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. This lesson will
explain noun clauses, give examples
of noun clauses, and then provide
several quizzes to practice forming
noun clauses.

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

a noun, a noun phrase, or anoun 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 doesnt 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 dont 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
Believe
Decide
Doubt
Feel
Forget
Guess
Hear
Hope
Imagine
Know

notice
realize
remember
see
show
suppose
think
understand
wonder
say
tell

afraid
angry
aware
certain
clear

positive
sorry
surprised
sure
worried
convinced
disappointed
glad
happy
pleased
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 with 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 dont 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 dont know if Eric is at home or not.
* Whether has the same meaning as if.
I dont know whether Eric is at home.
I dont know whether Eric is at home or not.
I dont 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 he or her part.
I believe everyone should do he 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 follow expressions with be + adj. or be + past participle.

I am sure that the bus stops here. (that can be omitted)
Im glad that youre feeling better today.
Im 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 instructor?

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

Other That Clauses

* It follow expressions with be + adj. or be + past participle.
I am sure that the bus stops here. (that can be omitted)
Im glad that youre feeling better today.
Im 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

Most of the time, native

speakers will drop the word
that. It is perfectably
acceptable to say the
following.

I think that Dr. Elimelech is a good instructor.

OR I think Dr. Elimelech is a good instructor.
I believe that there is an ATM in the
supermarket.
OR I believe there is an ATM in the
supermarket.

 The words whoever, whatever,

wherever, whichever, whenever and
however have similar meanings to it
doesnt matter who, what, which etc., it
may be.
A word of this kind has a double function:
1. it acts as a subject, object or adverb in its
own clause.
2. It also acts as a conjunction joining its
clause to the rest of the sentence.

-ever clauses
1 Whoever (refers to a person)
2 whatever (refers to nounsdiscoveries)
3 whenever (refers to every time that . . . )
4 Wherever (refers to places)
5 Whichever
6 However

 Whatever you may say I am not going to

take him back. (= It doesnt matter what
you say, I wont take him back.)
Wherever you go, I shall follow you. (It
doesnt matter where you go, I shall follow
you.)
Whoever disobeys the law must be
punished. (It doesnt matter who disobeys
the law, he/she must be punished.)
Keep calm, whatever happens.
However much he eats, he never gets fat.

These words are also used to suggest

something not definitely known.
I shall come whenever I can slip away.
We shall send whoever is available.
You will have to be content with whatever
you can get.

 We can think about the 'W' -ever words semantically as

the 'W' word + the quantifier 'any'. The trick to
understanding these terms is to realise that they apply
to any single one of the referents, and at the same time
refer to all of the referents.
Whatever - Any thing (This could also be every thing)
Whenever - Any time (This could also be 'every time')
Wherever - Any 'where' (Anywhere or everywhere).
Whoever - Anyone (Any person or every person, or
sometimes used to refer to a person unknown to the
speaker)
Whichever - Any 'which' (Choice between a group or
set).
However - Any 'way' (In any manner or way, regardless
of how).

Examples of Whatever
*

Whatever you do, pay attention to the road when

you are driving. (You can do anything as long as you
pay attention to the road)
They say you can buy whatever you desire in
Harrods, as long as you have the money. (You can
buy anything in Harrods, if you have enough money)
The student was so intelligent that whatever we
taught, she understood. (She understood everything
that she was taught)
The criminal said he would do whatever he could in
order to get out of jail. (He would do everything or
anything he could to get out of jail)

Examples of Whenever
Whenever the neighbors flush the toilet, water
comes through our ceiling. (Every time they flush
the toilet it happens)
Whenever she calls, the landlord is busy. (Every
time she calls the landlord, he/she is busy)
Call me whenever you need something. (Call me
any time you need something)
Whenever he comes home, he acts like a hungry
dog. (Ever time he comes home, she is like that)
Whenever I go to sleep early, I have
extraordinary dreams. (Every time I go to sleep
early, I have these dreams)

Examples of Wherever
Wherever you go in the world, remember where
you came from and where you are going. (Anywhere
you go in the world, remember those things)
With a good education in English, wherever you go,
you will have a good time. (If you are taught well,
you will have a good time anywhere)
Wherever we put the TV in the room, the reception
is bad. (Anywhere we put the TV the reception is
bad)
You can stick the present that she gave you
wherever you want, just don't let her know if you
put it in the rubbish bin. (You can stick that present
anywhere)

Examples of Whoever
Whoever broke the vase, can you please replace it?
(Any specific person who broke the vase, please
replace it)
Whoever goes to the shop, please don't steal
anything. (Any one or more of the people who will go to
the shop, don't steal anything)
Whoever it was that knocked on the door last night
must have been drunk, because they dropped twenty
dollars as they ran away. (The unknown person who
knocked on the door dropped twenty dollars)
Whoever you just spoke to, she must have some
special powers, because you look like you fell in love.
(The unknown person who you spoke with must have
some special powers)

Examples of Whichever
You can drive whichever of the cars you want. (You can
choose to drive any of the cars)
Whichever dress I wear tonight, I'm worried that my butt
will look fat. What do you think? (Person is worried that
the person's butt looks fat in any of the selected dresses)
Whichever road you take to Rome, you will need to drive
carefully. (There are a number of roads to take, and it is
necessary to drive carefully on any one that you take)
Whichever pizza you ordered for her, it must have had
some very delicious ingredients. (The pizza that was
ordered from those available had some special
ingredients)

Examples of However
You can dress however you like for the party,
it's not formal. (You can dress the way that you
want for the party)
However much she eats, she never puts on
weight. (It doesn't matter how much she eats,
she never gets fat)
You can do it however you like, I don't really
care as long as it gets done. (you can do it any
way that you want)
However rich they may be, it still isn't enough
for them. (It doesn't matter how rich they may
be)

Now, answer the followingquestions

by forming noun clauses with your
instructors help

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 Keila 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 _____________

13. Harold will write more noun clause

quizzes.
I think _____________
14. Coffee is good for you.
I don't belive _____________
15. Maria used to live in Sweden.
I doubt _____________

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 cant 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 dont know _______ Ill be
free tomorrow.
2. I dont know _______ Ill 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 , Ill 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.