Noun Clauses.

 

Noun Clauses. 

What are Noun Clauses?

Noun clauses are dependent clauses that function like nouns within a sentence. They can act as subjects, objects, or complements.

Structure:

A noun clause typically includes:

A ‘subordinating conjunction’ or a ‘relative pronoun’ (e.g., that, whether, who, what)

A ‘subject’ (who or what the clause is about)

A ‘predicate (what is said about the subject)

Functions of Noun Clauses:

1. Subject: 

‘What she said’ surprised everyone.

'That he left’ was unexpected.

2. Direct Object:

I know ‘what you did’.

She understands ‘why he left’.

3.Indirect Object:

He told me ‘where they went’.

I’ll give ‘whoever finishes first’ a prize.

We told ‘whoever was interested’ about the event.

4. Object of a Preposition:

She is concerned about ‘whether they will come’.

They were worried about ‘what might happen next’.

She is focused on ‘whether she should take the job’.

5. Subject Complement:

His goal is ‘to find out what happened’.

My biggest fear is ‘that I might fail the exam’.

The truth is ‘that they were never really friends’.

Examples:

Subject:

‘What he said’ made her cry.

‘That they won’ was a surprise.

‘What you said' is true.

‘Whether we win or lose’ doesn’t matter.

Direct Object:

I know ‘who took the cookies’.

She asked ‘where he went’.

She doesn’t know ‘how they solved the problem’.

He explained ‘why he missed the meeting.

Object of a Preposition:

He is uncertain ‘whether she will come.

Subordinating Conjunctions:

Common subordinating conjunctions that introduce noun clauses include: 

that, whether, if, why, how, what, who, whom, when, where, whether, etc.

Important Points:

Noun clauses can sometimes be introduced by relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that).

They can be embedded within larger sentences and are always dependent clauses.

Usage Tips:

Use noun clauses to add depth and complexity to sentences.

They are essential in forming complex sentences and expressing ideas with clarity.

Understanding noun clauses helps in constructing more nuanced and varied sentences. The examples showcase how noun clauses can be used in various functions to enrich sentence structure.

Here's a Beautiful Test on Noun Clauses to for Practice. 

1) Which of the following sentences contains a noun clause?

• a) She likes to dance.
• b) He asked what time the train arrives.
• c) They ran fast to catch the bus.
• d) The flowers are beautiful.

Correct Answer: b) He asked what time the train arrives.

2) Identify the noun clause in the following sentence: "She believes that he is honest."

• a) She believes
• b) That he is honest
• c) He is honest
• d) Believes that

Correct Answer: b) That he is honest

3) What is the function of the noun clause in this sentence: "I don’t know what he wants."

• a) Subject
• b) Object of the preposition
• c) Direct Object
• d) Subject Complement

Correct Answer: c) Direct Object

4) In the sentence, "The teacher asked if we had finished our homework," the noun clause acts as a:

• a) Subject
• b) Direct Object
• c) Object of the preposition
• d) Indirect Object

Correct Answer: b) Direct Object

5) Which of the following is a noun clause?

• a) He is very intelligent.
• b) That she can sing is surprising.
• c) After the party was over.
• d) He ran quickly.

Correct Answer: b) That she can sing is surprising.

6) "What you said surprised me," the noun clause functions as the:

• a) Subject
• b) Object
• c) Object of the preposition
• d) Subject complement

Correct Answer: a) Subject

7) Which word often introduces a noun clause?

• a) Because
• b) When
• c) That
• d) However

Correct Answer: c) That

8) What is the function of the noun clause in the sentence below? "I am not sure whether she will come."

• a) Subject
• b) Object of a preposition
• c) Direct Object
• d) Subject Complement

Correct Answer: c) Direct Object

9) Which of the following sentences does not contain a noun clause?

• a) He knows what she likes.
• b) I wonder if they will come.
• c) The book is on the table.
• d) I can’t decide what to do.

Correct Answer: c) The book is on the table.

10) In the sentence, "He told us that he would be late," the noun clause acts as the:

• a) Subject
• b) Indirect Object
• c) Direct Object
• d) Subject complement

Correct Answer: c) Direct Object

11) Which sentence contains a noun clause acting as a subject?

• a) What you do is important.
• b) He asked me a question.
• c) They left early.
• d) She sings beautifully.

Correct Answer: a) What you do is important.

12) Identify the noun clause in this sentence: "The problem is that we don’t have enough time."

• a) The problem is
• b) That we don’t have enough time
• c) We don’t have enough time
• d) Problem is that

Correct Answer: b) That we don’t have enough time

13) In the sentence, "She is unsure about whether to attend the party," the noun clause acts as:

• a) Subject
• b) Direct Object
• c) Object of the preposition
• d) Subject Complement

Correct Answer: c) Object of the preposition

14) Which of the following sentences contains a noun clause as a subject complement?

• a) The issue is whether we can trust him.
• b) She knows how to play the piano.
• c) We are interested in what he thinks.
• d) I will show you where the books are kept.

Correct Answer: a) The issue is whether we can trust him.

15) In the sentence, "What she said made him happy," the noun clause functions as the:

• a) Subject complement
• b) Object of the preposition
• c) Direct Object
• d) Subject

Correct Answer: d) Subject