This document provides information about noun clauses. It defines a noun clause as a dependent clause that behaves as a noun or noun phrase. A noun clause is introduced by a noun clause word such as a question word, whether, if, or that, and contains a subject and verb. The document provides examples of different types of noun clauses, including subject, object, and complement noun clauses. It also discusses omitting the word "that" in certain noun clauses without changing the meaning.

1. Holly Cin
Fall 2016
ESOL 0352

2.  A noun is a person, place, or thing.
 Example: woman, city, shoes
 A noun phrase is a noun plus some more
words.
 Example: a business woman, a small city, my pink
shoes.

3.  A noun clause is a dependent clause which behaves as a
noun (or a noun phrase).
 Noun: shoe
 Noun phrase: my pink shoes
 Noun clause: what I’m wearing on my feet
How is a noun clause made?
 It begins with a noun-clause-word (NCW) that introduces
the clause and is then followed by a subject and a verb.
NC=NCW (noun clause word) + S + V

4. Noun clauses sometimes look like questions, but
they are not questions.
Just like adjective and adverb clauses, noun
clauses are dependent clauses, which means
that they cannot exist alone.
S + V inside the noun clause MUST AGREE!

5.  There are 3 ways to introduce a noun clause.
 A. Question words
(Who, whom, what , when, where, why, whose+ noun,
how, how + adj., how + adv., how much/many + noun,
which + noun, whichever, whatever, whoever, and
whomever)
 B. Whether or IF
 C. That

6.  Q: Where does Luis live?
 NC: where Luis lives
 Q: What time is it?
 NC: what time it is
 Q: When will you be home?
 NC: when you will be home
 Q: Why did you leave?
 NC: why you left
 Q: What has he accomplished?
 NC: what he has accomplished
Do you see the difference between a question and a noun
clause?

7. There are 5 ways to make a noun clause with whether or if:
1. Whether + S +V
I wonder whether Miguel is coming to the party
2. Whether or not + S + V
I wonder whether or not Miguel is coming to the party.
3. Whether + S + V + or not
I wonder whether Miguel is coming to the party or not.
4. If + S + V
I wonder if Miguel is coming to the party.
5. If + S + V + or not
I wonder if Miguel is coming to the party or not
They all mean the EXACT SAME THING!
NOTE: I wonder if or not Miguel is coming to the party.

8. Remember the formula:
NC= NCW + S + V
 that you understand the problem
 that he is here
 that Holly is a good teacher
 that I have no idea what’s happening today
(Insert “It is certain” before each of the above
noun clauses.)

9.  1. Subject
 2. Object
 A. Object of the verb
 B. Object of the preposition
 3. Complement
 A. Subject complement
 B. Adjective complement

10. 1. Subject
Examples:
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
Where you’re from doesn’t matter in the USA.
Whether you pass (or not) depends on you.
That he was late for class doesn’t bother me.
Note: You cannot use “if” to introduce a subject
noun clause.
If you pass or not depends on you.

11. 2. Object
 A. Object of the verb
Do you know when class ends?
Can you tell me if the bus passes here or not?
I don’t understand why some students don’t do their homework.
Can you see what I can see?
You can bring/say/ask whatever you want.
You can do it however you wish.
I don’t care who you are, where you’re from, what you did (as long as you
love me).
*Did you hear [that] Ahmed had a car accident?
*When that introduces an object clause, it can be omitted with no change in
meaning.
Did you hear Ahmed had a car accident?

12. 2. Object
B. Object of the preposition (*not for “that-clauses”)
Let’s talk about how much the new car will cost.
Fanny is interested in what the teacher told the class.
Dongmei is upset about what Mahi said.
I’m worried about whether you’ll pass this class or not.

13. When that introduces an object noun clause or an adjective complement
clause , it can be omitted with no change in meaning.
In this case, that is purely a function word with no actual meaning.
Some examples:
1. I’m happy that you’re here.
2. I’m happy you’re here.
1. You told me that you would be here on time.
2. You told me you would be here on time.
Both sentences have the same meaning.
In spoken English, that is nearly always removed in these two cases.
In written English, that may be removed, but it should be kept in the sentence
if the meaning without it isn’t clear.