Noun Clauses

A clause is a group of words that contain a subject and a verb. Clauses can take the place of different parts of speech.

Uses of Noun Clauses

• After some verbs and adjectives

• To include a question in a statement

• To report what someone has said or asked

You are familiar with adjective clauses.

• The man, who looked sleepy, sat down.

• Who looked sleepy is an adjective clause. It is taking the place of an adjective. An adjective is used to describe nouns and so do adjective clauses.

• We could re-write the sentence with an adjective.

• The sleepy man sat down.

• Similarly, a noun clause can take the place of a noun. Today, we will review noun clauses, give some more examples of noun clauses, and then provide several quizzes to practice forming them.

* Verbs are often followed by objects. The object is usually

a noun, a noun phrase, or a noun clause.

• I saw a girl. (noun)

• I saw his sister. (noun phrase)

• I know his address. (noun phrase)

• I know where he lives. (noun clause)

* A noun clause has its own subject and verb.

• where he lives

(he is the subject of the noun clause)

(lives is the verb of the noun clause)

* A phrase doesn’t contain a subject and a verb.

There are three basic types of noun clauses.

These types are:

1) noun clauses that start with a question word (where, how, who, when, why)

2) noun clauses that start with whether or if

3) noun clauses that start with that.

SO, A noun clause can begin with:

• a question word

I know where he lives.

Do you know when they left?

Please tell me what she said.

I wonder why Tom is absent.

• if or whether

Do you know if Eric is at home?

I don’t know whether he is married or not.

• That

I know that the world is round.

Noun clauses can follow certain verbs and adjectives that express mental activities

• Agree notice afraid positive • Believe realize angry sorry • Decide remember aware surprised • Doubt see certain sure • Feel show clear worried • Forget suppose convinced • Guess think disappointed • Hear understand glad • Hope wonder happy • Imagine say pleased • Know tell sad

1. Noun Clauses that Start with a Question

• Noun clauses that start with a question are usually used to answer a question.

The following examples should better explain this.

• Where does Sadri live? I don't know where Sadri lives.

"where Sadri lives" is a noun clause. We could answer this question without a noun clause by saying the following.

I don't know Sadri's address. The noun phrase Sadri's address replaces the noun clause where Sadri lives.

• What time is it? I don't know what time it is.

• "what time it is" is a noun clause. We could answer this question without a noun clause by saying the following: I don't know the time. In this case, the noun phrase, the time, replaces the noun clause, what time it is.

2. Noun Clauses that Start with Whether or If

• Noun clauses that start with whether or if are used to answer yes/no type questions. Whether and if are usually interchangeable.

* When a yes/no question is changed to a noun clause,if is usually used to introduce the clause.

Did Alice go to Chicago?

I wonder if Alice went to Chicago.

Do you know if Eric is at home?

I don’t know if Eric is at home.

* When if introduces a noun clause, the expression or not frequently comes at the end of the clause.

I don’t know if Eric is at home or not.

* Whether has the same meaning as if.

I don’t know whether Eric is at home.

I don’t know whether Eric is at home or not.

I don’t know whether or not Eric is at home.

(NOT to use for if)

• Does Judy own a Honda? I don't know if Judy owns a Honda.

"if Judy owns a Honda" is a noun clause. We could answer this question without a noun clause by saying the following: I don't know the answer. In this case, the noun phrase, the answer, replaces the noun clause, if Judy owns a Honda.

• Will Sadine be at work on Friday? I don't know whether Sadine will be at work on Friday.

• "whether Sadine will be at work on Friday" is a noun clause. We could answer this question without a noun clause by saying the following. I don't know the answer. In this case, the noun phrase, the answer, replaces the noun clause, whether Sadine will be at work on Friday.

3. Noun Clauses that Start with That.

• Noun clauses that start with that are used to answer questions in which person who is answering is thinking, giving an opinion, or using a mental activity verb.

• A noun clause can be introduced by the word that.

I think that Mr. Jones is a nice person.

I hope that you can come to the game.

Mary realizes that she should study harder.

I dreamed that I was on top of a mountain.

* The word that is often omitted, especially in speaking.

I believe that everyone should do his or her part.

I believe everyone should do his or her part.

• Common verbs followed by “that-clauses”

admit, agree, assume, believe, conclude, decide, demonstrate,discover, doubt, dream, fear, feel, figure out, find out, forget,guess, hear, hope, imagine, indicate, know, learn, notice,observe, predict, presume, pretend, prove, read, realize, recall,recognize, regret, remember, reveal, show, suppose, suspect,teach, think, understand

* It follows expressions with be + adj. or be + past participle.

I am sure that the bus stops here. (that can be omitted)

I’m glad that you’re feeling better today.

I’m sorry that I missed class yesterday.

I was disappointed that the peace conference failed.

* Two very common expressions.

It is true that the world is round.

It is a fact that the world is round.

* Other common expressions followed by “that-clauses”

be afraid that, be amazed that, be angry that, be ashamed that, be aware that, be certain that, be convinced that, be delighted that, be fortunate that, be furious that, be happy that, be horrified that, be impressed that, be lucky that, be pleased that, be positive that, be proud that, be sad that, be shocked that, be terrified that, be surprised that, be worried that

• Do you know the location of an ATM? I believe that there is an ATM in the supermarket.

"that there is an ATM in the supermarket" is a noun clause.

• Is Dr. Elimelech a good researcher? I think that Dr. Elimelech is a good researcher.

"that Dr. Elimelech is a good researcher" is a noun clause. This noun clause could be omitted by saying the following: I think so…

Most of the time, the word that is dropped. It is perfectably acceptable

to say the following:

• I think that Dr. Elimelech is a good researcher. OR I think Dr. Elimelech is a good researcher.

• I believe that there is an ATM in the supermarket. OR I believe there is an ATM in the supermarket.

Now, answer the following questions by forming noun clauses:

1. Where is the Multimedia Classroom? I don't know _____________

2. When is spring break? I don't know _____________

3. How much will it cost to register for classes this summer? I don't know _____________

4. What is the special in the cafeteria? I don't know _____________

5. Where did Sophorn go? I don't know_______________

6. How long will it take me to master noun clauses? I don't know _____________

7. Is Kayla in the Writing Center? I don't know _____________

8. Does Latasha have any classes on Friday? I don't know _____________

9. Can Elizabeth speak French? I don't know _____________

10. All the students will pass the test. We hope _____________

11. It might rain this weekend. Everyone is sad _____________

12. All the students know where the library is. The teacher assumed _____________

THAT or WHAT

1. I wonder if this is ______you are looking for.

2. Our school is quite different from _______ it was before.

3. Father made a promise ______ if I passed the examination he would buy me a computer.

4._______ I can’t understand is why he has changed his mind.

5.___________ the earth is round is known to us all.

16.You can hardly imagine ______when he heard the news .

A. how he was excited

B. how was he excited

C. how excited he was

D. he was how excited

Whether or IF

1. I don’t know _______ I’ll be free tomorrow.

2. I don’t know _______ I’ll be free tomorrow or not.

3. The question is ______ this book is worth writing.

4. It depends on ______ we will have enough money.

5. ______ they can do it matters little to us.

6._______ you are not free tomorrow , I’ll go without you

what,whatever,who,whoever

1._________ was said here must be kept secret.

2. _______we need is more time.

3._______ made the long distance call to him is not important.

4._________ beaks the law will be punished.

Thank You