1

NOUN CLAUSE

A. INTRODUCTION

Sentences divided into two :

1) simple sentence

A sentence which contains just one clause

2) complex 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

(Adjective clauses are also called relative clauses)

adverb clauses

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. A noun clause is a dependent clause and cannot stand

alone as a sentence.  It must be connected to an independent clause, a main clause. A noun

clause has its own subject and verb. It can begin with a question word. It can begin with if or

whether. And it can begin with that. 

Independent Clause

If a clause can stand alone as a sentence, it is an independent clause, as in the following

example:

“the Prime Minister is in Ottawa”

Dependent Clause

Some clauses, however, cannot stand alone as sentences: in this case, they are

dependent clauses or subordinate clauses. Consider the same clause with the

subordinating conjunction "because" added to the beginning.

as in the following example:

“when the Prime Minister is in Ottawa”

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:

2

1) Direct Object

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.

2) 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."

3) Here are some more examples of noun clauses:

a. about what you bought at the mall

This noun clause is the object of the preposition "about," and answers the question

"about what?"

b. 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?"

c. 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?"

B. USES OF NOUN CLAUSE

Noun clauses perform the same functions in sentences that nouns do:

1) Noun clause used as an object

He said something He said that he was sick.

S V O S V O

Billy’s friends didn’t know that he couldn’t swim.

S V O

Other example :

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.

3

2) Noun clause used as a subject

Something is your business Whatever you do is your business.

S V S V

Someone is still in the cafeteria Whoever ate my lunch is still in the cafeteria.

S V S V

What Billy did shocked his friends

S V

Other example :

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

3) A noun clause can be a subject complement:

example :

Billy’s mistake was that he refused to take lessons.

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.

4) A noun clause can be an object of a preposition:

example :

Mary is not responsible for what Billy did.

Billy didn’t listen to what Mary said.

He wants to learn about whatever is interesting.

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

example :

Everybody is sad that Billy drowned.

He is happy that he is learning English.

We are all afraid that the final exam will be difficult.

C. SUBORDINATORS WHICH ARE USED IN NOUN CLAUSES:

The subordinators in noun clauses are called noun clause markers. Here is a list of the

noun clause markers:

4

that

if, whether

Wh-words: how, what, when, where, which, who, whom, whose, why, how much, how

many, how long, how far, how often

Wh-ever words: however, whatever, whenever, wherever, whichever, whoever,

whomever

D.BASIC TYPE OF NOUN CLAUSES

There are three basic types of noun clauses. These types are :

1) noun clauses that start with a question word

Single question words (i.e. when, how, what, where, who, why, ect.)

Question words + ever/soever

Question words + nouns

Question words + adjectives

Question words + determiners.

Question words + adverbs.

Question words + infinitives.

2) noun clauses with who, what, whose + be

3) noun clauses that start with whether or if,

4) noun clauses that start with that.

1) Noun clauses with question words:

Noun clauses that start with a question are usually used to answer a question.

The following question words can be used to introduce a noun clause: when, where,

why, how, who, whom, what, which, whose.  So, 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.

Example: 

Answer this question using 'I don't know...'

Where does Maria live?

I don't know -------------.

It is incorrect to say, "I don't know where does she live."

Notice that "does she live" is a question form.  Noun clauses cannot be in question

form; it has to be a statement.

"I don't know where she lives" is the correct answer.

" where she lives" is a noun clause

5

We could answer this question without a noun clause by saying the following.

I don't know Maria's address.  The noun phrase, Maria's address, replaces with the

noun clause, where Maria 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.

a. Single question words .

Example: 

1. Where she is now is still unknown.

2. When they arrive is still uncertain.

3. I know what you did last summe r and I still know what you did last summer are two

Hollywood movies starred by Jennifer Love Hewitt.

b. Question words + ever/soever

Except how, question words can added by ever or soever became whenever =

whensoever, whatever= whatsoever, etc. the means of ever or soever is “saja

Example: 

1. We will accept whatever you want us to do.

2. Whoever can melt her feeling is a very lucky guy.

3. She has agreed to wherever the man would bring her.

*informal : She has agreed wherever the man would bring her to.

c. Question words + nouns

commonly use:

what time what day what time what kind

what type whose + nouns (i.e. whose car, whose book, ect.).

Example: 

1. I can’t remember what day we will take the exam.

2. As long as I am faithful, she doesn’t care what type of family I come from.

3. Do you know what time it is?

4. I don’t know whose car is parked in front of my house.

d. Question words + adjectives

commonly use: how long, how far, how old, ect.

Example: 

6

1. Man! She still looks young. Do you know how old she actually is?

2. I am lost. Could you tell me how far it is from here to the post office?

3. What a jerk. He didn’t even ask how long I had been waiting for him.

e. Question words + determiners.

commonly use : how many and how much

Remember : how many for plural nouns

how much for uncountable nouns.

