Noun Clauses

Noun Clauses A noun clause is an entire clause which takes the place of a noun in another clause or phrase. Like a noun, a noun clause acts as the subject or object of a verb or the object of a preposition, answering the questions "who(m)?" or "what?". Consider the following examples: noun I know Latin. noun clause I know that Latin is no longer spoken as a native language. In the first example, the noun "Latin" acts as the direct object of the verb "know." In the second example, the entire clause "that Latin ..." is the direct object. In fact, many noun clauses are indirect questions: noun Their destination is unknown. noun clause Where they are going is unknown. The question "Where are they going?," with a slight change in word order, becomes a noun clause when used as part of a larger unit -- like the noun "destination," the clause is the subject of the verb "is." Here are some more examples of noun clauses: about what you bought at the mall This noun clause is the object of the preposition "about," and answers the question "about what?" Whoever broke the vase will have to pay for it. This noun clause is the subject of the verb "will have to pay," and answers the question "who will have to pay?" The Toronto fans hope that the Blue Jays will win again. This noun clause is the object of the verb "hope," and answers the question "what do the fans hope?" Adjective Clauses An adjective clause is a dependent clause which takes the place of an adjective in another clause or phrase. Like an adjective, an adjective clause modifies a noun or pronoun, answering questions like "which?" or "what kind of?" Consider the following examples: Adjective the red coat Adjective clause the coat which I bought yesterday Like the word "red" in the first example, the dependent clause "which I bought yesterday" in the second example modifies the noun "coat." Note that an adjective clause usually comes after what it modifies, while an adjective usually comes before. In formal writing, an adjective clause begins with the relative pronouns "who(m)," "that," or "which." In informal writing or speech, you may leave out the relative pronoun when it is not the subject of the adjective clause, but you should usually include the relative pronoun in formal, academic writing: informal The books people read were mainly religious. formal The books that people read were mainly religious. informal Some firefighters never meet the people they save. formal Some firefighters never meet the people whom they save. Here are some more examples of adjective clauses: the meat which they ate was tainted This clause modifies the noun "meat" and answers the question "which meat?". about the movie which made him cry This clause modifies the noun "movie" and answers the question "which movie?". they are searching for the one who borrowed the book The clause modifies the pronoun "one" and answers the question "which one?". Did I tell you about the author whom I met? The clause modifies the noun "author" and answers the question "which author?". Adverb Clauses An adverb clause is a dependent clause which takes the place of an adverb in another clause or phrase. An adverb clause answers questions such as "when?", "where?", "why?", "with what goal/result?", and "under what conditions?". Note how an adverb clause can replace an adverb in the following example: adverb The premier gave a speech here. adverb clause The premier gave a speech where the workers were striking. Usually, a subordinating conjunction like "because," "when(ever)," "where(ever)," "since," "after," and "so that," will introduce an adverb clause. Note that a dependent adverb clause can never stand alone as a complete sentence: independent clause they left the locker room dependent adverb clause after they left the locker room The first example can easily stand alone as a sentence, but the second cannot -- the reader will ask what happened "after they left the locker room". Here are some more examples of adverb clauses expressing the relationships of cause, effect, space, time, and condition: cause Hamlet wanted to kill his uncle because the uncle had murdered Hamlet's father. The adverb clause answers the question "why?". effect Hamlet wanted to kill his uncle so that his father's murder would be avenged. The adverb clause answers the question "with what goal/result?". time After Hamlet's uncle Claudius married Hamlet's mother, Hamlet wanted to kill him. The adverb clause answers the question "when?". Note the change in word order -- an adverb clause can often appear either before or after the main part of the sentence. place Where the whole Danish court was assembled, Hamlet ordered a play in an attempt to prove his uncle's guilt. The adverb clause answers the question "where?". condition If the British co-operate, the Europeans may achieve monetary union. The adverb clause answers the question "under what conditions?" See The Sentence for definitions of sentence, clause, and dependent clause. A sentence which contains just one clause is called a simple sentence. A sentence which contains one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses is called a complex sentence. (Dependent