Editing Clause (section)

===Argument clauses===
A clause that functions as the argument of a given predicate is known as an ''argument clause''. Argument clauses can appear as subjects, as objects, and as obliques. They can also modify a noun predicate, in which case they are known as ''[[content clause]]s''.

::<u>That they actually helped</u> was really appreciated.{{Snd}} SV-clause functioning as the subject argument
::They mentioned <u>that they had actually helped</u>.{{Snd}} SV-clause functioning as the object argument

::<u>What he said</u> was ridiculous.{{Snd}} ''Wh''-clause functioning as the subject argument
::We know <u>'''what''' he said</u>.{{Snd}} ''Wh''-clause functioning as an object argument
::He talked about <u>'''what''' he had said</u>.{{Snd}} ''Wh''-clause functioning as an oblique object argument

The following examples illustrate argument clauses that provide the content of a noun. Such argument clauses are content clauses:

::a. the claim <u>that he was going to change it</u>{{Snd}} Argument clause that provides the content of a noun (i.e. content clause)
::b. the claim <u>that he expressed</u>{{Snd}} Adjunct clause (relative clause) that modifies a noun

::a. the idea <u>that we should alter the law</u>{{Snd}} Argument clause that provides the content of a noun (i.e. content clause)
::b. the idea <u>that came up</u>{{Snd}} Adjunct clause (relative clause) that modifies a noun

The content clauses like these in the a-sentences are arguments. Relative clauses introduced by the relative pronoun ''that'' as in the b-clauses here have an outward appearance that is closely similar to that of content clauses. The relative clauses are adjuncts, however, not arguments.