Noun Clauses
See The Sentence for definitions of sentence,
clause, and dependent clause.
A sentence which
contains just one clause is called a simple sentence.
A sentence which
contains one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses is called a
complex sentence. (Dependent clauses are also called subordinate clauses.)
There are three
basic types of dependent clauses: adjective clauses, adverb clauses, and noun
clauses. (Adjective clauses are also called relative clauses.)
This page contains
information about noun clauses. Also see Adjective Clauses and Adverb Clauses.
A. Noun clauses perform the same functions in
sentences that nouns do:
A noun clause can
be a subject of a verb:
*What Billy did shocked his friends.
A noun clause can
be an object of a verb:
*Billy’s friends didn’t know that he couldn’t swim.
A noun clause can
be a subject complement:
*Billy’s mistake was that he refused to take lessons.
A noun clause can
be an object of a preposition:
*Mary is not responsible for what Billy did.
A noun clause (but
not a noun) can be an adjective
complement:
*Everybody is sad that Billy drowned.
B. You can combine two independent clauses by changing
one to a noun clause and using it in one of the ways listed above. The choice of the noun clause marker (see
below) depends on the type of clause you are changing to a noun clause:
To change a statement to a noun clause use that:
I know + Billy
made a mistake =
I know that
Billy made a mistake.
To change a yes/no question to a noun clause, use if or whether:
George wonders + Does Fred know how to cook? =
George wonders if Fred knows how to cook.
To change a wh-question to a noun clause, use the wh-word:
I don’t
know + Where is George? =
I don’t know where George is.
C. The subordinators in noun clauses are called noun
clause markers. Here is a list of the
noun clause markers:
that
if, whether
Wh-words: how,
what, when, where, which, who, whom, whose, why
Wh-ever words:
however, whatever, whenever, wherever, whichever, whoever, whomever
D. Except for that, noun clause markers cannot be
omitted. Only that
can be omitted, but it can be omitted only if it is not the first word in a sentence:
correct:
Billy’s friends didn’t know that he couldn’t swim.
correct:
Billy’s friends didn’t know he couldn’t swim.
correct:
Billy’s mistake was that he refused to take lessons.
correct:
Billy’s mistake was he refused to take lessons.
correct:
That Billy jumped off the pier surprised everyone.
not correct:
* Billy jumped off the pier surprised everyone.
E. Statement word order is always used in a noun
clause, even if the main clause is a question:
not
correct:
* Do you know what time is it? (Question word
order: is it)
correct:
Do you know what time it is? (Statement word
order: it is)
not correct:
* Everybody wondered where did Billy go. (Question
word order: did Billy go)
correct:
Everybody wondered where Billy went. (Statement
word order: Billy went)
F. Sequence of tenses in sentences containing noun
clauses:
When the main verb
(the verb in the independent clause) is present,
the verb in the noun clause is:
future if its
action/state is later
He thinks that
the exam next week will be hard.
He thinks that
the exam next week is going to be
hard.
present if its
action/state is at the same time
He thinks that
Mary is taking the exam right now.
past if its
action/state is earlier
He thinks that
George took the exam yesterday.
When the main verb (the verb in the independent clause)
is past, the verb in the noun clause
is:
was/were going to
or would + BASE if its action/state
is later
He thought
that the exam the following week was
going to be hard.
He thought
that the exam the following week would
be hard.
past if its
action/state is at the same time
He thought
that Mary was taking the exam then.
past perfect
if its action/state is earlier
He thought
that George had taken the exam the
day before.
If the action/state of the noun clause is still in the future (that is, after the writer has
written the sentence), then a future verb
can be used even if the main verb is past.
The astronaut said
that people will live on other
planets someday.
If the
action/state of the noun clause continues in the present (that is, at the time the writer is writing the sentence)
or if the noun clause expresses a general
truth or fact, the simple present
tense can be used even if the main verb is past.
We learned
that English is not easy.
The boys knew
that the sun rises in the east.
G. Here are some examples of sentences which contain
one noun clause (underlined) and one independent clause:
*Noun clauses as subjects of verbs:
That George learned how to swim is a miracle.
Whether Fred can get a better job is not certain.
What Mary said confused her parents.
However you learn to spell is OK with me.
* Noun clauses as objects
of verbs:
We didn’t know that Billy would jump.
We didn’t know Billy would jump.
Can you tell me if Fred is here?
I don’t know where he is.
George eats whatever is on his plate.
*Noun clauses as subject complements:
The truth is that Billy was not very smart.
The truth is Billy was not very smart.
The question is whether other boys will try the same
thing.
The winner will be whoever runs fastest.
*Noun clauses as objects of prepositions:
Billy didn’t listen to what Mary said.
He wants to learn about whatever is interesting.
*Noun clauses as adjective complements:
He is happy that he is learning English.
We are all afraid that the final exam will be
difficult.
Sumber : http://faculty.deanza.edu/flemingjohn/stories/storyReader$23