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UCI ExtensionPaper-Based TOEFL Workshop

Noun Clauses

Structure and Written Expression Skills 9-10Longman Preparation Course for the TOEFL Test

Tutorial prepared by Marla Yoshida

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What is a noun clause?• Review: Nouns can be used in many ways. For example, a

noun can be the subject of a clause…

Some books are very expensive.

• …the object of a clause…

I bought some books at the bookstore.

• …or an object of a preposition…

There are lots of pictures in those books.

• Sometimes we also use a clause in the same way that we use a noun. A clause can be a subject, an object, or an object of a preposition. We call this kind of clause a noun clause.

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Compare nouns and noun clauses…• The subject is a noun: The food was delicious.• The subject is a clause: [What they ate for dinner] was

delicious.

• The object is a noun: Everyone liked the food.• The object is a clause: Everyone liked [what they ate for

dinner.]

• The object of a preposition is a noun: They told us about the food.

• The object of a preposition is a clause: They told us about [what they ate for dinner.]

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Using noun clauses• A noun clause begins with one of these words:

• Many of these can also be question words. However, the word order in noun clauses is different from question word order:

What are you doing? (Question order: verb before subject)I don’t know [what you are doing]. (Noun clause order: verb after subject.)

• The word order in a noun clause is like the word order in a statement: Subject + Verb + Object

thatthe fact thatwhetherif

whatwhenwherewhyhow

whateverwhoeverwhenever

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Noun clauses with that• That is often used in reported speech, when we’re telling

what someone said, thought, knew, wrote, etc.The teacher said [that we should do our homework].Did you know [that Sacramento is the capital of California]?I think [that classical music is boring].

• We can also omit that in this kind of sentence.The teacher said [we should do our homework].Did you know [Sacramento is the capital of California]?I think [classical music is boring].

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Noun clauses with that or the fact that

That or the fact that can also be used in sentences like these:You forgot my name. It makes me sad. [That you forgot my name] makes me sad.

Gold is expensive. It’s a well-known fact. [That gold is expensive] is a well-known fact.

The bus was late. That’s not unusual. [The fact that the bus was late] is not unusual.

I had promised to go to Starbucks with you. I forgot it. I forgot [that I had promised to go to Starbucks with you].

The doctor made a mistake. He regrets it. The doctor regrets [the fact that he made a mistake].

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Noun clauses with whether or if

Whether and if can be used in noun clauses that come from yes/no questions:

Is today Ellen’s birthday? I don’t know. I don’t know [whether today is Ellen’s birthday]. I don’t know [if today is Ellen’s birthday].

Is there a Starbucks next to the bank? I can’t remember. I can’t remember [whether there’s a Starbucks next to the

bank]. I can’t remember [if there’s a Starbucks next to the bank].

Can he finish in time? That’s not my problem. [Whether (or not) he can finish in time] is not my problem. (If doesn’t work well when the clause is a subject.)

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Noun clauses with question words

Question words like who, where, or what can also introduce noun clauses. The word order is Subject + Verb + Object

Where was Leonardo Da Vinci born? I’ve forgotten. I’ve forgotten [where Leonardo Da Vinci was born].

Why do people like watching TV? We can’t understand it. We can’t understand [why people like watching TV].

How can heavy airplanes stay in the air? It puzzles me. [How heavy airplanes can stay in the air] puzzles me.

What do you want? Anything is fine with me. [Whatever you want] is fine with me.

Who will come to the party? I’m thinking about it.

I’m thinking about [who will come to the party].

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More about noun clause connectors

As you know, a noun clause can play various roles in a sentence:

• Sometimes the noun clause is the subject of the sentence:[How heavy airplanes can stay in the air] puzzles me.

• Sometimes the noun clause is the object of the sentence:I’ve forgotten [where Leonardo Da Vinci was born].

• Sometimes the noun clause is the object of a preposition:I’m thinking about [who will come to the party].

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More about noun clause connectors

• We can also think about what role the noun clause connector plays in the noun clause.

• Sometimes the connector is the subject of the noun clause:I’m thinking about [who will come to the party].

• Sometimes the connector is the object of the noun clause:I’ve already forgotten [what you told me].

• Sometimes the connector isn’t any of these things:We’ve forgotten [where Leonardo Da Vinci was born].I don’t know [why I should study this].Do you know [whether the post office is open]?

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More about noun clause connectors

• When a question word is the subject of a noun clause, it always needs a singular verb.

I don’t know [who is knocking at the door].

[Whoever knows the answer] should tell us right away.

Please tell me [what has happened].

• Of course, sometimes you can’t tell if the verb is singular or plural. Here the verb is the same in singular or plural.

I don’t know [who broke the window].

[Whoever broke the window] should apologize.

We’re all wondering [what might happen].

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Summary

In this section, you have learned about these things:

• A noun clause is a clause that can be used in the same way as a noun.

• A noun clause begins with a noun clause connector.

• A noun clause has the same word order as a statement (not a question).

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