What is a CLAUSE?

NOUN CLAUSES
A clause is a group of words that must contain a SUBJECT and a VERB.

If a clause makes complete sense in itself, it is called the main clause of te

sentence.

We woke up.

If it’s dependent on another clase to complete its meaning, it is called te

subordinate clause. For example:

We woke up when the birds chirped.

Main clause subordinate clause

There are 3 types of subordinate clauses:

Nouns clauses, Adjective clauses and Adverb clauses.
 Noun Clause
SO WHAT IS A NOUN CLAUSE?
A Noun Clause is a subordinate clause that does the work of a
noun in a sentence.

What Alicia said made her friends cry.

What made her friends cry?

She didn't know that the directions were wrong.

What didn’t she know?

Carlie's problem was that she didn't do the wash.

What was Carlie’s problem?

The group is happy that Meg returned home.

Why is the group happy?
 NOUN CLAUSES
• Subjects • What I prefer is a romantic
movie

• I don´t get why you are

• Objects laughing

• Subject complements • The problem is whether to

tell him or not

• Adjective • It is important to know that

complements languages are necessary
HOW DO NOUN CLAUSES BEGIN?
Question words (What, where, when, who(m),
whose, which, why)

THAT

Words form from –ever (whatever, whoever,

whomever, whichever, whenever)

WHETHER / IF
 NOUN CLAUSES AND THAT
We use THAT to introduce certain noun
clauses, it has NO CONCRETE MEANING. It
cannot be omitted.
That he came late, was expected by
everybody
That the exam was hard, was no surprise at all
 NOUN CLAUSES AND THAT
It can be omitted, when it introduces an
object noun clause or a complement noun
clause, especially in speaking
•I think (that) love is beautiful
•He said (that) he knew the answer
 THE FACT IS…
This expression can easily replace the word THAT
•The fact that Math is hard depends on the
person.

It must be used after prepositions

•I am surprised by the fact that you didn´t know
 IT
It sometimes serves as the subject of a
sentence, before adjectives.
The noun clause comes AT THE END of the
sentence.

It is impressive (that) you passed the exam

 EMBEDDED QUESTIONS
These used to be questions, but now they
become sentences. They have the order of
sentences, NOT THE ORDER OF QUESTIONS.

Do you know what time it is?

 EMBEDDED QUESTIONS
• They can come within a sentence or after a
questions
• An embedded question within a sentences
is followed by a period
I don´t know what to do.
I have not decided which car to buy.
 EMBEDDED QUESTIONS
• An embedded question within another
questions is followed by a question mark,
but REMAINS as a SENTENCE
Do you know when he is coming?
Have you heard what they had decided?
Did you explain where you went?
 EMBEDDED QUESTIONS
• AS YOU CAN SEE THE AUXILIARIES DO,
DOES, DID, ARE NOT USED IN EMBEDDED
QUESTIONS
 EMBEDDED QUESTIONS
• WH question words INTRODUCE some
embedded questions
• My sister didn´t know WHICH car was the
best
• Mary wanted to talk to the person WHO
was in charge
 EMBEDDED QUESTIONS
• Use IF and WHETHER (or not) to introduce YES/NO
embedded questions

• He wanted to know WHETHER you were coming or

not?
• I wanted to ask you IF she was coming or not?

• If…or not can replace in all but SUBJECT NOUN

CLAUSES.

They didn’t know if/whether she was coming.

Whether she was coming it was unknown.