Introduction to clauses and the Noun Clause are covered in this lesson. This ranges from the meaning of clauses, types of clauses and the grammatical functions.

1. With Innocent Ikenyiri

2. AT THE END OF THIS LESSON YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO:
i. define/explain a clause
ii. identify and explain the types of clauses
iii. explain the noun clause and outline its grammatical functions

3. A clause refers to a group of words or a part of a sentence with a subject and a finite verb.
It differs from a phrase in the sense that a phrase lacks a finite verb.
Examples of clauses:
i. Mary memorized the poem. (Mary– subject; memorized- finite verb)
ii. The pen with Bukky was stolen just before her arrival.
(The pen with Bukky– subject; was stolen – finite verb)

4. A. Independent/Main Clause: It is a clause that expresses a complete thought and can stand
alone.
In a sentence two independent clauses can be connected by the coordinators: and, but, so, or,
nor, for, yet.
Examples:
i. He is a wise man.
ii. Do it please. (Subject’ you’ is hidden)
iii. I easily get bored by Sci-fi movies.
iv want to buy a phone, but I don’t have enough money. (Two independent clauses)
v. He went to London and visited the Lords.
(Subject of the second clause is ‘he,' so “he visited the Lords” is an independent clause.)
Vi. Alex smiles whenever he sees Toby. (One independent clause)

5. A dependent clause cannot function on its own because it leaves an idea or thought unfinished.
It is also called subordinate clause. Dependent clauses help the independent clauses complete
the sentence. A dependent clause alone cannot form a complete sentence.
Examples:
i. I know the man who stole the watch.
ii. He bought a car which was too expensive.
iii. I know that he cannot do it.
iv. He does not know where he was born.
A clause is dependent/subordinate when it begins with a subordinating
conjunction/word/phrase such as:
who, when, while, which, that ,since, because, unless etc.
To conclude, dependent clauses often perform the functions of the parts of speech, such as
nouns, adjectives, and the adverbs

6. The noun clause is a dependent clause which acts as a noun. Hence, the noun clause performs
the grammatical functions of nouns.
Noun clauses (also known as ‘nominal clauses’) often begin with words such as: how, that,
what, whatever, when, where, whether, which, whichever, who, whoever, whom, whomever,
and why. They generally answer the questions ‘who or what’ and perform the under-listed
grammatical functions

7. A subject performs the action where there is one; or it is simply the topic discussed in the
sentence or clause.
Examples:
i. Whatever Dotun told you must be false. (subject of the verb ‘must be’)
ii. How the girl dressed up was indecent. (subject of the verb ‘was’)
iii. Whoever ate my lunch is in big trouble. (subject of the verb ‘is’)
iv. Why Tolu did it remains a mystery. (subject of the verb ‘remains))

8. A subject complement is a word, phrase, or clause that follows a copular, or linking verb (eg. is,
are, were, seems, etc) and describes the subject.
Examples:
i. My question is whether you will sue the company for losses.
(the subject is ‘my question’, and the underlined noun clause comes after a linking
verb ‘is’ to complete information or describe the subject.)
ii The truth was that the moving company lost all your furniture.
(complement of the subject ‘the truth’)
iii The gist is what you are about to hear. (subject complement)
iv. Our only hope seems the secret he told us.
(complement of the subject ‘our only hope)

9. A direct object directly receives the action of a verb .
Examples:
i. My daughter will wear whichever dress I hand to her.
(direct object of the verb ‘will wear’.)
ii. Do you know when the train should arrive?
(Object of the verb ‘do…know’)
ii. I will tell whomever I choose. (object of the verb ‘will tell’.)
ii. They didn’t see all that went behind the scene. (object of the verb ‘didn’t see’)

10. An indirect object is word, phrase, or clause that indicates to/for whom or what the action is
performed. The indirect object occurs where there are two ore more objects
Examples:
i. My classmates gifted the captain we just elected a piano.
(indirect object of the verb ‘gifted’).
ii. I will give whoever writes the best essay an A in this subject.
(indirect object of the verb ‘’will give’)
ii. He only tells anyone he trusts his secrets.
(indirect object of the verb ‘tells’)

11. Noun clause serves as the complement of the object when it follows the direct object and refers
to the same entity (direct object).
Examples:
i. She can present the thesis that she had completed.
(she-subject; can present – verb; the thesis – object; the underlined noun clause is the
object complement)
ii. The teacher gave the instruction that we must not come late.
(complement of the object ‘the instruction’)
iii. He bought a book he had always desired to buy. (object complement)
iv. The chef ate the chicken which he had roasted.
(complement of the object ‘the chicken)
NOTE the different ways of expressing this function

12. This occurs when a noun clause follows a preposition and completes its meaning.
Examples:
i. The players deliberated on who should lead the team.
(object of the preposition ‘on’.)
ii. Children sometimes quarrel about what is flimsy and unnecessary.
(complement of the preposition ‘about’)
iii. The desperate staff signed for a loan he might not be able to repay in a year.
(complement of the preposition ‘for’)
iv. We cannot say particularly under which condition the authorities permitted him to
participate in the election.

13. An adjective phrase complement is a phrase or clause that completes the meaning of
an adjective /adjective phrase.
Examples:
i. I am pleased that you are studying noun clauses. (complement of the adjective
‘pleased’)
ii. The toddler was surprised that throwing a tantrum did not get him his way.
(complement of the adjective ‘surprised’)
iii. My brother is angry that someone dented his new car.
(complement of the adjective ‘angry’)

14. A noun clause is an appositive when it placed by the side of another noun/noun phrase to
explain it. It is often marked off by a comma, unlike the complement which is separated by a
linking/copular verb
Examples:
i. Mr Bolu, the man who just moved into our neighbourhood, is an I.T specialist.( It is in
apposition to the noun phrase ‘Mr. Bolu’)
ii. That boy, whoever he is, tried to steal some library books.
(It is in apposition to the noun phrase ‘that boy’)
iii. The problem, that the storm knocked out power, is affecting the entire town. (it is an
appositive
NOTE the different ways of expressing this function

15. - THE MEANING OF A CLAUSE
- TYPES OF CLAUSES
- THE NOUN CLAUSE
- GRAMMATICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE NOUN CLAUSE

16. Ikenyiri Innocent Kelechi