clauses are also called subordinate clauses.) There are three basic types of dependent clauses: adjective clauses, adverb clauses, and noun clauses. (Adjective clauses are also called relative clauses.) This page contains information about noun clauses. Also see Adjective Clauses and Adverb Clauses. A. Noun clauses perform the same functions in sentences that nouns do: A noun clause can be a subject of a verb: What Billy did shocked his friends. A noun clause can be an object of a verb: Billy's friends didn't know that he couldn't swim. A noun clause can be a subject complement: Billy's mistake was that he refused to take lessons. A noun clause can be an object of a preposition: Mary is not responsible for what Billy did. A noun clause (but not a noun) can be an adjective complement: Everybody is sad that Billy drowned. B. You can combine two independent clauses by changing one to a noun clause and using it in one of the ways listed above. The choice of the noun clause marker (see below) depends on the type of clause you are changing to a noun clause: To change a statement to a noun clause use that: I know + Billy made a mistake = I know that Billy made a mistake. To change a yes/no question to a noun clause, use if or whether: George wonders + Does Fred know how to cook? = George wonders if Fred knows how to cook. To change a wh-question to a noun clause, use the wh-word: I don't know + Where is George? = I don't know where George is. C. The subordinators in noun clauses are called noun clause markers. Here is a list of the noun clause markers: that if, whether Wh-words: how, what, when, where, which, who, whom, whose, why Wh-ever words: however, whatever, whenever, wherever, whichever, whoever, whomever D. Except for that, noun clause markers cannot be omitted. Only that can be omitted, but it can be omitted only if it is not the first word in a sentence: correct: Billy's friends didn't know that he couldn't swim. correct: Billy's friends didn't know he couldn't swim. correct: Billy's mistake was that he refused to take lessons. correct: Billy's mistake was he refused to take lessons. correct: That Billy jumped off the pier surprised everyone. not correct: * Billy jumped off the pier surprised everyone. E. Statement word order is always used in a noun clause, even if the main clause is a question: not correct: * Do you know what time is it? (Question word order: is it) correct: Do you know what time it is? (Statement word order: it is) not correct: * Everybody wondered where did Billy go. (Question word order: did Billy go) correct: Everybody wondered where Billy went. (Statement word order: Billy went) F. Sequence of tenses in sentences containing noun clauses: When the main verb (the verb in the independent clause) is present, the verb in the noun clause is: future if its action/state is later He thinks that the exam next week will be hard. He thinks that the exam next week is going to be hard. present if its action/state is at the same time He thinks that Mary is taking the exam right now. past if its action/state is earlier He thinks that George took the exam yesterday. When the main verb (the verb in the independent clause) is past, the verb in the noun clause is: was/were going to or would + BASE if its action/state is later He thought that the exam the following week was going to be hard. He thought that the exam the following week would be hard. past if its action/state is at the same time He thought that Mary was taking the exam then. past perfect if its action/state is earlier He thought that George had taken the exam the day before. If the action/state of the noun clause is still in the future (that is, after the writer has written the sentence), then a future verb can be used even if the main verb is past. The astronaut said that people will live on other planets someday. If the action/state of the noun clause continues in the present (that is, at the time the writer is writing the sentence) or if the noun clause expresses a general truth or fact, the simple present tense can be used even if the main verb is past. We learned that English is not easy. The boys knew that the sun rises in the east. G. Here are some examples of sentences which contain one noun clause (underlined) and one independent clause: Noun clauses as subjects of verbs: That George learned how to swim is a miracle. Whether Fred can get a better job is not certain. What Mary said confused her parents. However you learn to spell is OK with me. Noun clauses as objects of verbs: We didn't know that Billy would jump. We didn't know Billy would jump. Can you tell me if Fred is here? I don't know where he is. George eats whatever is on his plate. Noun clauses as subject complements: The truth is that Billy was not very smart. The truth is Billy was not very smart. The question is whether other boys will try the same thing. The winner will be whoever runs fastest. Noun clauses as objects of prepositions: Billy didn't listen to what Mary said. He wants to learn about whatever is interesting. Noun clauses as adjective complements: He is happy that he is learning English. We are all afraid that the final exam will be difficult.