A noun clause functions like a noun and can be used as the subject, object, object of a preposition, complement, or in apposition to an antecedent noun. There are two main constructions for noun clauses - ones using "that" and ones using "whether". Noun clauses with "that" follow the pattern of combining two sentences using "that", while those with "whether" refer to the subject "it" and combine sentences using "whether...or not".

1. Noun Clauses
A noun clause functions like a noun or a noun phrase.
Depending on the structure of the given sentence,
the noun clause may be used as ;
- a subject
- an object
- an object of preposition
- a complement
- a noun clause in apposition to an antecedent noun.
- a noun clause as reference to the grammatical subject
object "it".

2. Construction 1 : The "that" clause
 Example
 Most people know (that) sleep is necessary for
health.
noun clause = object of "know"
 Combination : a & b
a. Most people know something.
that+
b. Sleep is necessary for health.
Most people know that sleep is necessary for health.

3. Construction 1 : The "that" clause
 e.g. : He asked me where I lived.
เขาถามผมว่าผมอยูที่ไหน.
่
noun clause=object of "asked"
e.g. : Can you tell me what the time is.
คุณจะบอกผมได้ ไหมว่าเวลาเท่าไหร่ .
noun clause=object of "tell"
e.g. : Dang said (that) he was pleased to welcome us.
แดงพูดว่าเขารู้สกยินดีที่ได้ ต้อนรับเรา
ึ
noun clause=object of "said"

4. Construction 1 : The "that" clause
 e.g. : That he will refuse the offer is unlikely.
ที่เขาจะปฏิเสธข้ อเสนอนันรู้สึกว่ าจะยังไม่ มีทาง.
้
noun clause=subject
e.g. : What you are doing seems very difficult.
สิ่งที่คุณกาลังกระทารู้สึกว่ าจะยากมาก
e.g. : How the prisoner escaped is a complex
mystery.
นักโทษผู้นันหนีไปได้ อย่ างไรนันเป็ นเรื่องลึกลับซับซ้ อน
้ ้

5. Construction 1 : The "that" clause
 e.g. : It seems that he has never paid the money.
ดูราวกับว่ าเขายังไม่ ได้ จ่ายเงิน
Noun clause as complement of verb "seem"
e.g. : What surprised me was that he spoke English so well.
สิ่งที่ทาให้ ผมประหลาดใจก็คือเขาพูดภาษาอังกฤษได้ ดมาก
ี
e.g. : The fact that the prisoner was guilty was plain to
everyone.
ความจริงที่ว่านักโทษผู้นันผิดจริงเป็ นสิ่งธรรมดาสาหรับทุกคนที่จะเห็น
้
ได้
Noun clause as appositive.

6. Construction 1 : The "that" clause
 e.g. : The news that we are having a holiday tomorrow is
not true.
ข่ าวที่ว่าเราจะได้ หยุดในวันพรุ่ งนีนันไม่ เป็ นความจริง
้ ้
 Noun clause as appositive.
e.g. : It is unbelievable that Suda has refused to come
here.
(that Suda has refused to come here = it)
Noun clause as reference to the grammatical subject "it".

7. Construction 2 : The "whether" clause
•
e.g. : It did not matter at all for some students
whether they had got good grades or not.
•
1. "It" functions as a grammatical subject,
referring to the italicized noun clause.

8. Construction 2 : The "whether" clause
 The sentence is broken into 3 smaller sentences ;
a. It did not matter at all for some students.
b. They had got good grades.
c. They had not got good grades.
3. Combination : b+c=B
They had got good grades or they had not get good
grades.
==>B : They had got good grades or not.

9. Construction 2 : The "whether" clause
 Combination : a+B
a. it did not matter at all for some students.
Whether+B ==>They had got good grades or
not.

==>It did not matter at all for some students
whether they had got good grades or not.

10. Whether(or not)
 1. Whether(or not) they can get here in time
does not have anything to do with our plan.

2. People often ask whether there are
measures to cope with the increase of crimes.

3. We wonder if the mayor can handle the
traffic problems.