Noun Clauses: Definition, Examples, &

Exercises
 The Albert Team
 Last Updated On: March 1, 2022

Dependent clauses add meaning to independent clauses in a variety of ways by acting like
adjectives, adverbs, or nouns.
Relative clauses are dependent clauses that modify or give more information about a noun in the
independent clause.

For example:
 Scar, who was Simba’s jealous and wicked uncle, threatened to take over Pride Rock.

The dependent relative clause, who was Simba’s jealous and wicked uncle, modifies or gives more
information about the noun subject of the independent clause, Scar.

Additionally, adverbial clauses are dependent clauses that modify or give more information about a
verb in the independent clause.

For example:
 When Timon and Pumba first meet Simba, they are afraid that Simba might eat them.

The dependent adverbial clause, when Timon and Pumba first meet Simba, explains when they are
afraid, modifying the verb in the independent clause.

Lastly, noun clauses are dependent clauses that can replace any noun in the sentence.

For example:
 Rafiki encouraged Simba to remember who he was.

In this sentence, the noun clause, who he was, is acting as an object of the infinitive phrase to
remember.
For this post, we will focus on noun clauses, but you can learn more about adverbial and relative
clauses on the Albert blog.
When you’re ready, test yourself with a quiz and practice with our high-quality, standards-aligned
questions here.

What We Review

 The Basics of Noun Clauses

o What is a Noun Clause?
o What are the five functions of noun clauses?
 3 Tips for Understanding Noun Clauses
o Tip #1. Noun Clauses can replace any noun in a sentence, including subjects, objects, and complements
o Tip #2. Noun clauses are not modifiers; they are placeholders
o Tip #3. Noun clauses always begin with either interrogative pronouns or expletives
 Applying the Basics: Noun Clause Review & Practice
o The Ultimate List of Clauses
 o Noun Clauses Exercises and Review
 Try for Yourself: Noun Clauses Quiz
 Teacher’s Corner for Noun Clauses
 Summary for Dependent Clauses

The Basics of Noun Clauses

What is a Noun Clause?

A noun clause is a dependent clause that takes the place of any noun in the sentence, whether
they are subjects, objects, or subject complements.
For example:
 She was saddened by what she had read.
In the sentence above, the noun clause what she had read is being used as the object of the
preposition by.
This is only one example, as there are many different ways that noun clauses can be used. Review
the next section to learn every possible way that a noun clause can function in a sentence.

What are the five functions of noun clauses?

1. Subject
Noun clauses can function as subjects of sentences.
For example:
 Why my pet turtle stares at me all day is beyond me.
In the sentence above, the underlined noun clause acts as a single subject of the independent
clause.

2. Direct Object
Noun clauses can also function as direct objects of the verb in the independent clause.
For example:
 When my dog goes to doggy day care, I do not know what he does, but he always has the best
time.
In the sentence above, the noun clause what he does is acting as the direct object of the verb know.

3. Indirect Object
Noun clauses can also act as indirect objects of the verb in the independent clause.
For example:
 She chose to photograph whomever was willing to pose for her.
In the sentence above, the direct object of the verb chose is the infinitive phrase to photograph. Just
like a noun clause, this infinitive phrase is acting like the noun direct object. Therefore, the noun
clause whomever was willing to pose for her is the indirect object of the same verb.
4. Object of the Preposition
Other times, noun clauses can act as the object of a preposition in the independent clause.
For example:
 I like to keep a schedule of when I have upcoming appointments.
In the sentence above, the noun clause when I have upcoming appointments is acting as the object
of the preposition of.

5. Subject Complement
Lastly, noun clauses can act as subject complements, or nouns that follow linking verbs.
For example:
 Actors can become whomever they want to be on the stage.
In the sentence above, the noun clause whomever they want to be is the subject complement of the
linking verb become.
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3 Tips for Understanding Noun Clauses
Here are some important tips to help you understand Noun Clauses:

Tip #1. Noun Clauses can replace any noun in a sentence, including
subjects, objects, and complements
For example:
 No one knows why she is afraid of lizards.
In the sentence above, the noun clause replaces the direct object of the verb, knows.
Tip #2. Noun clauses are not modifiers; they are placeholders
For example:
 Noun Clause (acting as a subject): When she will arrive is dependent on traffic.
 Adverbial Clause (acting as an adverb): When she arrives, we will eat dinner.
As you can see, it is easy to confuse these different types of dependent clauses with one another. If
you are unsure whether a clause is adverbial or nominal (noun), simply ask some questions:
 If the clause answers the question, “who?” or “what?”, then it is a noun clause.
 If the clause answers one of these questions: “where?”, “how?”, “when?”, or “why?”, then it is
an adverbial clause.

This is the key distinction between noun clauses and relative or adverbial clauses. While relative
clauses and adverbial clauses modify nouns and verbs respectively, noun clauses replace nouns
altogether.

Tip #3. Noun clauses always begin with either interrogative pronouns
or expletives
For example:
 The pug did not know what would make his life any more perfect.
The underlined clause in the sentence above begins with the interrogative pronoun, what, making it a
true noun clause that is acting as the direct object of the verb, know.
Noun clauses can also begin with expletives (no, not cuss words!). In grammar, expletives are words
that have no grammatical function in a sentence other than to signal the start of a noun clause.
Common expletives are that, whether, and if.
  As his humans drank their coffee, the pug wondered if they would all hike to the waterfall
today.
Even though the expletive if is necessary in understanding the noun clause, it still has no
grammatical purpose in the sentence other than to connect the noun clause to the verb wondered.

