Name:       Date:      

TYPES OF CLAUSES

The Golden Touch

Nathaniel Hawthorne

A subordinate clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but
cannot stand alone. A noun clause is a subordinate clause that functions as a noun
in a sentence. That is, noun clauses can be

• the subject of a sentence: Whether we go or stay does not matter to me.

• a subject compliment: A glass of cool water is what you need on a hot day.
• a direct object: I learned where they went yesterday.
• an indirect object: Ms. Ott will bring whoever watches her dog a souvenir.
• an object of a preposition: The baseball team consists of whomever turns
up at the field at game time.
• an appositive: Keesha, who is my best friend, lives in another state.
Words that introduce noun clauses include that, which, who, whom, whose, what
where, when, why, whether, how, and how much

A. DIRECTIONS: Underline the noun clause in each sentence.

1. King Midas, who was a very rich man, longed for more and more gold.
2. Midas’s treasure room was where he kept all his gold.
3. This story reveals what happens between King Midas and a stranger.
4. With the first sunbeam, Midas realized that his wish was granted.
5. Whatever he touched turned to gold.
6. King Midas grew excited about what the Golden Touch could provide for him.

B. DIRECTIONS: For each noun clause you identified in Part A, write whether the noun
clause acts as a subject, a subject complement, a direct object, an indirect object, an
object of a preposition, or an appositive.
1.       
2.       
3.       
4.       
5.       
6.       
© Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.