A Noun Clause
The term clause refers to a group of words that has a subject and a verb. Let’s have some examples.
- Ali knows better.
In this example, Ali is the subject and the word ‘knows’ refers to the verb.
You may know that a noun is a naming word. It is a name of a thing.
- Ali, school, class
Definition of Noun Clause
A noun clause is defined as a clause that functions as a noun. Look at the difference. A noun is a word and a clause is a group of words. They perform similar functions.
- I will tell you what I saw.
- I know what his name is.
Compare the below examples of nouns.
- I will tell you a story.
- I know Ali.
Functions of Noun Clauses
As a Subject
We can use a noun clause to function as a subject of a sentence.
- What he told surprised me.
- How John behaved was not polite.
As a Direct Object
As nouns are used as direct objects, similarly, noun clauses are also used as direct objects.
- I did not get what he said.
- She understood that she has capabilities.
As an Indirect Object
One of the functions of a noun clause is as an indirect object.
- I have bought whoever wins a gift.
- I sent whoever receives a letter.
As an Object of Preposition
A noun clause can be used as an object of a preposition.
- Ali is not interested in whatever I say.
- I am ashamed of how he behaved toward you.
As a Subject Complement
We can also use a noun clause as a subject complement.
- Children become whatever you want them to be.
- He is what I told you about.
How to identify a noun clause?
Replace with a Noun or Pronoun
How to identify a noun clause in a sentence is quite easy. To check whether a clause is a noun clause or not, replace the clause with a pronoun or noun. The clause functions as a noun if you can replace it with a pronoun, or a noun.
- What I said was your promise.
- It was your promise.
- Where we went was beautiful.
- Islamabad was beautiful.
Ask a Question with What
When you find a clause in a sentence, ask yourself a question with what. If it clarifies the question, the clause is a noun clause.
- Where we went was a beautiful place.
If we ask the question ‘what was a beautiful place?’ the answer is where we went. The clause clarifies the question, so the clause is a noun clause.
Starting Word of a Noun Clause
A noun clause starts with wh-words and expletive words. The expletive words do not have grammatical functions. They just fill out a sentence without adding meaning. They are like that, whether, if. The wh-words are who, whose, whom, where, when, why, etc.
- I don’t know what your name is.
- The great thing about him is (that) he gets up early in the morning.
As we know that noun clauses are dependent clauses. If the main clause is a question, we write the noun clause as a declarative sentence.
- Do you know who I am?
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