NOUN CLAUSES

UNIT 11, LESSON C

 What Are Noun Clauses?
A noun clause is a clause that plays the role of a noun. A noun clause has a subject and a
verb. For example:

• I like what I see.

(In this example, the subject of the clause is "I" and the verb is "see.")
• I know that patience has its limits.
(In this example, the subject of the clause is "patience" and the verb is "has.")

A noun clause can take the place of a noun in any part of the sentence. For example:
• Do you remember the reason?
• Do you remember why she called?
(In this example, the noun “the reason” is replaced by the noun clause “why she called”)

• Mary’s story was very interesting.

• What Mary wrote was very interesting
 The Composition of a Noun Clause
A clause has a subject and a verb and functions as one part of speech.

It follows therefore that a noun clause functions as a noun in a sentence.

Lots of noun clauses start with "that," "how," or a "wh"-word (i.e., "what," "who,"
"which," "when," "where," or "why").

For example:

• I know that it happened.

• I know how it happened.
• I know why it happened.
 How To Check If Your Clause Is Functioning As a Noun
A great way to check whether a phrase or clause is functioning as a noun is
to have a go at replacing it with a pronoun. If you can, your phrase or clause
is functioning as a noun.

• What I say is true.

(Pronoun test: "It is true." This proves that "What I say" is functioning as a
noun.)

• Show me how they work.

(Pronoun test: "Show me them." This proves that "how they work" is
functioning as a noun.)
 PRACTICE
1. Lots of noun clauses start with that, how, or a
"wh"-word. A noun clause has a subject and a
verb and functions as a noun.
• True
• False
2. In a sentence, a noun clause can function as a
subject, an object, or a complement.
• True
• False
3. Select the second noun clause.
I always mean what I say, but I don't always say
what I'm thinking.
4. Select the one with a noun clause in bold
• Basic research is what I am doing when I don't
know what I am doing.
• Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a
suspect.
5. A clause functioning as a noun could easily
be replaced with a pronoun.
• True
• False
6. Select the one with a noun clause in bold:
• A musicologist is a man who can read music
but can't hear it.
• What I wrote is the truth.
7. Select the one with a noun clause in bold:
• Life is something that happens when you
can't get to sleep.
• My one regret in life is that I am not
someone else.
8. Select the noun clause.
Throughout my life, I have always tried to have
the bravery to say what other people won't and
to behave as my mother would expect.
 PRACTICE
1. Lots of noun clauses start with that, how, or a
"wh"-word. A noun clause has a subject and a
verb and functions as a noun.
• True
• False
2. In a sentence, a noun clause can function as a
subject, an object, or a complement.
• True
• False
3. Select the second noun clause.
I always mean what I say, but I don't always say
what I'm thinking.
4. Select the one with a noun clause in bold
• Basic research is what I am doing when I don't
know what I am doing.
• Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a
suspect.
5. A clause functioning as a noun could easily
be replaced with a pronoun.
• True
• False
6. Select the one with a noun clause in bold:
• A musicologist is a man who can read music
but can't hear it.
• What I wrote is the truth.
7. Select the one with a noun clause in bold:
• Life is something that happens when you
can't get to sleep.
• My one regret in life is that I am not
someone else.
8. Select the noun clause.
Throughout my life, I have always tried to have
the bravery to say what other people won't and
to behave as my mother would expect.
 Complete each sentence with a properly formed noun clause
1. John asked me ________________. 6. We are not responsible for _____________.
• where was his wallet • what our children say
• where his wallet was • what do our children say
2. I couldn't tell him ________________. 7. Is it true ________________ about you?
• where was
• where I was • what did he say
• what he said
3. I don't know ________________.
• how many children he has 8. I'm not going to tell you ________________.
• how many chidren does he have • what should you do
• what you should do
4. ________________ is not important. 9. I wonder if ________________ from Germany.
• How close we are • is he
• How close are we • he is
5. ________________ was sad. 10. The teacher told us __ our finished exams.
• What did she say • where we should leave
• What she said • where should we leave
 Complete each sentence with a properly formed noun clause (answers)
1. John asked me ________________. 6. We are not responsible for _____________.
• where was his wallet • what our children say
• where his wallet was • what do our children say
2. I couldn't tell him ________________. 7. Is it true ________________ about you?
• where was
• where I was • what did he say
• what he said
3. I don't know ________________.
• how many children he has 8. I'm not going to tell you ________________.
• how many children does he have • what should you do
• what you should do
4. ________________ is not important. 9. I wonder if ________________ from Germany.
• How close we are • is he
• How close are we • he is
5. ________________ was sad. 10. The teacher told us __ our finished exams.
• What did she say • where we should leave
• What she said • where should we leave
 The Function of Noun Clauses
Like any noun, a noun clause can be a subject, an object, or a complement. Here are some
more easy examples of noun clauses as subjects, objects, and complements.

• Whoever smelt it dealt it. (Here, the noun clause is a subject.)

• My command is whatever you wish. (Here, the noun clause is a subject complement.)
• I will give what you said some thought. (Here, the noun clause is an indirect object. That's
pretty rare.)

• You may call your husband whatever you wish. (Here, the noun clause is an object
complement)

• Some people believe in whatever organized religion tells them. (prepositional complement)
 Identify the noun clauses in the following sentences and their function.
1. I wondered what he was doing there.

2. He replied that he would come.

3. She asked if I could help her.

4. That honesty is the best policy is a well-known fact.

5. I expected that I would get the first prize.

6. Do you know why he is late?

7. I don’t know what he wants.

8. Pay careful attention to what I am going to say.

9. That she should forget me so quickly hurts me.

10. That you should behave like this is strange.

 Identify the noun clauses in the following sentences and their function (answers).
1. I wondered what he was doing there. the noun clause acts as the object of the verb wondered

2. He replied that he would come. the noun clause acts as the object of the verb replied

3. She asked if I could help her. the noun clause acts as the object of the verb asked

4. That honesty is the best policy is a well-known fact. the noun clause acts as the subject of the verb is

5. I expected that I would get the first prize. the noun clause acts as the object of the verb expected

6. Do you know why he is late? the noun clause acts as the object of the verb know

7. I don’t know what he wants. the noun clause acts as the object of the verb know

8. Pay careful attention to what I am going to say. the noun clause acts as the object of the preposition to

9. That she should forget me so quickly hurts me. the noun clause acts as the subject of the verb hurts

10. That you should behave like this is strange. the noun clause acts as the subject of the verb is