A noun clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb that acts as a single noun in a sentence. You can replace the entire clause with a pronoun like "it," "that," or "something."
* I know what you did last summer. (I know it.)
* Why she left is a mystery. (It is a mystery.)
The Question Words
These noun clauses are introduced by the familiar question words:
* who, whom, whose
* what, which
* where
* when
* why
* how
* Expressions like how much, how many, how long, how often, etc.
The Most Important Rule: Statement Word Order
This is the key difference between a direct question and a noun clause.
* A direct question uses question word order (Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb).
* A noun clause uses statement word order (Subject + Verb).
Let's compare:
| Direct Question (Question Word Order) | Noun Clause (Statement Word Order) |
|---|---|
| Where is the library? | I don't know where the library is. |
| What time does the movie start? | Please tell me what time the movie starts. |
| Why did he leave? | We need to find out why he left. |
| How much does this cost? | She asked how much this costs. |
Incorrect: I asked him where is the post office.
Correct: I asked him where the post office is.
Incorrect: Do you know what time does the game begin?
Correct: Do you know what time the game begins?
Functions of Noun Clauses in a Sentence
Just like regular nouns, these clauses can have several different jobs in a sentence.
1. As the Subject of a Sentence
The clause is the person, place, or thing that performs the action of the main verb.
* What she said surprised everyone.
(It surprised everyone.)
* Where he went for vacation remains a secret.
(That remains a secret.)
* How the magician performed the trick is the real question.
(This is the real question.)
2. As the Direct Object of a Verb
The clause receives the action of the verb. This is the most common function.
* I don't remember what his name is.
(I don't remember it.)
* She explained why she was late for the meeting.
(She explained her reason.)
* Could you show me how this machine works?
(Could you show me the process?)
3. As the Object of a Preposition
The clause follows a preposition (like about, of, to, in, for, on).
* I am not interested in what they are proposing.
(I am not interested in their proposal.)
* She was worried about who would get the promotion.
(She was worried about the outcome.)
* We had a long debate about where we should spend our holidays.
(We had a long debate about the location.)
4. As a Subject Complement
The clause follows a linking verb (like is, was, seems, becomes) and renames or describes the subject.
* The main problem is how we are going to finish on time.
(The main problem is the method.)
* My question was when the report would be ready.
(My question was the deadline.)
* The mystery is who left the anonymous note.
(The mystery is the person.)
Summary Table
| Function | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Subject | Why the sky is blue was the topic of our lecture. |
| Direct Object | I finally understood what the teacher meant. |
| Object of Preposition | Pay close attention to how he solves the equation. |
| Subject Complement | The biggest question is whether we have enough funding. (Whether and if can also start these clauses) |
Test Your Understanding
Combine the two sentences by turning the direct question into a noun clause.
* I need to know. What time is it?
* I need to know _______.
* Please tell me. Where is the nearest ATM?
* Please tell me _______.
* We discussed it. Why did the project fail?
* We discussed _______.
* It is confusing. How did she solve the puzzle so quickly?
* _______ is confusing.
Answers:
* I need to know what time it is.
* Please tell me where the nearest ATM is.
* We di
scussed why the project failed.
* How she solved the puzzle so quickly is confusing.
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