the attributive clause. Usage of relative adverbs when, where and why: as adverbials in attributive clauses. Therefore, the distinction between relative pronouns and relative adverbs depends on their composition in attributive clauses. Usage: 1 attributive clause guided by relative pronouns A. It can be used as subject or object in a clause, referring to people or things. An airplane is a flying machine. Who is the man who works over there? (as a subject, referring to a person) B. It can be used as a subject or object in a clause, referring to a thing. This is the bike I bought yesterday. (As an object, it can be omitted) C. Who is the subject in the clause? The boy standing under the tree is called Jim. D.who is the object in the clause and refers to the person, which can be replaced by WHO in spoken language. Do you know the man whom we met at the door just now? Who is an attribute in clauses, referring to people. This is Mr. Wang, whose wife works in a big hospital. F. as is the subject or object in a clause. If the antecedent is modified in this or the same way, use as to guide the attributive clause. We won't use such students as you recommended. 2. attributive clause a. when guided by relative adverbs, it is used as an adverbial in the clause to refer to time. Example: I will never forget the day when I joined the army. This is the house where we lived last year. Why is an adverbial in a clause, indicating the reason. I don't know why they didn't come to the party. 3. the difference and connection between that and which: a. that can refer to both people and things in attributive clauses, and can replace who, who and which (excluding non-restrictive attributive clauses). B. that and which cannot be omitted when they are used as subjects in clauses; When used as an object, it is often omitted in spoken English. C. In which-guided attributive clauses, when which clause is used as the object of preposition, the preposition can generally be placed before which or in the original position of the clause. In the verb fixed phrases with preposition, the preposition can only be placed in its original position, but not before it. The house where Lu Xun once lived is now the Lu Xun Museum. The house where Lu Xun once lived is now the Lu Xun Museum. This is the bag. What you are looking for. (look for is fixed phrases) In the attributive clause led by that, when that is used as the object of predicate verb and preposition in the clause, that cannot be placed after the preposition as the object of the preposition. The village where she lives is 20 kilometers away. (In can't be put before that) 4. When ordinal numbers or superlative adjectives modify antecedents, use that. Han Mei is the most beautiful girl I know. When all, everything, nothing, something, nothing, the one and other indefinite pronouns are used as antecedents, we should use that. Is there anything you want to tell me?