Noun Clause in English Grammar

Before discussing further, we would like to see the functions of noun clause. As the name is noun, it is used as a subject or an object.

Noun Clause

Definition and Function of Noun Clause

Noun clause is used as a subject or an object. In other words, a noun clause can be used in the same ways as a noun. Look at the example below, the noun as a subject.

1. His speech was interesting

2. What he talked was interesting. 

If we look at the two examples above, the word speech is a noun.  This word is used as the subject of the sentence.

Moreover, what he talked is a noun clause. This clause is used as the subject of the sentence. The noun clause contains its own subject (he) and verb (talked). 

How about the noun as the object. Take a look example below!

1. I heard his story.

2. I heard what he talked. 

 

The story is a noun which functions as the object the verb heard. What he talked is the noun clause which roles as the object of the verb heard. 

Noun Clause with Question Words

Noun clause can be begun with a question word. Look at the table below!

Questions	Noun Clause
Where does he live?	(a) I don't know where he lives
What did they say?	(b) I couldn't hear what he said.
When does she arrive?	(c) Do you know when she arrives?
Who she is?	(d) I don't know who she is.
What happened?	(e) Can you tell me what happened.
What should he do?	(f) What he should do is crucial.

Explanation:

(a) Where he lives is the object of the verb know. We don't use question word order in a noun clause. In the noun clause, the subject precedes the verb.

(d) She is the subject of the questions, so it is written and placed in front of the verb be (is, am,are) in the noun clause.

A noun clause with whether and if.

Another modification of noun clause is that can be begun with Whether and If. 

Questions	Noun Clause
Will he come?	(a) I don't know whether he will come. (b) I don't know if he will come
Do they need help?	(c) I wonder whether they need help. (d) I wonder if they need help.
Does John need help?	(e) I wonder whether John needs help or not. (f) I wonder if John needs help or not.

Explanation:

When there is a yes/no question changed to a noun clause, the word whether or if is used to introduce the clause.

In English, whether is more formal than if. However, if is commonly used in daily speaking. 

In the case of (e and f) we can add or not after the noun clause. 

A noun clause with That

Look at the table below!

Statement	Noun Clause
Andi is a good student.	(a) I think that Andi is a good student.
The world is round.	(b) Many people know that the world is round. (c) Many people know the world is round.
Mr James doesn't understand written English.	(d) That Mr James doesn't understand written English is right. (e) It is right (that) Mr James does not understand written English.

Explanation

That Andi is a good student is a noun clause. It is used as the object of the verb think.

The word "that" has no meaning in noun clause. Frequently, it is omitted (c).

Exercises

Select the best answer to complete the sentences.

 

1. Yesterday, Our horses are in the cage again, and we can't believe how many .............
   1.   horses does he has
   2.   horses has he
   3.   he has horses
   4.   horses he has
2. Could you imagine.............?
   1.   how beautiful she is.
   2.   how beautiful is she
   3.   how beautiful
   4.   is she beautiful
3. The kids are so noisy that i can hardly hear what .........
   1.   are saying you
   2.   that you are saying
   3.   you say
   4.   you are saying
4. My teacher said ........... try to study hard all the time.
   1.   don't to
   2.   that shouldn't
   3.   that we should
   4.   that we don't
5. I don't know ..........
   1.   where does she live
   2.   where she lives
   3.   where lives she
   4.   where she does live
6. I can't remember ..........
   1.   how much does it costs
   2.   how much it costs
   3.   how it does cost
   4.   how much is it
7. Do you know ............
   1.   when they do arrive
   2.   when they do arrives
   3.   when they arrive?
   4.   when does he arrive?
8. It is 350 miles to Denmark from here.
   I need to know ...........
   1.   how far is denmark.
   2.   how far does Denmark.
   3.   how far Denmark does
   4.   how far Denmark is.
9. Does he need paper?
   I want to know .........
   1.   if does he need paper.
   2.   does he need paper.
   3.   if he needs paper.
   4.   if he need paper.
10. Yoko lives in Sweet Street.
    Yohama wants to know ...........
    1.   where does he live?
    2.   where he lives.
    3.   where he does lives.
    4.   where do he live.