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16.3.Clausal complements
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This section deals with clausal complements, i.e. clausal elements within the noun phrase that are required by the semantics of the nominal head. Clausal complements typically occur with nouns that can be said to denote abstract content. These nouns may be derived from a verb, like mededelingannouncement and vraagquestion in (623a&b), but they may also be non-derived, like risicorisk in (623c).

623
a. [De mededeling [dat Jan zou komen]] kwam onverwacht.
  the announcement comp Jan would come came unexpectedly
b. [De vraag [of/waarom Jan het geld gestolen had]] kwam onverwacht.
  the question whether/why Jan the money stolen had came unexpectedly
c. Wij lopen [het risico [dat we gepakt worden]].
  we run the risk that we caught are
  'We run the risk that we will be caught.'

Complement clauses can be finite or infinitival, depending on the selection properties of the noun, as shown in (624). Sections 16.3.1 and 16.3.2 look at these two types of clausal complement in detail.

624
a. [Het idee [dat hij direct zou vertrekken]] stond ons wel aan.
  the idea that he directly would leave attracted us prt prt.
  'We quite liked the idea that he would leave immediately.'
b. [Het idee [om direct te vertrekken]] sprak ons wel aan.
  the idea comp immediately to leave attracted us prt prt.
  'We quite liked the idea of leaving immediately.'

Complement clauses are sometimes difficult to distinguish from relative clauses. Confusion can arise because both types of clauses can be introduced by what we can neutrally refer to as the “linker” dat: in complement clauses like (625a), the linker is the complementizer, and in relative clauses like (625b), it is the singular neuter relative pronoun. Section 16.3.3 will show how to properly distinguish between the two types of clauses.

625
a. [Het feit [datcompl. de aarde rond is]], werd door niemand betwist.
  the fact that the earth round is was by no.one contested
  'The fact that the earth is round was contested by no one.'
b. [Het feit [datRel. door niemand betwist werd]], is dat de aarde rond is.
  the fact that by no.one contested was is that the earth round is
  'The fact that was contested by no one is that the earth is round.'
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