1. Noun Clauses
ESL 11B

2. What is a Noun Clauses? I know what he said. I know where Sue lives.
Functions as a subject, subject complement, direct object, or object of a preposition.
I know what he said.
I know where Sue lives.
What he said is true.

3. More about Noun Clauses…
They cannot stand alone because they are dependent clauses; therefore, noun clauses must contain 3 things: a dependent marker (dm), a subject(s), and a verb (v).
Ex. She believed what I said.
(main clause) (dependent clause: dm/s/v)

4. Noun clauses, continued…
A noun clause usually begins with Wh-word or other dependent markers:
Wh-words Other
how who that
what whom if
when whose whether
where why
which

5. ‘that’ Clauses MAIN CLAUSE ‘THAT’ CLAUSE
They didn’t think (that) it would break.
I think (that) he called
The dependent marker, ‘That’, is often omitted in informal speech and informal writing
No comma between the main clause and the ‘that’ clause

6. ‘That’ Clauses
‘That’ clauses come after mental activity verbs to express:
Opinions: Louis believed that his friend was telling the truth.
Thoughts: His parents think that he should go to college.

7. ‘That’ Clauses ‘That’ clauses can follow be + certain adjectives:
She is afraid that I don’t want to rent the apartment with her.
He was surprised that she wanted to go to the party.
It is true that I have ten brothers and sisters.

8. ‘If’ & ‘whether’ Clauses
Use if and whether to express a Yes/No question as a noun clause. If and whether can be part of a question or a statement.
Both if and whether have the same meaning and are commonly used in speaking. Whether is more common in formal English.
Question: Did he find his wallet?
Do you know whether he found his wallet?
I’m not sure if he found his wallet.

9. ‘If’ & ‘whether’ Clauses
Use statement (not question) word order after if or whether.
Do you know whether is he coming to dinner?
Do you know whether he is coming to dinner?
Use whether, not if, after a verb + preposition:
She was thinking about if she should buy a new car.
She was thinking about whether she should buy a new car.

10. Wh- Word Clauses
NC’s can begin with wh-words such as when, where why, who, what, how many, how much, etc., and can be part of a statement or a question. Use statement word order (subject + verb).
I wonder when she is going to get here?
Do you remember how the game works?
Did you write down what the homework is?
Do you know how much the lettuce is?
*** do not use does/did/do in noun clauses with Wh- Words ***

11. Wh- Word Clauses
Question: Noun Clause with Wh- Word dependent markers: What did he say? I couldn’t hear what he said. What did she say? What she said surprised me. When do they arrive? Do you know when they arrive? *** does/did/do are used in questions but not in noun clauses ***

12. ~The End~ 