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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.
+Direction+.—Give the reasons for the use or the omission of the comma with the noun clauses in the preceding Lesson.
By using it as a substitute for the subject clause, this clause may be placed last.
+Example+.—That the story of William Tell is a myth is now believed = It is now believed that the story of William Tell is a myth.
+Direction+.—By the aid of the expletive it, transpose five subject clauses in Lesson 71.