NOUN CLAUSE

NOUN CLAUSE

Definition :

Noun clause is does the work of a noun in a sentence or phrase, It is a group of words containing a subject and a finite verb of its own. Some rules :noun clauses usually begin with words like how.

Function:

                              •      A noun clause can be a subject of a verb:

Example: What widya did shocked his friends

                              •      A noun clause can be an object of a verb :

Example : Ella’s friends didn’t know that she couldn’t swim.

                              •      A noun clause can be an object of a preposition:

Example : Mary is not responsible for what Ira did

                              •      A noun clause (but not a noun) can be an adjective complement :

Example : Everybody is sad that Olvie drowned

  

Uses of Noun Clauses:

                              •      After some verbs and adjectives

                              •      To include a question in a statement (embedded questions)

                              •      To report what someone has said or asked

There are three types of Noun Clauses:

a.      Noun clauses with THAT:

Noun clauses with THAT can be used with all verbs mentioned except wonder

Example:

                              •      I think that this book will be interesting

The word that can often be omitted. However it can not be omitted if it is in the subject position

b.      Noun clauses with Wh-words:

They have statement word order, even when they occur within questions
                        Wh + subject + verb

Example :

                              •      I wonder how he feels today.

                              •      Where I put my book is a mystery.

c.       Noun clauses with If/whether:
are often followed by or not.