Noun Clauses

See The Sentence for definitions of sentence, clause, and dependent clause.
A sentence which contains just one clause is called a simple sentence.
A sentence which contains one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses is
called a complex sentence. (Dependent clauses are also called subordinate clauses.)
There are three basic types of dependent clauses: adjective clauses, adverb clauses, and
noun clauses. (Adjective clauses are also called relative clauses.)
This pae contains information about noun clauses. Also see Adjective !lauses and Adverb
!lauses.
A. Noun clauses perform the same functions in sentences that nouns do:
A noun clause can be a subject of a verb:
"hat #illy did shoc$ed his friends.
A noun clause can be an object of a verb:
#illy%s friends didn%t $now that he couldn%t swim.
A noun clause can be a subject complement:
#illy%s mista$e was that he refused to ta$e lessons.
A noun clause can be an object of a preposition:
&ary is not responsible for what #illy did.
A noun clause (but not a noun) can be an adjective complement:
'verybody is sad that #illy drowned.
B. You can combine two independent clauses by chanin one to a noun clause and
usin it in one of the ways listed above. The choice of the noun clause mar$er (see below)
depends on the type of clause you are chanin to a noun clause:
To chane a statement to a noun clause use that:
( $now ) #illy made a mista$e *
( $now that #illy made a mista$e.
To chane a yes!no "uestion to a noun clause, use if or whether:
+eore wonders ) Does ,red $now how to coo$- *
+eore wonders if ,red $nows how to coo$.
To chane a wh#"uestion to a noun clause, use the wh#word:
( don%t $now ) "here is +eore- *
( don%t $now where +eore is.
C. $he subordinators in noun clauses are called noun clause mar%ers. .ere is a list of the
noun clause mar%ers:
that
if, whether
&h#words: how, what, when, where, which, who, whom, whose, why
&h#ever words: however, whatever, whenever, wherever, whichever, whoever, whomever
'. (xcept for that, noun clause mar%ers cannot be omitted. /nly that can be omitted, but
it can be omitted only if it is not the first word in a sentence:
correct:
#illy%s friends didn%t $now that he couldn%t swim.
correct:
#illy%s friends didn%t $now he couldn%t swim.
correct:
#illy%s mista$e was that he refused to ta$e lessons.
correct:
#illy%s mista$e was he refused to ta$e lessons.
correct:
That #illy jumped off the pier surprised everyone.
not correct:
0 #illy jumped off the pier surprised everyone.
(. )tatement word order is always used in a noun clause, even if the main clause is a
1uestion:
not correct:
0 Do you $now what time is it- (2uestion word order: is it)
correct:
Do you $now what time it is- (Statement word order: it is)
not correct:
0 'verybody wondered where did #illy o. (2uestion word order: did #illy o)
correct:
'verybody wondered where #illy went. (Statement word order: #illy went)
*. )e"uence of tenses in sentences containin noun clauses:
"hen the main verb (the verb in the independent clause) is present, the verb in the noun
clause is:
future if its action3state is later
.e thin%s that the e4am ne4t wee$ will be hard.
.e thin%s that the e4am ne4t wee$ is oin to be hard.
present if its action3state is at the same time
.e thin%s that &ary is ta%in the e4am riht now.
past if its action3state is earlier
.e thin%s that +eore too% the e4am yesterday.
"hen the main verb (the verb in the independent clause) is past, the verb in the noun clause
is:
was!were oin to or would + BA)( if its action3state is later
.e thouht that the e4am the followin wee$ was oin to be hard.
.e thouht that the e4am the followin wee$ would be hard.
past if its action3state is at the same time
.e thouht that &ary was ta%in the e4am then.
past perfect if its action3state is earlier
.e thouht that +eore had ta%en the e4am the day before.
(f the action3state of the noun clause is still in the future (that is, after the writer has written
the sentence), then a future verb can be used even if the main verb is past.
The astronaut said that people will live on other planets someday.
(f the action3state of the noun clause continues in the present (that is, at the time the writer is
writin the sentence) or if the noun clause e4presses a eneral truth or fact, the simple
present tense can be used even if the main verb is past.
"e learned that 'nlish is not easy.
The boys %new that the sun rises in the east.
,. -ere are some examples of sentences which contain one noun clause .underlined/
and one independent clause:
5oun clauses as subjects of verbs:
That +eore learned how to swim is a miracle.
"hether ,red can et a better job is not certain.
"hat &ary said confused her parents.
.owever you learn to spell is /6 with me.
5oun clauses as objects of verbs:
"e didn%t $now that #illy would jump.
"e didn%t $now #illy would jump.
!an you tell me if ,red is here-
( don%t $now where he is.
+eore eats whatever is on his plate.
5oun clauses as subject complements:
The truth is that #illy was not very smart.
The truth is #illy was not very smart.
The 1uestion is whether other boys will try the same thin.
The winner will be whoever runs fastest.
5oun clauses as objects of prepositions:
#illy didn%t listen to what &ary said.
.e wants to learn about whatever is interestin.
5oun clauses as adjective complements:
.e is happy that he is learnin 'nlish.
"e are all afraid that the final e4am will be difficult.
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