You have probably seen and used the term noun clause in your speech or writing in the English language, But what does it mean and how is it used in English grammar? Before we dive into it, let’s have a look at what grammar is.
\nGrammar refers to the structure of a language, with rules that govern the composition of words used in the said language. These rules help us arrange and know which form of words to use correctly. Which brings us to our topic of interest, nouns, clauses and phrases.<\/p>\n
A noun is a part of speech that names a person, place, or thing. Some examples of nouns include, man, house, and car. This is a dependent clause<\/strong> that plays the role of a noun in a sentence. It cannot stand alone because it does not express complete thought on its own. Noun clauses act as direct objects, subjects, indirect objects, predicate nominatives, or objects of a preposition Now that we know the definition of the two, let’s look at their differences and what they have in common. A noun clause adds crucial information to a sentence. The key points we have used to define it are:<\/p>\n Noun clauses can be identified with the way they begin.<\/p>\n Spotting these words is the easiest way to identify a noun clause in a sentence.<\/p>\n The following ways are how noun clauses function in a sentence. The first sentence contains a subject whoever<\/em> and a verb thought.<\/em> In the first sentence, the clause “what the weather would be” serves as the direct object of the verb know<\/em>. It answers the question “what did you know?”<\/em> In the first sentence, we seek to answer the question of, “what was Ashley’s problem?” and the answer is the noun clause, “that she didn’t study enough”. If this clause was not there the sentence would have no meaning. The subject complement nature of the noun clause is shown as it completes the subject of Ashley’s problem. The sentences above are complete before the addition of the prepositions but we introduce them to provide further detail. The noun clauses act as the objects of these prepositions. Similar to the prepositions, each of these sentences could be complete before the conjunctions (why, where and that). The adjective complement provides further detail. Besides, in each of these examples, these adjective complements are noun clauses. In the first example, whichever audience you perform for<\/em>\u00a0is the noun clause. It contains the subject you<\/em> and the verb\u00a0perform<\/em>. The clause acts as an indirect object in the sentence to show who the great show will be performed for. Starting a sentence with a noun clause starting with “that” is acceptable, but it somewhat does not express a complete thought to others. Most people prefer “the fact that.” Here, “whomever” is the\u00a0 object of the preposition “with.”)<\/p>\n Here, “whoever” is the subject of the verb is. “Whoever is interested” is the object of the preposition “between,” but that doesn’t mean that “whoever” can be used in the place of “whomever.” If the clause answers the question,\u00a0\u201cwho?\u201d\u00a0<\/em>or \u201cwhat?\u201d<\/em>, then it is a\u00a0noun clause.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nMoreover, a clause is defined as a unit of grammar that contains at least one\u00a0verb and a subject. What’s more, a verb is a word that describes an action while a subject is a person or thing performing the action.
\nOn the other hand, a phrase is a group of words that work together within a sentence. However, they do not contain a subject and a verb. The section with a subject and verb in a sentence is the\u00a0clause,<\/strong>\u00a0while the rest of it without those two parts of speeches is the\u00a0phrase. <\/strong>
\nExample:<\/strong>
\nThe child is sleeping in the car
\nThe child is sleeping= the clause
\nIn the car= the phrase
\nThere are four types of clauses: main clause, subordinate clause, noun clause and adjective clause. Every clause has at least one subject and one\u00a0<\/strong>verb.<\/p>\nWhat is a noun clause?<\/h2>\n
\nA noun phrase is a group of words <\/strong>that function as a single noun. Noun phrases act as subjects, direct objects, or prepositional objects in a sentence.
\nExample: The white rhino was found today
\nthe white rhino<\/em> is the noun phrase
\nIn this article we want to know more about noun clauses hence we will discuss noun clause examples in depth.<\/p>\nWhat is the difference between a noun clause and a noun phrase?<\/h2>\n
\nThey both act as nouns in a sentence. The difference comes in where a noun clause is a whole single clause while a noun phrase is just a group of words put together and function as a noun.
\nAnother difference is that while independence is impossible for noun clauses, noun phrases are independent.<\/p>\nHow to identify a noun clause<\/h2>\n
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How do you identify a noun clause in a sentence?<\/h3>\n
What does a noun clause start with?<\/h3>\n
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Types of noun clauses<\/h2>\n
\n1.Subject of a verb<\/strong>
\nNoun clauses, when used in a sentence, can perform the function of the subject of a verb.
\nExample:<\/p>\n\n
\nIn the second sentence, the clause “what Sandra did” is the subject of the verb made.<\/em>
\n2.Direct object of a verb<\/strong>
\nA noun clause can play the role of the direct object of a verb in a sentence.<\/p>\n\n
\nIn the second sentence, “why the class was cancelled”, is the direct object of the verb see<\/em>.
\nThe method of questioning helps to demonstrate how the noun clause is being used as the direct object of the verb.
\n3.Subject complement<\/strong>
\nNoun clauses can also serve as subject complements. A subject complement modifies, describes, and completes the subject of a clause.<\/p>\n\n
\nThe definition can be applied to the other two examples.
\n4.Object of a preposition<\/strong>
\nWhen a noun clause acts as the object of a preposition, the prepositions “of” and “for” are in action.<\/p>\n\n
\n5.Adjective complement<\/strong>
\nA noun clause can also function as an\u00a0adjective complement, to modify a verb, adjective, or adverb.<\/p>\n\n
\n6.Indirect object<\/strong>
\nA nouns clause is used as an indirect object to show to who or for whom a verb is performed.
\nExample:<\/p>\n\n
\nLikewise in the second example, what you said<\/em> is a noun clause showing what will be given some deliberation by the judge.
\nThere are some things to note when using noun clauses:
\n1.Noun clauses starting with “that” as a subject\u00a0<\/strong>
\nIt is generally acceptable to use a noun clause starting with “that” as the subject of a sentence. However, for many, it sounds too unnatural. For example:<\/p>\n\n
\nHowever, “the fact that” is considered by some to be needless repetition. It is the most commonly preferred.
\n2.Using “who” and “whom” at the start of noun clauses
\n“Who” is the\u00a0subject\u00a0<\/strong>of a verb. “Whom” on the other hand is not. The same applies to “whoever” and “whomever.”<\/p>\n\n
\n
\n“who” or “whoever” are preferably used because they are more common.
\n3.. Noun clauses are not modifiers; they are placeholders
\nFor example:<\/p>\n\n
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