NOUN CLAUSE

WHAT IS A NOUN?Definitions of NounThe English word “noun” comes from the

Latin ‘nomen’ meaning ‘name’. The function of noun is to name someone or something.

According to Oxford Dictionary (Pearsall, 1999:945), noun is a word used to identify any of a class of people, places or things, or to name a particular one of these.

It can be concluded that noun is a word that functions to identify someone or something.

WHAT IS A CLAUSE?Definition of ClauseA clause is a group of related words. It

contains a subject and a verb (Betty, 1993:346).

Clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. it can take the place of different parts of speech (http://esl.lbcc.cc.ca.us/eesllessons/nounclauses/nounclause.htm).

It can be concluded that clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb, which can take the place of different of speech.

NOUN CLAUSEDefinition of Noun ClauseA noun clause is a dependent clause and

cannot stand alone as a sentence (Betty Schrampfer Azar, 1993:346).

In a noun clause, the full subject and predicate are retained. The noun clause fills the same position and serves the same function as noun (Frank, 1972:283).

So, it can be concluded that noun clause is a dependent clause that has function as a subject, object, or complement.

TYPES OF NOUN CLAUSESNoun Clauses That Preceded by Question

Words Noun clauses that preceded by question

words are usually used to answer a question. The following examples should better explain this.

Q:Where does Sarik Live?.A: I don't know where Sarik lives. "Where

Sarik lives" is a noun clause. We can answer this question without a noun clause by saying the following. I don't know Sarik's address. The noun phrase, Sarik's address, replaces with the noun clause, where Sarik lives.

Noun Clauses That Preceded by Whether or If

Noun clauses that preceded by whether or if are used to answer yes/no type questions.  Whether and if are usually interchangeable.  The following examples should better explain this.

Q:Does Judy own a Honda?A: 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.

Noun Clauses That Preceded by ThatNoun clauses that preceded by that are used

to answer questions in which person who is answering is thinking, giving an opinion, or using a mental activity verb. The following examples should better explain this.

Q: 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. Most of the time, native speakers will drop the word that

Syntactic Functions of Noun Clause As a subject

◦ How he gets the money is his own affair.◦ Whether (or not) he gets the money doesn’t concern me.

The two groups of italic words are the subject of the sentences above.

As a subject after it◦ It is well known that coffee grows in Brazil.

The word “that coffee grows in Brazil” is a subject after It in the above sentence.

As an object of verb◦ I know that coffee grows in Brazil.◦ I do not know how he will get the money.

The two groups of italic words are the object of verb of the sentences above.

As an object of preposition◦ We were concerned about how he will get the money.◦ We talked about what a pretty girl she was.

The words that sign in italic word refer to the object of preposition of the sentences above.

As a subjective complement- The question is how he will get the money.- My understanding is that coffee grows in Brazil.

The two groups of italic words are the subjective compliment of the sentences above.

As an appositive◦His belief that coffee grows in Brazil is correct.

The word “that coffee grows in Brazil” is an appositive in the sentence above.