Noun Clauses

Noun Clauses

a noun

What about this?

nouns function as subjects and objects

What I ate for breakfast gave me heartburn.

The burrito gave me heartburn.

To find the subject in a sentence locate the verb.

What the English teacher said was inspiring.

The wonderful thing about this class is you all work so hard.

What I ate for breakfast gave me heartburn.

After a quick review of adverb and adjective clauses

I must decide which English course to take.

English teachers dispense wisdom to whomever will listen.

What gave me heartburn?

subordinators for noun clauses

noun clause word order

Don't all students wish they knew more grammar?

Anyone who says that English teachers are boring will be punished.

Two roles for the subordinator

who or whom?

Did you notice that 'that' is missing?

subordinator

verb

subject

subordinators that can be used as subject in a noun clause:

whoever or whomever?

remainder

of

sentence

• introduce a clause with its own subject and verb

who

whoever

whom

whomever

what

whatever

which

whichever

where

wherever

when

whenever

The students don't know whether or not they can stay awake during the lecture.

Noun clause as subject

Nobody knows why she went.

what

who

Noun clause as object

multiple noun clauses in a sentence

noun clause inside an adjective clause!!!!

I don't know

last night.

went

Bob

where

direct object here!

whatever

whoever

Why is he leaving?

How long was she there?

• main verb is singular

subordinator

subject

embedding

questions

Ask, "Does the verb in the noun clause have a subject?"

Is Maria dating Jose?

I can't understand

why

she

me alone.

has left

Whomever he knows should be invited.

which

When responding to a question:

Although I respected what the teacher said, I disagreed with her conclusion.

how

however

whose

why

whether (or not)

that

• verb in noun clause must show a logical relationship to the verb in the main clause

• act as subject in the clause

Compare:

whichever

how much

how many

how long

how often

how soon

present:

noun clause does not change

I don't believe

what

they

about you.

said

I can't tell you who borrowed my book.

I don't know if she's dating him, but whether or not she is is none of our business.

main

clause

verb

I never pay attention to whom my roommate calls.

She wants to know why he is leaving.

Don't confuse adjective and noun clauses!

past:

noun clause verb changes

common phrases used to complete noun clauses as subjects:

noun clause inside an adverb clause - scary!

Quick write a sentence!

I never pay attention to who calls my roommate.

subordinators

subordinator AND subject

Why was Kim in the director's office all day?

I don't know how long she was there.

subordinator subject verb

that

who

...does not concern (me)

...is up to (them)

When will they arrive?

He didn't tell me why he had been there all day; besides, why he was is a private matter.

...is a private matter

...is none of (our) business

• noun clauses follow verbs

Nobody told me when they would arrive.

I heard that you passed the test.

Do exercise 1, 2 on page 157

...depends on several things

...has not worried (me)

• adjective clauses follow nouns

page 162, ex 7, 8, 9

page 159, exercise 3, 4, 5

Are you the one that passed the test?

Noun clauses as sentence objects

I don't know...

-ever words in noun clauses

(He) didn't say...

commonly used phrases

(I) didn't ask (her)...

Noun clause as object of a preposition

any person

whoever/whomever

(They) didn't explain...

Noun clause as adjective complement

Noun Clauses beginning with 'that'

'The fact that'

adjective complement

I have no idea (why)...

use 'that'

Everyone believes in what Tony says.

any place

• 'that' can often be omitted when a noun clause is acting as an object

wherever

• adds meaning to the adjective

I can't tell you if...

• used with a noun clause as subject

(She) didn't tell me...

We assumed our son was sick.

I'm sure that he'll succeed.

any thing

whatever

I never think about how I will pay my bills.

(We) haven't told anyone...

I'm convinced that she's unhappy.

• 'that' cannot be omitted when the noun clause is acting as subject.

whenever

any time

'that' can be omitted

I can't rely on what you tell me.

That he lied to us was unbelieveable.

The fact that he was here

surprised us.

however

any manner

I'm sure he'll succeed.

I'm convinced she's unhappy.

It is a fact...

very

formal

It is true...

Complete exercise 10 on page 164.

often

replaced

with 'it'

IMPORTANT: this 'however' is not the same as the conjunctive adverb

Do exercises 17/18 at the same time.

Do exercise 13 on page 167

More adjective complements.

I was delighted that she was chosen.

The child was eager that Christmas to arrive.

I am curious what color it is.

It was wrong that he lied.

I am happy they got married.

We are all afraid that the storm will be severe.

Do exercises 11/12 on page 165.