5.

Nominal clauses
Nominal clauses function as nouns and are subordinated by one of the following subordinating
conjunctions 'how that what when where whether which who why". Nominal clauses may be
replaced with a pronoun.

Examples:
[How you did it] is not my concern. (That is not my concern)
[That I wanted a ball] was irrelevant in the discussion. ( It was irrelevant )
Noun Clauses
Noun clauses are not modifiers, so they are not subordinators like adjectives and adverbs, and
they cannot stand alone. They must function within another sentence pattern, always as nouns. A
noun clause functions as a subject, subject complement, direct object, or object of a preposition.
A noun clause usually begins with a relative pronoun like "that," "which," "who," "whoever,"
"whomever," "whose," "what," and "whatsoever." It can also begin with the subordinating
conjunctions "how," "when," "where," "whether," and "why."
Nominal clauses are subordinate clauses. They can function as:

subject of a sentence: (Whether we need it) is a different matter.

object: I don't know (whether we need it).

complement: The problem is (whether we need it).

appositive: The question, (whether we need it), has not yet been considered.

prepositional complement: The decision must depend on (whether we need it).


Nominal clauses fall into five major categories:

1. The that-clause, or dependent declarative clause.

This can function as subject, direct object, subject complement, appositive and adjectival
complement.
"(That she is late) is not surprising." (subject)
"I told him ([that] she'd be late)." (direct object)
"I'm sure ([that] things will improve)." (adjectival complement)

2. The dependent interrogative clause:

This can function as subject, direct object, subject complement, appositive, adjectival
complement and prepositional complement.
"(How the book will sell) depends on its author." (subject)
"I wasn't certain (whose house I was in)." (adjectival complement)
"I wondered (when he would come)."
"I don't care (if your car will break down)."

3. The nominal relative clause (be careful, these are NOT adjectival clauses despite their
name):

This type of nominal clause, introduced by a wh-element, can act as subject, direct object,
indirect object, subject complement, object complement, appositive, prepositional complement.
"(What he is looking for) is new friends." (subject)
"He gave (whomever came to the door) a winning smile." (indirect object)
"You can call him (whatever you like)." (object complement)

4. To-infinitive nominal clauses:

These can act as subject, direct object, subject complement, appositive, adjectival complement.
"He likes (everyone to be happy)." (direct object)
"His ambition, (to be a movie star), was never fulfilled." (appositive)
"I'm glad (to help you)." (adjectival complement)

5. Nominal -ing clauses: gerundial clauses.

These can function as subject, direct object, subject complement, appositive, prepositional
complement, adjectival complement.
"(Eating people) is wrong." (subject)
"I don't enjoy (reading novels)." (direct object)
"I'm tired of (working so hard)." (prepositional complement)