NOUN CLAUSE
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What is a noun clause?
Definition:
A noun clause is a subordinate
clause that functions as a noun
within a main clause.
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 Noun
cluase usually begins
with words:
how
why
what
when
who
that
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where whose
which
whether
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KINDS OF NOUN CLAUSE
 There
are four different kinds
of noun clause:
That-clause
Infinitive- clause
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Wh-clause
Ing-clause
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EXAMPLES OF NOUN CLAUSE
Everyone believes that Senghor Lay is
the most handsome man in the world.
 What Jennifer Aniston believes is not
important.
 My plan is to marry Brad Pitt.


I am scared of losing Brad if I don’t move
to Hollywood.
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FUNCTIONS OF NOUN CLAUSE

Noun clause may function in sentence as

SUBJECT
 COMPLEMENT
 OBJECT OF VERB
 OBJECT OF GERUND
 OBJECT OF INFINITIVE
 OBJECT OF PREPOSITION
 OBJECT OF PARTICIPLE
 COMPLEMENT OF ADJECTIVE.
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A NOUN CLAUSE AS A SUBJECT

That she left early surprised us.
The noun clause here, that
thatshe
sheleft
left early,
early
functions as the subject of the verb.
Surprised, The subject-verb combination
of the noun clause is she
left,
and the
she
left
subordinator is that.
The verb of the
that
independent clause is surprised,
and
surprised
the noun clause functions here as its
subject.
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A NOUN CLAUSE AS A COMPLEMENT

The problem was that she left early.
thatshe
she left
left early
The noun clause here, that
early,
functions as a complement of the subject
problem in the independent clause. The
problem
subject verb combination of this noun
clause is she
sheleft,
left and the subordinator
is that.
that The subject-verb combination
of independent clause is problem
problemwas.
was
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A NOUN CLAUSE AS AN OBJECT OF A VERB

We didn’t realize that she left early.
The noun clause here, that
early,
thatshe
she left
left early
functions as an object of the verb,
did…realize,
in the independent
did..realize
clause. The subject-verb combination of
this noun clause is sheshe
left,left
and
its subordinator is that.
The subjectthat
verb combination of the independent
clause is we did….realize.
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A NOUN CLAUSE AS AN OBJECT OF A GERUND

Finding out that she left early relieved
our worry. The noun clause here,
early,
that she left early functions as an object
of the gerund, Finding
out. The subjectFinding out
verb combination of the noun clause is
she left, and its subordinator is that.
that The
gerund, Finding
out, functions as the
Finding out
subject of the verb relieved.
relieved
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A NOUN CLAUSE AS AN OBJECT OF AN INFINITIVE

He needs to know that she left early.
that she
she left
The noun clause here * that
leftearly
early
functions as an object of the infinitive
know*.
to
know The subject-verb combination of
the noun clause is *she
she left*
left and its
subordinator is * that*.
that The infinitive to
know functions in the independent
clause as an object of the verb *needs*
needs
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A NOUN CLAUSE AS AN OBJECT OF A PREPOSITION

The gossip was about why she left early.
The noun clause here, why
early,
whyshe
she left
left early
functions as an object of the preposition,
about,
about The subject-verb combination of
this noun clause is, she
left, and its
she left
subordinator is, why.
why The prepositional
phrase and the noun clause together
function as a complement of the subject,
gossip.
gossip
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A NOUN CLAUSE AS AN OBJECT OF A PARICIPLE

Realizing that she left early, we left too.
The noun clause here that she left early
functions as an object of the participle
realizing
in the independent
Realizing
clause. The subject-verb ombination of
she left
the noun clause is
and its
subordinator is that . In this case, that,
may be omitted.
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A NOUN CLAUSE AS A COMPLEMENT OF AN ADJECTIVE

Are you sure that she left early.
The noun clause here, that she left early
functions as a complement of the
adjective sure .
The subject-verb combination of the
she left
noun clause is
and its
subordinator is that. In the independent
clause, the adjective sure functions as
a complement of the subject
you
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