NOUN CLAUSE
A.
DEFINITION
OF NOUN CLAUSE
A dependent, or subordinate,
clause contains a subject and a verb or verb phrase but does not express a
complete thought. As a result, it cannot stand alone as a sentence. Dependent
clauses can function either as noun clauses, adjective clauses, or adverb
clauses.
A noun clause is a
dependent clause that acts as a noun. Noun clauses begin with words such
as how, that, what, whatever, when, where, whether, which, whichever,
who, whoever, whom, whomever, and why. Noun clauses can act
as subjects, direct objects, indirect objects, predicate nominatives, or
objects of a preposition.
A. NOUN CLAUSE AS DIRECT OBJECTS
·
All
sentences, then, are clauses, but not all clauses are sentences. In the
following sentences, for example, the direct object slot contains a clause rather than a noun phrase. These are examples of noun clauses :
Ø I know that the students
studied their assignment.
Ø I wonder what is making
Tracy so unhappy.
“These
noun clauses are examples of dependent clauses—in contrast
to independent clauses,
those clauses that function as complete sentences.” (Martha Kolln and Robert
Funk, Understanding English Grammar, 5th ed., Allyn and Bacon,
1998)
·
“A Colorado study
found that the average homeless person cost the state forty-three
thousand dollars a year, while housing that person would cost just
seventeen thousand dollars” (James Surowiecki, "Home
Free?" The New Yorker, September 22, 2014)
B. NOUN
CLAUSE STARTERS
These words include the word that, which in its
role as a noun clause starter is not a relative pronoun,
for it serves no grammatical role in the clause; it just starts the clause. For
example: The committee stated that it would follow the
agent's policy. Here the noun clause serves the noun role of direct object of
the transitive verb stated.
But a careful look at the clause reveals that the word thatdoes
not serve any role within the clause, other than simply to get it going.
Other noun clause starters do serve grammatical roles within
the clause. For example: We know who caused all the trouble.
Here the noun clause starter is the relative pronoun who. Notice
that inside the noun clause who serves as the grammatical
subject of the verb caused.
“Additional words serve as noun clause starters. A relative adverb can
get one going: How he won the election mystified the
pundits. So can a relative pronoun acting as an adjective: We know which career
she will pursue. In these two sentences, how is an adverb modifying
the verb won, and which is a
relative-pronoun-adjective modifying the noun career.”
(C. Edward Good, A Grammar Book for You and I--Oops, Me! Capital Books, 2002)
(C. Edward Good, A Grammar Book for You and I--Oops, Me! Capital Books, 2002)
A. EXAMPLES
AND OBSERVATIONS OF NOUN CLAUSES
- When Mrs. Frederick C. Little's second son arrived, everybody noticed that he was not much bigger than a mouse
- What I like doing most of all in the evenings, these days, is sitting in a gormless stupor in front of the television, eating chocolate
- A university is what a college becomes when the faculty loses interest in students
- I know that there are things that never have been funny, and never will be. And I know that ridicule may be a shield, but it is not a weapon
- I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright
- The thought of stars contributed to the power of his feeling. What moved himwas a sense of those worlds around us, our knowledge however imperfect of their nature, our sense of their possessing some grain of our past and of our lives to come
- Whoever was the person behind Stonehenge was one dickens of a motivator, I'll tell you that
- How we remember, what we remember, and why we remember form the most personal map of our individuality
- How people knew when they were being trailed he found himself unable to imagine"This is the story of what a Woman's patience can endure, and of what a Man's resolution can achieve
B. QUESTIONS
1. What is definition of noun clause?
2. What can noun clause be?
3. What is noun clause starter?
Find out the noun clauses
in the following sentences and state what purpose they serve.
1. The
king ordered that the traitor should be put to death.
2. He said that he would not go.
3. That he is not interested in the offer is known to us.
4. He said that he was not feeling well.
5. I cannot rely on what he says.
6. I don’t know where he has gone.
7. He asked whether the servant had polished his shoes.
8. The news that he is alive has been confirmed.
9. The belief that the soul is immortal is almost universal.
10. It is certain that we will have to admit defeat.
11. It was fortunate that he was present.
12. The report that only ten persons were killed in the riots is not true.
2. He said that he would not go.
3. That he is not interested in the offer is known to us.
4. He said that he was not feeling well.
5. I cannot rely on what he says.
6. I don’t know where he has gone.
7. He asked whether the servant had polished his shoes.
8. The news that he is alive has been confirmed.
9. The belief that the soul is immortal is almost universal.
10. It is certain that we will have to admit defeat.
11. It was fortunate that he was present.
12. The report that only ten persons were killed in the riots is not true.
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