MODERN ENGLISH GRAMMAR

UNIT 2: NOUN CLAUSE

I. Introduction
A Noun Clause is a group of words that is doing the work: of a noun. It means that a
noun clause is used in the same ways as a noun or noun phrase.

(a) His story was interesting.
(b) I heard his story.
(c) What he said was interesting. In (c): What he said is a noun clause. It is
(d) I heard what he said.
In, (a): His story is a noun phrase. It is used
as the subject of the sentence.
In (b): His story is a noun phrase. It is used
as the object of the verb heard.
used as the subject of the sentence.
The noun clause has its own subject
(he) and verb (said).
In (d): What he said is a noun clause. It is
used as the object of the verb heard.

II. Functions of Noun Clauses

Noun Clauses can have many functions in the sentences. They can have the same
actions as nouns. Look at the following table. It will show you the various functions
of noun clauses.

Uses of Noun Clauses in Sentences

Examples Functions in Sentences

- What she said surprised me. Subject
- What you are doing is very secret.
- I don't know who lives there. Direct Object
- I wonder who is at the desk.
- The teacher will give whoever sings a song some
extra marks. Indirect Object
- I send whomever I like a wishing message on
every special occasion.
- Our plan is whether we should go to visit Koh
Predicate Nominative
Kong or we should stay in Phnom Penh.
- He remains whoever he was.
- He is waiting for whatever he wants. Object of Preposition

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- I listened to what she said.

- He strategy, how business people run their
Appositive
company successfully, is written in this book.

Notes:
 Noun clauses frequently begin with that, which, who, whom, or whose, the same
words that-begin adjective clauses.

 Other words that can begin noun clauses are how, however, if, what, whatever,
when, whenever, where, wherever, whether, whichever, whoever, and whomever.

Some Uses of Introductory Words in Noun Clauses

Examples Functions In Clauses

- She could not decide. which man she wanted to marry, Adjective
- We want to know how we should dress for the party. Adverb
- Whoever understands this should help those who do
Subject
not.
- Whomever you select for the job will be hired. I Direct Object
- The doctor determined that she had the measles. No Function

PRACTICE

I. Identifying Subordinate Clauses: Underline the noun clause in the following

sentences.

1. Whoever wants to get a certificate must pass the final test.

2. I don't know whether I should attend a master class or work.

3. Whoever has money should help the poor.

4. He could not decide which girl he wanted to deal with.

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5. Cambodian people want to know how the judge sentences Pol Pot.

6. All the people in the world really want to know when they die.

7. 1 will help whoever has helped me.

8. Whichever girl my parents like will be proposed for my brother.

9. My parents love whomever I love.

10. Whose animals enter the field will be caught and asked for compensation.

11. What she said was interesting.

12. I cannot hear what the lecturer is saying.

13. 0ur problem is whether we should stay here or leave the class.

14. I don't know who those girls are.

15. I know that people have different opinions about capital punishment.

16. An engineer determines if the measurements are correct or not.

17. Please tell me what happened.

18. Do you know when they arrive?
19. I couldn't understand what the teacher had explained.
20. . What you should do is to try harder.
21. . I don't know whether Nita will come.
22. . Whether she comes or not is important to me.
23. . Please tell me how I can get to the bus station.
24. . I need to know who our new teacher is.
25. . The Russian president and his wife told the press that they were enjoying
their visit.

II. Identifying Noun Clauses: Underline each noun clause, then identify the
function of each noun clause as subject, direct object, indirect object, predicate
nominative, object of a preposition, or appositive.

Example: I know that you are a good student.(direct object)

1. I don't know what I should do.

2. Jim told us where we could find the bus station.
3. A new job is what Alex needs.

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4. Do you know what Alex needs?

5. I gave whoever came to class last Saturday 2 extra marks.
6. The governor's dilemma, how it would be possible to please both factions,
required hard thinking.
7. I don't know where the student cafeteria is..
8. It didn't seem possible that he could be mistaken.
9. I taught whoever came here yesterday the introduction to clause.
10.The planning committee needed more suggestions, whatever ideas .people
thought would be workable.
11. The student asked about what we learnt yesterday.
12. Do you know which answer is correct?
13. The methods, how students can become the best, will be revealed soon.
14. The problem is that we don't have enough money.
15. Whoever wants to help us is warmly welcome.
16. We would be grateful to whoever helps us.
17. The difficulty was how Emma was going to find us in the crowd.
18. That he could be mistaken didn't seem possible.
19. He had a discussion about who should be invited.
20. You 'can't deny the fact that you received the message.
21. The idea. is- that we take it in turns.
22. I noticed that the door was open.
23. 1 wonder whether that's a good idea.
24. The truth is that I don't get on well with my flat-mate.
25. I knew that you wouldn't like this colour.
26. No one knows whether the rum our was true.
27. 1 can't imagine where Peter has gone to.
28. The students made their request, that the due date for research papers
should be extended.
29. The company gave whoever worked during the holiday some extra money.
30. You should use your money for whatever purpose you choose.
31. Send my wishes to whoever attends our ceremony.
32. Whenever you have a meeting has been recorded.
33. It is fact that the world is round.
34. Jim found two shirts he liked, but he had trouble deciding which one he
should buy.
35. He told me when I should come.

III. Underline the-noun clause in each sentence, indicating whether the clause is
functioning as a subject, direct object, indirect object, object of a preposition,

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predicate nominative, or appositive.

(l) The question, how you should choose a college, is a difficult one. (2) You may
first look for a college that offers whatever course of study you wish to pursue. (3)
Which section of the country a college is in should be considered also. (4) Try to pick a
school in whatever climate you will be most comfortable. (5) How close the school is to
your home is important. (6) What schools your friends choose may also be important.
(7) Another factor is whether the college is in a city or a small town. (8) Rural and urban
areas offer whoever resides their different types of activities and resources. ((9) Your
choice may depend upon how much you can afford to spend for your education. (10)
'Whom a college decides to accept as a student may prove to be the decisive factor in
your choice.

(1) ……………appositive………. (6) ……………………………….

(2) ………………………………. (7) ……………………………….

(3) ………………………………. (8) ……………………………….

(4) ………………………………. (9) ……………………………….

(5) ………………………………. (10) ……………………………….

.
The End of Unit 2