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§ 151. Complex sentences with subject clauses may be of two patterns:
I. When a subject clause precedes the predicate of the main clause:
What I need is a piece of good advice.
Whether I talked or not made little difference.
Because I ask too many questions does not mean I am curious.
How the book will sell depends on its plot and the author.
That he is a madman in an advanced stage of mania goes without saying.
Whoever moved in next would need it more than I.
Subject clauses of this type cannot be joined asyndetically, as the opening words signal the subordinate
status of the clause. The main clause having no subject is deficient in its structure and meaning unless joined
with the subordinate clause. Thus the combination of words *is a good piece of advice is neither complete in its
structure nor in its meaning without the subject:
What you say is a good piece of advice.
II. When a subject clause is in final position, the usual place of the subject being occupied by formal it:
It seemed unfair to him that he should suffer more than his wife.
It is understood that modern science allows such experiments.
In exclamatory sentences the formal it may be only implied.
How wonderful that they should meet at last! (How wonderful it is...)
In this pattern of the complex sentence the subject clause may be joined asyndetically.
The complex sentence with a predicative clause
§ 152. A predicative clause may be introduced by conjunctions (that, whether, whether... or, as, as if, as
though, because, lest, the way), or connectives. The latter may be conjunctive pronouns (who, whoever, what,
whatever, which) or conjunctive adverbs (where, wherever, when, whenever, how, why).
The fact was that he had forgotten about it.
The only reason for my coining is because I hoped to see you again.
Our fear was lest we should miss him in the crowd.
That’s what he wants you to think.
The choice of conjunction is closely connected with the meaning of the word functioning as the subject of
the main clause. Thus the conjunction because is used when the word functioning as subject expresses reason,
the conjunction whether — when it expresses doubt or implies choice. The connective when is used when the
noun functioning as subject expresses a temporal notion (time, day, evening, moment) and the connective
where is used when it denotes a place. Thus in the sentence given above The only reason for my coming is
because I hoped to see you again the meaning of the subject reason predetermines the use of the conjunction
because. In the same way in the sentence The question is whether we can manage without him the meaning of
the subject question predetermines the conjunction whether.
This, however, does not mean that a certain conjunction is the only possible one, and that no other can be
used after a certain word functioning as subject.
If the subject denotes order, proposal, request, suggestion, arrangement, desire, etc., the conjunction that
is generally used, followed by a clause with the predicate in the subjunctive mood (should + infinitive).
The regulation was that the first examination should be done in writing.