Teaching English

1. 5th OCTOBER, 2022
NOUN CLAUSES

2. Learning objectives
• Explain clause
• Identify noun clauses
• Answer questions on the topic

3. Starter-
•Differentiate between a phrase and a
clause.

4. Noun clauses
• A noun clause is a dependent clause that can be used in the same way as a
noun or pronoun
•
. It can be a subject, object, appositive, complement, or object of the
preposition. Some of the words that introduce noun clauses are that,
whether, who, why, whom, what, how, when, whoever, where, and
whomever.
• That he came late to work is not a reason to fire him.
• Nobody knows why she was imprisoned.
• How he succeeded remains a mystery.
• What he said surprised everyone.
• The students are responsible for what happened to them.

5. Functions of Noun Clauses
A subject of a Sentence
• When a noun clause begins a sentence, it functions as the subject of a
sentence or the verb that comes after it.
• Whatever happens to her is none of my business.
• When you choose to start the job will determine your salary.
• How you choose to settle the dispute is entirely your responsibility
• Wherever we decide to buy the car must have a discount facility.
• Where we choose to reside must have uninterrupted electricity.

6. An object of a Sentence
A noun clause performs this function comes after
the verb or when it is the recipient of the action the
subject initiates.
Examples:
I like what you do.
She dislikes where her parents live.
We prefer what we agreed on initially.

7. NOUN CLAUSE AS COMPLEMENT
•What she told me was that the man was
honest.
•Music is what we require.
•The main issue now is how we can get
enough money.

8. Object of a Preposition
• The players deliberated on what will help the team.
• Children sometimes quarrel about what is flimsy and
unnecessary.
• The students agreed on the best route to follow to the
school.
• The desperate staff signed for a loan he might not be
able to repay in a year.

9. Adjectival clause
• An adjectival clause is a dependent clause that functions as an
adjective in the sentence. Adjectival clauses can also be called
relative clauses. An adjectival clause begins with a relative pronoun.
E.g who, whose, whom, which, that, where, when etc.
• Can you see the bird that is on the fence?
• The man that is in the sitting room wants to see you
• I performed fairly well while the boys who had cheated performed
excellently.
• I know the place where they hid the book.
• This is the boy whose book was stolen.

10. Adverbial clauses
• An adverbial clause is a dependent clause that modifies a verb,
adjective, or another adverb. It usually modifies the verb. Adverbial
clauses are introduced by subordinate conjunctions.
Examples : after, although, as, as if, before, because, if, since, so that,
than, though, unless, until, when, where, and while etc
• I shall further my education if I pass my examinations.
• He failed his Senior School Certificate Examination because he did
not study hard.
• Although she is a little girl, she behaves like an adult.

11. CLASS ACTIVITY
• Find out the noun clauses in the following sentences and state what
purpose they serve.
• 1. The king ordered that the traitor should be put to death.
2. He said that he would not go.
3. That he is not interested in the offer is known to us.
4. He said that he was not feeling well.
5. I cannot rely on what he says.
6. I don’t know where he has gone.
7. He asked whether the servant had polished his shoes.
8. The news that he is alive has been confirmed.
9. The belief that the soul is immortal is almost universal.
10. It is certain that we will have to admit defeat.