So far, objects have been single nouns or pronouns — the door, him, a message. But in English, the object slot can hold something much larger: a whole clause, a gerund, or an infinitive. Each of these fills the same grammatical position as a noun and answers the same question — what?
This lesson maps the four main types. Each one has its own detailed treatment elsewhere in the course; the goal here is to see the big picture.
That-clauses as objects
A that-clause is a full clause introduced by that, acting as the object of the verb.
The word that is often dropped in informal speech and writing. Both versions are correct:
Common verbs that take that-clause objects: think, believe, know, say, hope, feel, agree, forget, understand, assume.
That-clauses after verbs are covered in full detail separately.
Wh-clauses as objects
A wh-clause begins with a question word — what, where, when, why, who, how, whether, if — and fills the object slot.
Word order inside wh-clauses
This is the critical difference from questions. Inside a wh-clause, use statement word order — subject before verb — not question order.
| QUESTION | WH-CLAUSE AS OBJECT |
|---|---|
| Where does he live? | I know where he lives. |
| What did she say? | I remember what she said. |
| Why is it closed? | He explained why it was closed. |
The temptation to keep question order (I know where does he live) is one of the most common errors at this level.
Whether / if
Whether and if introduce clauses that express a choice or uncertainty.
Gerunds as objects
A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun. When it fills the object slot, it works exactly like a noun.
Some verbs only take gerund objects. Common ones: enjoy, suggest, avoid, finish, mind, keep, consider, practise, risk.
Gerunds and their rules are covered in full separately.
Infinitives as objects
A to-infinitive can also fill the object slot.
Some verbs only take infinitive objects. Common ones: want, decide, hope, plan, agree, refuse, offer, promise, learn, expect.
Infinitives and their rules are covered in full separately.
Which verbs take which form?
This is the central question, and it has no single rule — it depends on the verb. A compact overview:
Gerund only: enjoy, suggest, avoid, finish, mind, keep, consider, practise, risk
Infinitive only: want, decide, hope, plan, agree, refuse, offer, promise, expect
Both (with the same meaning): like, love, hate, start, begin, continue
A few verbs accept both forms but change meaning — remember, stop, try. These are covered separately.
Common mistakes
Wh-clause word order
Gerund vs infinitive
Missing that (where it causes confusion)
Infinitive after gerund-only verbs