1. Vitto, Chapter 6 Complex Sentences
Noun Clauses
Vitto, Chapter 6
Complex Sentences
So far, we have learned that a simple sentence consists of one independent clause, while a compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses. We move on now to the complex and the compound-complex structure. A complex sentence contains one independent clause plus one or more dependent clauses.

2. Noun Clause A noun clause can function the same way as a noun. subject
subjective complement
object of preposition
direct object
objective complement
appositive
A noun clause is a dependent clause that takes the place of a noun in a sentence (that is, it can serve as subject, object, complement, or appositive).

3. Noun Clause Introduced by an interrogative Introduced by an expletive
who, whoever, whom, whomever
what, whatever, whose, when
where, why, how
Introduced by an expletive
if, that, as
whether, whether or not
Diagramed on a tower or pedestal
A noun clause is introduced by an interrogative such as who, whoever, whose, or how. A noun clause can also be introduced by a expletive such as if, that, or as. And noun clauses are diagramed on a tower or pedestal in the same place you would diagram a single-word noun.

4. Subject Whoever rang doorbell has disappeared the
In this sentence, “Whoever rang the doorbell has disappeared,” we identify the verb as an intransitive verb has disappeared because no object follows it. The subject, however, is the dependent noun clause “Whoever rang the doorbell.” The dependent clause begins with the interrogative whoever followed by the transitive verb rang then the direct object doorbell. The dependent clause is on a pedestal, and the pedestal is in the subject slot on the base line.

5. Subjective Complement
whether or not we should arrive question was
early
In this sentence, “The question was whether or not we should arrive early,” the subject is question, and the be verb is was. What must follow now is the subjective complement or predicate noun. The dependent noun clause, then functions as the subject complement, so it is on a pedestal in the complement slot. Notice in that this noun clause is introduced by the expletive whether or not. Because it is an expletive, we place it above the clause and use a dotted line to show the relationship.
The

6. Object of Preposition I asked whoever could afford donation help a for
from
And in this sentence, “I asked for help from whoever could afford a donation,” our independent subject and verb are I asked. The preposition from must have a object with is a noun. In this case, the dependent clause “whoever could afford a donation” functions as the noun. The interrogative whoever introduces this dependent clause.

7. Direct Object if train had arrived We wondered the
We can now see how a dependent clause can function as a direct object in this sentence, “We wondered if the train had arrived.” The subject and verb are we wondered, and we ask, “wondered what?” We need a direct object, and the dependent clause “if the train had arrived” functions as the direct object. This dependent clause also is introduced by the expletive if.

8. Indirect Object You should give certificate a value of
whoever buys painting a of
the
In the sentence, “You should give whoever buys the painting, a certificate of value,” we see the dependent clause filling the indirect object slot. This noun clause is introduced by the interrogative whoever.

9. Objective Complement as what was necessary Sherry considered bribe the
Next we see the dependent clause functioning as an objective complement in this Pattern X sentence: “Sherry considered the bribe as what was necessary.” The objective complement “what was necessary” is introduced by the expletive as where it appears above the noun clause.
the

10. Appositive you should apply school when to decision ( ) is one
graduate
And finally, we see how a dependent clause can function as an appositive. An appositive is a noun structure that stands next to the noun it renames or identifies. It usually follows the noun it renames, usually is surrounded by commas, and can be omitted without changing the meaning of the sentence.
In this sentence, “Your decision, when you should apply to graduate school, is an important one.” The baseline independent clause is “Your decision is an important one.” However, we have a dependent clause functioning as an appositive renaming what the decision is. So the dependent clause, “when you should apply to graduate school,” renames decision. This clause is introduced by the interrogative when and is a noun because it renames another noun, decision. an
Your
important