Example: 

1. Is there any correlation between how good he or she is in English and how many

books he or she has?

2. How much your English skill will improve is determined by how hard you practice.

f. Question words + adverbs.

commonly use : how often, how many times, ect.

Example: 

1. No matter how often I practice, my English still sucks.

2. I don’t want my parents to know how many times I have left school early.

g. Question words + infinitives.

Means of this invinitives is “should” or “can/could”

Remember that subject after question words is erassed

Example: 

1. She didn’t know what to do = She didn’t know what she should do.

2. Please tell me how to get the train station from here = Please tell me how I can get

the train station from here.

3. We haven’t decided when to go to the beach = We haven’t decided when we should

go to the beach.

4. Marry told us where to find her = Marry told us where we could find her.

Respond to these questions using I don't know...

1-   How old is Kate?

2-   Where did Juan go?

3-   Why did Maria leave?

4-   What did she say?

5-   When is she going to leave?

6-   What country is Maria from?

7-   What is that girl's name?

7

Now compare your sentences to mine. 

1-   I don't know how old she is.

2-   I don't know where he went.

3-   I don't know why she left.

4-   I don't know what she said.

5-   I don't know when she is going to leave.

6-   I don't know what country she is from.

7-   I don't know what her name is.

2) Noun clauses with who, what, whose + be

A noun or pronoun that follows main verb 'be' in a question comes in front of 'be' in

a noun clause. 

Example:

--> Who is that boy? I don't know who that boy is.

--> Whose pen is this? I don't know whose pen this is.

A prepositional phrase does not come in front of 'be' in a noun clause. 

Example:

--> Who is in the office? I don't know who is in the office.

--> Whose pen is on the desk? I don't know whose pen is on the desk.

Notice that usual word order is not used when the question word is the subject of the

question as in 'who' and 'what'.  In this case, the word order in the noun clause is the

same as the word order in question.

3) Noun Clauses that Start with Conjunction “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.  The following examples should

better explain this.

George wonders + Does Fred know how to cook? = George wonders if Fred knows how to cook.

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?

8

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.

Is Maria at home?

I don't know if Maria is at home.

Does this bus go to Los Angeles?

I don't know if this bus goes to Los Angeles.

Did Juan go to Mexico?

I wonder if Juan went to Mexico.

Frequently, speakers may add 'or not'.  This comes at the end of the noun clause in

sentences with 'if' and immediately after 'whether' in sentences with 'whether'.

Example:

(a) I don't know if Maria is at home or not. 

(b) I don't know whether or not Maria is at home.

(c) I am not sure whether she is coming or not = I am not sure whether or not she is

coming = I am not sure whether she is coming.

(d) We can’t decide whether we should go out or stay home. = We can’t decide

whether to go or (to) stay home.

(e) I am not sure whether I should take economics or law after I graduate from high

school.

Notice that we cannot use 'or not' immediately after 'if'.

4) Noun Clauses that Start with “That” or “the fact 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 or to

change a statement to a noun clause. In here, the meaning of “that” is “bahwa”, while

“the fact that” is fakta bahwa. but, “that” in the adjective clauses means “yang”.

I know + Billy made a mistake = I know that Billy made a mistake.

The following examples should better explain this.

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.

Do you know the location of an ATM?

9

I believe that there is an ATM in the supermarket.

"that there is an ATM in the supermarket" is a noun clause.

I think that Ms. Weiss is a good teacher.

In the sentence above, 'Ms. Weiss is a good teacher' is a noun clause.

It is the object of the verb 'think'.

Other example :

1. That she has had a PhD degree at the age of 20 surprises a lot of people = It surprises

a lot of people that she has had a PhD degree at the age of 20.

2. It is the fact that the world is round = the fact that the world is round is well known.

3. It was obvious that she was very sick = The fact that she was very sick was obvious.

4. It seems that it is going to rain soon.

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.”

That clauses are frequently used as the object of verbs which express mental

activity.

Here are some common verbs followed by 'that clauses'*

Assume that believe that discover that dream that

Guess that hear that hope that know that

Learn that notice that predict that prove that   

Realize that suppose that suspect that think that

There are many more verbs that can be followed by "that" clause.

*The verbs in the above list are those that are emphasize in the exercise. Some

other common verbs that can be followed by “that clauses” are :

Agree that conclude that decide that demonstrate that

Doubt that fear that feel that figure out that

Find out that forget that imagine that indicate that

10

Observe that presume that pretend that read that

Recall that regret that remember that recognize that

Reveal that show that teach that understand that

Complete the following with your own words.  Use noun clauses. 

1-   I feel that ----

2-   I wonder if -----

3-   You are lucky that -----

4-   It is a fact that ------

5-   I doubt that --------

6-   I am worried that ------

7-   I don't know when ------

8-   I don't know if -------

9-   I regret that -------

10-  I am amazed that -------

Possible completion:

1-   I feel that she will do well on the test.