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Applying the Basics: Noun Clause Review & Practice
Now that you understand how noun clauses function in sentences, review the anchor chart below
and complete the review to fully understand how to use and recognize noun clauses.

The Ultimate List of Clauses

Refer to the graphic below to learn the different types of Clauses:

This list, obviously, does not include all possible examples of clauses; however, it is meant to
be used as a guide while identifying sentence clauses.

Noun Clauses Exercises and Review

Now that you know how to identify noun clauses, test your ability to find these in sentences.

Select the noun clause(s) in the sentences below. Remember, a noun clause can replace any noun
in a sentence, but these clauses must answer the questions “who?” or “what?”, and they must start
with either an interrogative pronoun or an expletive.

1. No one from the outside world knew that Wakanda was so technologically advanced.
In this sentence, that Wakanda was so technologically advanced is a noun clause taking the place of
the direct object of the verb, knew.

2. Kilmonger demanded to know why T’Challa refused to protect threatened people of African
descent.
In this sentence, the noun clause why T’Challa refused to protect threatened people of African
descent is acting as the indirect object of the verb, demanded.

3. M’Baku decides to help T’Challa in repayment for when T’Challa chose not to take his life.
In this sentence, when T’Challa chose not to take his life is a noun clause acting as the object of the
preposition, for.
4. When they meet on the battlefield, W’Kabi must decide whether to join his wife, Okoye, or to
continue to fight against T’Challa.
In this sentence, whether to join his wife, Okoye, or to continue to fight against T’Challa is a noun
clause acting as the direct object of the verb, decide.

5. Whoever ingests the heart-shaped herb receives the superhuman power of vibranium.
In this sentence, whoever ingests the heart-shaped herb is a noun clause acting as the subject of
the sentence.
Pro tip: Remember, noun clauses can replace any noun in a sentence, and can function as
subjects, objects, or subject compliments.
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Try for Yourself: Noun Clauses Quiz

Feeling confident in your understanding of Noun Clauses?

Take this short six-question quiz to see what you’ve learned:
Start the quiz

1. Can a noun clause be used as a modifier?

 Answer: No
 Correct Explanation: That’s right! Noun clauses do not act as modifiers; rather, they replace
nouns in sentences from subjects to objects to subject complements.
 Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, noun clauses do not act as
modifiers; rather, they replace nouns in sentences from subjects to objects to subject
complements. Only adverbial and relative clauses can act as modifiers.

2. Are noun clauses considered dependent or independent clauses?

 Answer: Dependent clauses
 Correct Explanation: That’s right! Noun clauses are always dependent because they depend
on the independent clause to create a complete thought.
 Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, independent clauses contain a
subject and a verb and create a complete thought, while dependent clauses cannot express a
complete thought without the help of an adjoining independent clause.

3. In this sentence, is the underlined clause a noun clause or an adverbial clause?

When we go to Universal Studios, I want to visit Diagon Alley.
 Answer: Adverbial Clause
 Correct Explanation: That’s right! The underlined clause is an adverbial clause because it
answers when the verb takes place.
 Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, adverbial clauses modify verbs
while noun clauses can replace any noun in a sentence.

4. In this sentence, is the underlined clause a noun clause or an adverbial clause?

How Disney World’s creators made it so magical is something that I still wonder about.
 Answer: Noun Clause
 Correct Explanation: That’s right! The underlined clause is a noun clause that is acting as the
subject of the sentence.
 Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, adverbial clauses modify verbs
while noun clauses can replace any noun in a sentence.

5. In this sentence, is the underlined clause a noun clause or a relative clause?

I am nervous that a lion escaped from the zoo last night.
  Answer: Noun Clause
 Correct Explanation: That’s right! The underlined clause is a noun clause that begins with an
expletive and acts as the subject complement of the linking verb, am.
 Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, relative clauses modify nouns
while noun clauses can replace any noun in a sentence.

6. In this sentence, is the underlined clause a noun clause or a relative clause?

The zookeeper who rescued the lion found him taking a nap in the park.
 Answer: Relative Clause
 Correct Explanation: That’s right! The underlined clause is a relative clause because it
modifies the noun, zookeeper.
 Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, relative clauses modify nouns
while noun clauses can replace any noun in a sentence.
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Teacher’s Corner for Noun Clauses
When students think of nouns and the roles that they play in sentences, they usually think of a
singular word acting as the subject or a direct object. As grammar teachers know, it is not this
simple!

Noun clauses allow entire phrases to be considered as objects or subjects in sentences, which is
great for expanding our voice as writers, but not so great when it comes to understanding the syntax
of more complicated sentences. The Common Core English Language Progressive Skills Chart is a
helpful resource for teachers wishing to scaffold their students to help them understand first, the
function of nouns in sentences, and secondly, how noun clauses also fit into these many functions.
For specific standards on the different types of clauses including noun clauses, check out the
Common Core State Standards website.
Albert’s Noun Clause Practice is a helpful tool in allowing students to practice identifying and
using noun clauses in a variety of sentences. Whether you would like your students to complete pre-
assessments, post-assessments, quizzes, or all of the above, Albert’s question bank and
grammar assessments and quizzes can be used by educators for many different purposes in the
classroom.
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Summary for Dependent Clauses
Noun clauses are dependent clauses that can replace any noun in the sentence: subjects, objects,
and/or subject complements.
In all, there are five different functions that a noun clause can serve: subjects, direct objects, indirect
objects, objects of the preposition, and subject complements.
Be sure to check out our grammar course for more Dependent Clause practice.