LoginNoun Clauses
Mostly, the English learners are ok with the idea of nouns, but when it comes to noun clauses, they may not be as confident as they are with nouns. Read more.
What Is a Noun Clause?
A noun clause (also called a nominal clause) is a clause that functions as a noun and like all clauses, has a subject and a verb. These clauses are always dependent clauses; that is, they do not form a complete sentence.
Noun Clause: Types
Noun clauses can be generally categorized into two types based on their grammatical structure:
- Finite noun clauses
- Non-finite noun clauses
Finite Noun Clauses
A finite clause contains a verb that is conjugated for tense and agrees with the subject in terms of person and number. Two types of finite clauses can function as nouns within sentences:
- Nominal relative clauses
- Content clauses
Nominal Relative Clauses
Nominal relative clauses are introduced by relative pronouns (what, which, who, whom, when, where, who, how) or indefinite relative pronouns (whatever, whichever, whenever, wherever, whoever, whomever) and function as a noun within the sentence. For example:
Here, 'what he did' is a nominal relative clause that acts as a noun (subject) in the sentence.
I don't know
Here, 'where she lives' is a nominal relative clause that acts as a noun (object) in the sentence.
I'll have
Content Clauses
Content clauses are finite clauses introduced by conjunctions such as 'that', 'if', 'whether', 'when', or 'how' that function as nouns in the sentence. They provide information or convey ideas that function as a single unit within a sentence and can express thoughts, beliefs, opinions, facts, or questions. Here are some examples:
That-clause as subject of sentence
I believe
That-clause as object of sentence
We are investigating
I'm not sure
Non-finite Clauses
Non-finite clauses, in which the verb is not conjugated for tense or person, can also function as nouns within sentences and act as subject, direct object, complement, etc. Two main types of non-finite clauses can act as noun clauses:
Infinitive Clauses
Infinitives are non-finite verb forms typically used to express actions or states without specifying a subject or tense. There are two types of infinitives in English:
Both 'to-infinitive' and bare infinitive clauses can function as nouns in the sentence. However, while 'to-infinitive' clauses can appear in both subject and object positions, bare infinitive clauses cannot serve as subjects. Take a look at the examples:
To dance is her passion.
She wants
He helped me
Present Participle Clauses
Present participle clauses can function as noun clauses within a sentence, and they can serve various roles such as subjects, objects, complements, and appositives. Here are some examples:
Present participle clause as subject of sentence
He likes
Present participle clause as direct object of verb
He is interested in
Present participle as object of preposition
Her favorite activity is
Present participle clause as subject complement
His hobby,
Present participle clause as appositive
Warning!
While non-finite clauses can functional as nouns, they are not always noun clause and can also act as adverbs. For example:
Here, 'talking' to himself' is a present participle non-finite clause that acts as an adverb and not a noun.
How to Identify Noun Clauses
To find out whether a phrase or clause is functioning as a noun or not, try replacing it with a pronoun. If the resulting sentence still makes sense, your phrase or clause is functioning as a noun. Pay attention to the following examples:
By replacing 'what you did' with a pronoun you can see that 'What you did' is functioning as a noun.
Teach me
By replacing 'how to make these cakes' with a pronoun you can see that 'how to make these cakes' is functioning as a noun.
Tip!
The main difference between noun clauses and relative or adverbial clauses is that relative clauses and adverbial clauses modify nouns and verbs respectively, while noun clauses replace nouns altogether.
Uses of Noun Clauses
A noun clause can be used as:
Noun Clauses as Subjects
Subjects in grammar are words, phrases, or clauses that do the action of verbs. They can be nouns, pronouns, and noun clauses. Take a look at the following examples:
In this example, the noun clause acts as the subject of the independent clause.
Noun Clauses as Direct Objects
Using a Noun Clause as the Object
Noun clauses can function as direct objects of the verb in the sentence (the independent clause).
Direct objects are words, phrases, or clauses that receive the action of a transitive verb. Examples of noun clauses as direct objects include the following:
He finally confessed
You can choose
Noun Clauses as Indirect Objects
Noun clauses can also function as indirect objects of the verb in the sentence (the independent clause).
Indirect objects are words, phrases, or clauses that receive the action of a ditransitive verb. Take a look at some examples of noun clauses as indirect objects:
I should have given
She will tell
Noun Clauses as Objects of Prepositions
Other times, noun clauses can act as the object of a preposition in the independent clause. For example:
I like to keep a schedule of
In the sentence above, the noun clause 'when I have upcoming appointments' is acting as the object of the preposition 'of.'
My teacher is writing a book about
Noun Clauses as Subject Complements
Noun clauses can act as subject complements (nouns that follow linking verbs). Noun clauses that function as subject complements are also referred to as predicate nominatives and predicate nouns.
You can become
In the sentence above, the noun clause 'whomever you want to be' is the subject complement of the linking verb become.
The problem is
Noun Clauses as Object Complements
Noun clauses can act as object complement by providing additional information or describing the direct object in more detail. For example:
I know him
'to be an honest man' is an infinitive clause acting as complement of the object 'him'.
They would name their dog
'whatever the children suggested' is a nominal relative clause acting as complement of the object 'their dog'
Noun Clauses as Adjective Complement
Noun clauses can be used as adjective complements, providing additional information or description about the state or condition expressed by the adjective. They specify the reason, cause, or basis for the adjective's quality. Here are some examples:
She was relieved
'that the storm has passed' is a content clause acting as complement of the adjective 'relieved'
I am happy
Noun Clauses as Noun Complement
A noun clause can function as a noun complement by providing additional information or clarification about a noun in a sentence. Here are examples of sentences with a noun clause as a noun complement:
The thought
Here, 'that he would be all on his own' provides information about the noun 'the thought'
The fact
Noun Clauses as Appositives
Appositives are words, phrases, or clauses that explain or specify another word, phrase, or clause. Typically nouns and noun phrases function as appositives, but noun clauses can also perform this grammatical function.
His belief,
His dream,
Review
'Noun clauses' are finite or non-finite dependent clauses that do not form a meaningful sentence. They sit instead of a noun. These noun clauses can function as:
- Subject
- Direct object
- Indirect object
- Objects of the preposition
- Subject complements
- Object complement
- Adjective complement
- Noun complement
- Appositives
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