2-   I wonder if she is coming to the part.

3-   You are lucky that won the lottery.

4-   It is a fact that Mr. Lopez is a good teacher.

5-   I doubt that she will come today.

6-   I am worried that they won't win the game.

7-   I don't know when she will come.

8-   I regret that she failed the test.

9-   I don't know if she lives in New York or not.

10-  I am amazed that we made it to the airport on time.

E. STATEMENT WORD ORDER IS ALWAYS USED IN A NOUN CLAUSE,

EVEN IF THE MAIN CLAUSE IS A QUESTION:

In the other word Noun clauses cannot be in question form; it has to be a statement.

Example :

11

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. OMITTED

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:

Example :

1. Billy’s friends didn’t know that he couldn’t swim.

correct : Billy’s friends didn’t know he couldn’t swim.

2. Billy’s mistake was that he refused to take lessons.

correct : Billy’s mistake was he refused to take lessons.

3. That Billy jumped off the pier surprised everyone.

not correct : * Billy jumped off the pier surprised everyone.

G. SUBSTITUTING “SO” FOR A “THAT CLAUSE” IN CONVERSATIONAL

RESPONSES

Think, believe, and hope are frequently followed by so in conversational

English in response to a yes/no question. They are alternatives to answering yes, no,

or I don’t know*. So replace a “that clause”

Example :

A : is Pedro from Mexico?

B : I think so (I think that Pedro is from Mexico)

A : Does Judy live in Dallas?

B : I believe so (I believe that Judy lives in Dallas)

A : Did you pass the test?

B : I hope so (I hope that I passed the test

Negative Usage

12

a) I think so I don’t think sob) I believe so I don’t believe soc) I hope so I hope not

Example :

A : is Ali at home?

B : I don’t think so (I don’t think that Ali is that home)

A : is Jack married?

B : I don’t believe so (I don’t believe that Jack is married)

A : Did you fail the test?

B : I hope not (I hope not that I didn’t fail the test

* in addition to expressions with think, believe, and hope, the following expression

are commonly used in conversational responses :

I guess so I sippose so I’m afraid so

I guess not I sippose not I’m afraid not

H.OTHER USES OF “THAT CLAUSE”

“that clause” can follow certain expression with be + adjective or be + past

participle. The word “that” can be omitted with no change in meaning.

Example :

a) I’m sure that the bus stops here.

b) I’m glad that you’re feeling better today.

c) I’m sorry that I missed class yesterday.

d) I was disappointed that the peace conference failed.

Two very common expression followed by 'that clauses'*

It is true (that)

It is a fact (that)

Example :

1. It is true that the world is round.

2. It is a fact that the world is round.

Here are some common expression followed by 'that clauses'*

13

Be afraid that be disappointed that be sorry that

Be aware that be glad that be sure that

Be certain that be happy that be surprise that

Be convinced that be pleased that be worried that

*The above list contains expression emphasize in the exercise. Some other common

expression with be that are frequently followed by “that clauses” are :

Be amazed that be delighted that be impressed that be sad that

Be angry that be fortunate that be lucky that be shocked that

Be ashamed that be furious that be positive that be terrified that

Be astounded that be horrified that be proud that be thrilled that

I. Sequence of tenses in sentences containing noun clauses:

1. When the main verb (the verb in the independent clause) is present, the verb in the

noun clause is:

a) future if its action/state is later

Example : He thinks that the exam next week will be hard.

He thinks that the exam next week is going to be hard.

b) present if its action/state is at the same time

Example : He thinks that Mary is taking the exam right now.

c) past if its action/state is earlier

Example : He thinks that George took the exam yesterday.

2. When the main verb (the verb in the independent clause) is past, the verb in the noun

clause is:

a) was/were going to or would + BASE if its action/state is later

Example : He thought that the exam the following week was going to be hard.

He thought that the exam the following week would be hard.

b) past if its action/state is at the same time

Example : He thought that Mary was taking the exam then.

c) past perfect if its action/state is earlier

Example : He thought that George had taken the exam the day before.

3. 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.

14

Example : The astronaut said that people will live on other planets someday.

4. 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.

Example : We learned that English is not easy.

The boys knew that the sun rises in the east.

15

DAFTAR PUSAKA

Azar, Betty Schrampfer.1992. Fundamentals of English Gramar.Ed:Second.NewJersey:

Prentice Hall

www.ismailmidi.com

www.faculty.deanza.edu

www.eslgold.com

www.testyourenglish.net

www.swabhaskara.com

www.arts.uottawa.ca

www.raf1816phyboy.blogspot.com

www.esl.lbcc.cc.ca.us

www.buckhoff.topcities.com

www.gramar.about.com

www.english-for-students.com

www.examples-help.org.uk

www.english-zone.com