1. Learn about placement and use of the noun clause
Noun Clauses
Learn about placement and use of the noun clause

2. What is a noun clause?
A set of words that function as a noun would in a sentence.
A noun clause can be:
A subject
An object
A subject complement
An object of a preposition
An adjective complement (noun clauses only!)

3. Hint Words for Noun Clauses
Words that introduce noun clauses
Who
Whom
Whose
Which
That If
Whether
What
When
Where
How
Why
And forms of "-ever":
Whoever
Whenever
Whatever
Wherever

4. Noun Clause as a Subject
Whatever she needed was what she got.
Was is the main verb – who or what was?
Answer = whatever she needed
Whatever she needed is the noun clause subject
What Marcos did annoyed his family.
Annoyed is the main verb – who or what annoyed?
Answer = what Marcos did
What Marcos did is the noun clause subject

5. Noun Clause as an Object
To find the Object, find the Subject & Verb and then ask what?
She walked wherever she wanted.
She + walked what?
Answer = wherever she wanted
Wherever she wanted is a noun clause object
Betty sang whenever she could.
Betty + sang what?
Answer = whenever she could.
Whenever she could is a noun clause object

6. Noun Clause as Subject Complement
Subject complement rename the subject of the sentence
Anna’s problem was that she never practiced.
The subject is problem.
That she never practiced renames problem.
The run was when it was too cold.
The subject is the run.
When it was too cold renames the run.

7. Noun Clause as Object of the Preposition
Mary had to beg for what she needed.
For is the preposition
What she needed is the object of the preposition.
For what she needed is the prepositional phrase.
Mrs. Sims never went to where it was hidden.
To is the preposition
Where it was hidden is the object of the preposition
To where it was hidden is the prepositional phrase

8. Noun Clause as Adjective Complement
In this case, a noun clause modifies an adjective.
She was sad that he was hurt.
Sad is the adjective.
That he was hurt modifies the adjective sad.
The city was fearful when the criminal was free.
Fearful is the adjective.
When the criminal was free modifies the adjective fearful.

9. Noun Clause Review
Recall the hint words that lead a noun clause (see slide 3)
Remember that a noun clause can have five jobs within a sentence:
A subject
An object
A subject complement
An object of a preposition
An adjective complement (noun clauses only!)