Noun Clauses

Noun Clauses
By Prof. Marilyn Cubero

2024
DEPENDENT AND
INDEPENDENT CLAUSES
NOUN CLAUSES
NOUN CLAUSES AS
SUBJECTS
Agenda
NOUN CLAUSES AS
OBJECTS
NOUN CLAUSES AS
SUBJECT COMPLEMENT
NOUN CLAUSES AS
ADJECTIVE COMPLEMENT
Dependent and Independent clauses
Lets pay attention
to the video and
take notes!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=hNT1D0JoFk8
Noun Clauses
Lets study the three types of noun clauses in
detail
Watch the following video and take notes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhmJYChnC98
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhmJYChnC98
Noun clauses with if and whether (youtube.com)

Noun Clauses as Subjects
How do I identify them?
1. Understand what a noun clause is: a noun

clause is a group of words that contains a
subject and a verb but functions as a noun in a
sentence. it often begins with words like "that,"
"what," "who," "whom," "whether," or "if.“
2. Look for the clause: find the part of the

sentence that has a subject and a verb. for
example, in the sentence "what she said
surprised everyone," "what she said" is the
clause.
Noun Clauses as Subjects
3. Check the function: determine if the clause is functioning
as a subject. if you can replace the noun clause with a single
noun or pronoun and the sentence still makes sense, it’s likely
functioning as the subject. in our example, "what she said" can
be replaced with "her words": "her words surprised everyone.“
4. Ask questions: you can also ask "who" or "what" the

sentence is about. if the answer is a clause, then that clause is
the subject. for example, in "that he won the race was
surprising," asking "what was surprising?" gives you the
answer: "that he won the race."
Examples:
"That she loves him is obvious." "Whether we go or stay is up to you."
o It is a noun clause: It has a o It is a noun clause: It has a

dependent clause dependent clause
o It has a subortinating o It has a subortinating
conjuction“that” conjuction“whether”
o The clause has a subject and o The clause has a subject and
verb verb
o It is a noun clause as subject o It is a noun clause as subject
Keep in mind!
To identify noun clauses as subjects:
1. Identify the clause

2. Determine if it acts as the subject of the
sentence.
3. Check if the sentence makes sense when
replacing the clause with a noun.
Noun Clauses as Objects
How do I identify them?
•Understand the Role of Objects: Objects receive the action of the
verb in a sentence. They can be direct objects (answering "what?" or
"whom?") or indirect objects (receiving the direct object).
•Look for the Clause: Identify the clause that may be functioning as a
noun. Noun clauses often begin with words like "that," "what," "who,"
"if," "whether," or "how.“
•Identify the Verb: Find the verb in the sentence. Ask yourself what the
verb is acting upon.
•Check the Function: Determine if the clause is acting as a direct or

indirect object. If you can replace the clause with a single noun or
pronoun and the sentence still makes sense, it likely functions as an
object.
What is the difference between direct objects and
indirect objects
Examples of Noun Clauses as Objects:
1. SENTENCE: "I BELIEVE THAT HE WILL SUCCEED."
1. Noun Clause: "that he will succeed" (What do I believe? That he will succeed.)
2. SENTENCE: "SHE KNOWS WHAT YOU DID."

1. Noun Clause: "what you did" (What does she know? What you did.)
3. SENTENCE: "THEY REPORTED THAT THE MEETING WAS CANCELED."

1. Noun Clause: "that the meeting was canceled" (What did they report? That the meeting
was canceled.)
4. SENTENCE: "I TOLD HER THAT I WAS COMING."

1. Noun Clause: "that I was coming" (What did I tell her? That I was coming.)
5. SENTENCE: "HE EXPLAINED TO US HOW HE SOLVED THE PROBLEM."

1. Noun Clause: "how he solved the problem" (What did he explain to us? How he solved the
problem.)
6. SENTENCE: "THEY GAVE HIM WHAT HE NEEDED."

1. Noun Clause: "what he needed" (What did they give him? What he needed.)
Noun Clauses as Subject
Complement
Key Characteristics
•Follows a linking verb: common linking verbs include "is," "are," "seem," "become,"
“appear”, “feel”, “sound”, “taste”, “smell”, “look”, “remain”, etc
•Functions as a noun: the clause acts as a noun and completes the meaning of the subject.
Examples:
1.The issue is that we need more time.

1.noun clause: "that we need more time"
2.explanation: this clause describes what "the issue" is.
2. Her dream is to travel the world.

1.noun clause: "to travel the world"
2.explanation: this clause explains what "her dream" entails.
3. The problem is how we can improve our process.

1.noun clause: "how we can improve our process"
2.explanation: this clause identifies what "the problem" is.
Noun Clauses as Object
Complement
Key Characteristics
•Follows an adjective: the clause comes after an adjective.

•functions as a noun: the clause acts as a noun, completing the meaning of the
adjective.
Examples
1. She is happy that she got the job.
1.noun clause: "that she got the job"
2.explanation: this clause explains why she is "happy.“
2. He is certain that they will arrive on time.

1.noun clause: "that they will arrive on time"
2.explanation: this clause clarifies what he is "certain" about.
3. They are afraid that they will fail.

1.noun clause: "that they will fail"
2.explanation: this clause provides the reason for why they are "afraid."
Let’s get to work
on practice

Noun Clauses

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Noun Clauses

By Prof. Marilyn Cubero

Watch the following video and take notes

Noun clauses with if and whether (youtube.com)

1. Understand what a noun clause is: a noun

2. Look for the clause: find the part of the

4. Ask questions: you can also ask "who" or "what" the

"That she loves him is obvious." "Whether we go or stay is up to you."

o It is a noun clause: It has a o It is a noun clause: It has a

1. Identify the clause

•Check the Function: Determine if the clause is acting as a direct or

2. SENTENCE: "SHE KNOWS WHAT YOU DID."

3. SENTENCE: "THEY REPORTED THAT THE MEETING WAS CANCELED."

4. SENTENCE: "I TOLD HER THAT I WAS COMING."

5. SENTENCE: "HE EXPLAINED TO US HOW HE SOLVED THE PROBLEM."

6. SENTENCE: "THEY GAVE HIM WHAT HE NEEDED."

1.The issue is that we need more time.

2. Her dream is to travel the world.

3. The problem is how we can improve our process.

•Follows an adjective: the clause comes after an adjective.

2. He is certain that they will arrive on time.

3. They are afraid that they will fail.

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