Language study 1.

6
Noun Clause

Subject : English
Lecturer:
 Study Language
► Clause

A clause “a group of words containing a subject and

predicate and functioning as a member of a complex or
compound sentence.

Example:
● I graduated last year. (One clause sentence)
● When I came here, I saw him. (Two clause sentence)
● When I came here, I saw him, and he greeted me. (Three
clause sentence)
 Clause and its types
Independent Clause

An independent clause functions on its own to make a meaningful sentence and looks

much like a regular sentence.The examples are

● He is a wise man.
● I like him.
● Can you do it?
● Do it please. (Subject you is hidden)
● I read the whole story.
● I want to buy a phone, but I don’t have enough money. (Two independent
clauses)
● He went to London and visited the Lords. (Subject of the second clause is
‘he,' so “he visited the Lords” is an independent clause.)
● Alex smiles whenever he sees her. (One independent clause)
Dependent clause cannot function on its own because it leaves an idea or thought
unfinished. It is also called subordinate clause. Dependent clauses help the independent
clauses complete the sentence. A dependent clause alone cannot form a complete sentence.
The subordinators do the work of connecting the dependent clause to another clause to
complete the sentence. In each of the dependent clause, the first word is a subordinator.
Subordinators include relative pronouns, subordinating conjunctions, and noun clause markers.
Examples :
● He bought a car which was too expensive.
● I know that he cannot do it.
● He does not know where he was born.
● If you don’t eat, I won’t go.
● He is a very talented player though he is out of form
 Subject of a verb
noun clause can act as the subject of a verb. For example:

What Alicia said made her friends cry.

What Megan wrote surprised her family.

How the boy behaved was not very polite.

When there's a verb in the sentence, you must find the subject.
 Object of verb

In the same vein, noun clauses can also act as the direct object of a verb:

She didn't realize that the directions were wrong.

He didn't know why the stove wasn't working.

They now understand that you should not cheat on a test.

Once again, you can use the method of questioning to demonstrate how

the noun clause i

 Subject complement
noun clause can also serve as a subject complement. A subject complement will always modify,
describe, or complete the subject of a clause.

Carlie's problem was that she didn't practice enough.

Harry's crowning achievement at school was when he became class president.

Darla's excuse for being late was that she forgot to set her alarm.

Do you see what questions these noun clauses answer and how they relate to the subject?
 Object of preposition

Noun clauses also act as objects of a preposition. In the examples below, you'll see
the prepositions "of" and "for" in action.

● Harry is not the best provider of what Margie needs.

● Josephine is not responsible for what Alex decided to do.
● Allie is the owner of that blue car parked outside.
 Adjective complement

Last but not least, a noun clause can also function as an adjective complement, modifying a verb,
adjective, or adverb.

Jerry knows why Elaine went to the store.

They're perfectly happy where they live now.

Geoffrey runs so quickly that he can outrun his dog.

The adjective complement is providing more information about the verb, adjective or adverb that

precedes it.
 identifying a Noun Clause
.
Noun clauses are common in everyday speech. They add crucial information to
sentences. Remember, noun clauses:
❖ Contain a subject and a verb
❖ Are dependent clauses
❖ Function as a noun in the sentence
❖ Begin with words like that, what, when, or why, to name a few
. I cannot understand …………………………

2. They said …………………………

3. I think …………………………

4. He told me …………………………

5. ………………………… hurts me.

6. You can eat …………………………

7. Can you guess …………………………?

8. I feel certain …………………………

9. I do not know …………………………

10. No one knows ……………………

 suggested answers
1. I cannot understand why she is angry with me.

2. They said that they would accept the offer.

3. I think I will win.

4. He told me that he would come.

5. That you should cheat me hurts me.

6. You can eat whatever you want.

7. Can you guess what I want?

8. I feel certain that she will come.

9. I do not know what she wants.

10. No one knows where he is.