--_Why they sing_ is an indirect question, here used as the
principal term of a prepositional phrase.
14. There has been some dispute about who wrote "Shakespeare's Plays."
15. We are not certain that an open sea surrounds the Pole.
+Explanation+.--By supposing _of_ to stand before _that_, the noun clause
may be treated as the principal term of a prepositional phrase modifying
the adjective _certain_. By supplying _of the fact_, the noun clause will
become explanatory.
16. We are all anxious that the future shall bring us success and triumph.
17. The Sandwich Islander is confident that the strength and valor of his
slain enemy pass into himself.
* * * * *
LESSON 73.
COMPOSITION--NOUN CLAUSE.
+COMMA--RULE.--The _Noun Clause_ used as attribute complement is generally
set off by the comma.+
+Remarks+.--Present usage seems to favor the omission of the comma with the
clause used as subject or as object complement, except where the comma
would contribute to clearness.
The punctuation of the explanatory clause is like that of other explanatory
modifiers. See Lesson 34. But the real subject made explanatory of _it_ is
seldom set off. See next Lesson for the punctuation of noun clauses that
are questions or quotations.
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