Noun Clause 問題

1. what = something that

We can describe "something that ... " as a presupposition.


2. presupposition (noun) = something that someone thinks is true without proof (Yahoo dictionary)

We can describe "something that a speaker assumes is true or is known by the hearer" as a presupposition.

We can describe "what a speaker assumes is true or is known by the hearer" as a presupposition.

3. The object "what a speaker ...." becomes subject in a passive voice sentence.

"What a speaker assumes is true or is known by the hearer" can be described (by us) as a presupposition.

note: "by us" can be and is usually omitted.

2015-03-24 23:44:44 補充：
Both "something that ..." and "what ...." (in quotes above) are noun clause.

2015-03-24 23:53:34 補充：
Sorry, correction:
"something that ...." is a noun phrase.

2015-03-25 00:16:31 補充：
Grammar note:
In "something that ...." or "the fact that ...", "that ..." is a noun clause (also called content clause) functioning as a complement of the pronoun "something" or the noun "fact".

2015-03-25 14:21:03 補充：
You have wrong concept about noun clause.

例:How the thieves broke in is obvious.

"How the thieves broke in " is a noun clause functioning as the subject of the sentence.

"is obvious" 並非 主句

2015-03-25 15:10:20 補充：
This type of noun clause is also called "nominal relative clause", that is, a type of relative clause that contains the antecedent within itself.

what = the thing which, something which/that
how = the way which
why = the reason that
where = the place which
when = the time that

2015-03-25 15:47:48 補充：
There are two noun clauses combined with a conjunction "or" to form a single noun clause.
1. what a speaker assumes is true
2. what is known by the hearer

what a speaker assumes is true or (what) is known by the hearer

note: the second what is omitted

2015-03-25 16:13:26 補充：
what a speaker assumes is true = what is true, (that) a speaker assumes

~ noun clause modified by a relative clause with verbs such as think, assume, suppose, consider, etc

Ex.
I'll do what I think is right.
What I suppose Mary will do is beyond your imagination.

2015-03-25 16:34:18 補充：
1. "what I think is right" is the object of the verb "do".

2. "what I suppose Mary will do" is the subject of the sentence.

3. What I suppose Mary will do is what you have told me.
"what you have told me" is the subject complement.