Noun Clause
A noun clause is a dependent (or subordinate clause) that works as a noun. It
can be the subject of a sentence, an object (DO, IO, and OP), a complement (PN)
or Appositive. Like all nouns, the purpose of a noun clause is to name a person,
place, thing, or idea. Sometimes when we want to name something, a single word
won’t do – sometimes we need a group of words to name something. That is why
we use noun clauses.
Types of Noun Clauses
a. Noun Clauses as Subjects
Example 1
Whoever leaves last should turn off the lights.
Example 2
That people need water to survive should be obvious to everyone.
Example 3
In music, which note is played and how long it is played are both essential.
In this example, the sentence is about two things: ‘which note is played’ and ‘how
long it is played’. Therefore, both of these noun clauses are the subject of the
sentence.
b. Noun Clauses as Objects
Direct objects
Indirect objects
Objects of prepositions
Example 1
My dog will eat whatever food I give him. DO
Example 2
The judges will award whichever painting they like the most the blue ribbon. IO
Example 3
I want to play with whoever is a good sport. OP
c. Noun Clauses as Complements (PN)
A complement re-states or gives more information about a noun. It always follows
a state-of-being verb (is, are, am, will be, was, were).
Example 1
The winner will be whoever gets the most votes.
Example 2
My hope is that everyone here becomes friends.
d. Noun Clauses as appositive
Her plan, that we improve the environment, has much support. Appositive
III- Identify the function of each Noun Clause in each sentence (SUB, DO, IO, OP,
PN, appositive)
Example: I know what the answer is. ____DO_______________
1. Do you know what happened? __ ___DO
2. Susan thinks that she will get the job at Martin's Store. _DO_ ___
3. Whoever phoned us didn't let the phone ring long enough. _SUBJECT__ __
4. Andy’s promise was that he'd be on time for the party. __ ___PN
5. Whether or not she should go camping worried Jane. _ ____SUB
6. Mr. Sims mentioned that he'd be late for the meeting. ____ _DO
7. Whoever sent us this letter should have signed his or her name. SUB_____
8. Who your ancestors were makes no difference to me. _ ____SUB
9. Mr. Barnes wondered about what happened to Carl __ ___OP
10. That anyone else could be doing the same experiments has occurred to him.
SUB___ __
11. You can tell whomever you want the truth. ____ IO_______
12. His idea, that people are equal, is central to American democracy. __APP___
________
HINT: The noun clause cannot be removed unless it is an appositive
IV- Identify the underlined clauses as Adjective, Adverb, or Noun.
1.
What happened on June 30, 1973 will never be forgotten in our town.
NOUN
2.
We all believe that Jim will be elected class president. _NOUN__ __
3.
She can swim better than Bob can. __ADVERB _____
4.
Although I'd never been in the Martins' house before, I felt at home there.
_ADVERB_
5.
When you listen to music on the radio, do you hum along with it?
__ADVERB____
6.
Is this the letter that you were expecting? __ADJECTIVE _______
7.
Over there is the school that I attended. __ADJECTIVE___ ____
8.
Is that the antique show that you visited? ___ADJECTIVE _______
9.
The Harveys have a dog that is fourteen years old. ___ADJECTIVE_ _____
10. We knew that we were in for a spell of hot, humid weather. _NOUN AS
DO__ ____
11. Mr. Norman regrets that he didn't travel more in his youth. __NOUN
_______
12.
You may have the job if you will work hard at it. __ADVERB__ _____
13.
Whenever you make a promise, you must keep it. __ADVERB_ ______
14. Mr. Hartman is a history teacher who also coaches track.
__ADJECTIVE_________
15. For dinner, we had chicken fried steak, which is my favorite dish.
_ADJECTIVE_ ___
16. Whoever sent us this Christmas card forgot to sign his or her name.
_NOUN___
17.
Whoever visits us will be assured of a freshly painted room. _NOUN ____
18. Since they left Cleveland, the Smiths have lived in three other cities.
ADVERB
Where, when,
how, why, since,
before: adverbs
That: no function
in a noun clause
Who and whoever
always subject
Whom and
whomever always
DO or OP
Whose: adjective
If and whether :
no function
Which ,
whichever, and
what, whatever:
subject, DO,OP,
and adjective
My choice will be whichever ones she chooses. (Adjective)
My choice will be whichever goes first. (Subject)
My choice will be whichever he chooses. (DO)
My choice will be whichever he looks for. (OP)
What happened doesn’t concern me. (Subject)
What he did doesn’t concern me. (DO)
What he wrote about doesn’t concern me. (OP)
What choice he made doesn’t concern me. (Adjective)