Noun Clauses

Noun Clauses:

The clauses doing the work of a Noun are called Noun Clauses. The Noun Clauses can be:

  • Object to a Transitive Verb.
  • Subject to a Verb.
  • Object to a Preposition.
  • Object to an Infinitive.
  • Object to a Participle.
  • Complement to a verb.
  • In Apposition to a Noun or a Pronoun.

Object to a Transitive Verb:

Read the sentences given below:

  1. He said that two and two make four.
  2. They shouted that they were all safe and sound.
  3. I do not know how it came about.

In sentence 1, the clause “that two and two make four” works as the object of transitive verb said. It is, therefore, a Noun Clause.

In sentence 2, the clause “that they were all safe and sound” is the object of transitive verb shouted. It is, therefore, a Noun Clause.

In sentence 3, the clause “how it came about” is the object of the transitive verb know. It is therefore a Noun Clause.

Subject to a Verb:

Read the following sentences:

  1. That he must help us is quite sure.
  2. What he does is not known to us.
  3. When he will turn up is uncertain.
  4. How he managed to get pass marks is a mystery.
  5. Where he lives is known to all.

In the preceding sentences, the Clauses in italics are doing the work of subjects, hence they are Noun Clauses. The breakup of the sentences in the cage below further clarifies it.

Subject to a Verb in Principal ClausePrincipal Clause
(1) That he must help usis quite certain.
(2) What he doesis not known to us.
(3) When he will turn upis uncertain.
(4) How he managed to get pass marksis a mystery.
(5) Where he livesis known to all.

Note: The Noun Clauses when they act as subject to the verb of a main clause or any other clause usually begin with Realtive Pronouns or Realtive Adverbs having no antecedent before them. The breakup of sentences in the cage above makes it quite clear.

Object to a Preposition:

Read the sentences:

  1. You should listen to What your teacher says.
  2. I am ashamed of What I have done.
  3. The book will sell for What it worths.
  4. We live on What we earn.
  5. Our health depends on How we take care of it.

In the sentences above the clauses in italics are acting as an object to the preposition (to, of, for, on, on) just preceding them. Since an object is a Noun or a pronoun the clauses in italics are Noun Clauses. The cage given below further makes it clear.

Principal ClauseNoun Clause object to a preposition in Principal Clause
(1) You should listen toWhat your teacher says.
(2) I am ashamed ofWhat I have done.
(3) The book will sell forWhat it worths.
(4) We live onWhat we earn.
(5) Our health depends onHow we take care of it.

Note: A Noun Clause acting as an object to a preposition in another clause should immediately follow it.

Object to an Infinitive:

Read the following sentences and note the clauses given in italics:

  1. I want to know how it came about.
  2. He tried to do what his brother failed to do.
  3. I would like to ask when the examination was going to take place.
  4. In winter he has nothing to put on that can keep the chill off.

The clauses in italics above are the objects to the Infinitives (‘to know‘, ‘to do‘, ‘to ask‘, ‘to put on‘) immediately following them. They are, therefore, Noun Clauses. Read the break up of the clauses in the cage below.

Principal ClauseNoun Clause object to Infinitive in Principal Clause
(1) I want to know.How it came about.
(2) He tried to do.What his brother failed to do.
(3) I would like to ask.When the examination was going to take place.
(4) In winter he has nothing to put on.That can keep the chill off.

Note: The Noun Clause Object to an Indefinite should immediately follow its Infinitive.

Object to a Participle:

Read the following sentences and mark the clauses in italics:

  1. Knowing that he is a bad boy, I left off his company.
  2. Fearing that he would fail, he did not appear in the examination.
  3. He went to Delhi hoping, that he would get a job there.
  4. Seeing that there was a snake creeping ahead, he left off that path.

The clauses in italics are the objects to the participles (knowing, fearing, hoping, seeing) immediately follow them.

Read the break up of the clauses within the cage below:

Principal ClauseNoun Clause Object to a Participle in Principal Clause
Knowing I left off his company.That he is a bad boy.
Fearing he did not appear in the examination.That he would fail.
He went to Delhi hoping.That he would get a job there.
Seeing he left off that path.That there was a snake riggling ahead.

The clauses in italics above are the objects to the participles just preceding them.

Complement to a Verb:

Read the following sentences and mark the italic Clauses carefully:

  1. Life is what we make it.
  2. It seems that the patient is on the fair way to recovery.
  3. Things are not what they seem to casual eye.
  4. My uncle made me what I cherished to become.

The clauses in italics are complements to verbs (‘is‘, ‘seem‘, ‘are‘, ‘made‘). They are, therefore, Noun Clauses.

Note: All forms of verb ‘be’ (is, am, are, was, were) and those of have (has, have, had) when used as principal verbs and these need complements. Besides, looks, appear, seem, choose, elect, and select are also verbs of incomplete predication and they too need complements. Sometimes make also needs complement.

Analysis of the above-given sentences:

SentenceClauseKind of the ClauseFunction of the Clause
(1) Life is what we make it.(1) Life is.

(2) What we make it.
Principal Clause
Noun Clause
Complement of verb ‘is‘ in (1)
(2) It seems that the patient is on the fairway to recovery.(1) It seems.

(2) That the patient is on the fair way to recovery.
Principal Clause
Noun Clause
Complement of verb ‘seems‘ in (1)
(3) Things are not what they seem to casual eye.(1) Things are not.

(2) What they seem to casual eye.
Principal Clause
Noun Clause
Complement of verb ‘are‘ in (1)
(4) My uncle made me what I cherished to become.(1) My uncle made me.

(2) What I cherished to become.
Principal Clause
Noun Clause
Complement of verb ‘made‘ in (1)

In Apposition to a Noun or a Pronoun:

Read the following sentences and mark the clauses in italics:

  1. The news, he is dead, is untrue.
  2. The proverb, haste makes waste, is universally acknowledged.
  3. The fact, some misguided youths are anti-socials, is hundred percent true.
  4. The saying knowledge is power, is believable.

The clauses in italics are “In Apposition to Nouns” (news, proverb, fact, saying). So they are Noun Clauses.

Analysis of the above-given sentences into Clauses:

SentenceClauseKind of the ClauseFunction of the Clause
(1) The news, he is dead, is untrue.(1) The news is untrue.

(2) He is dead.
Principal Clause
Noun Clause
In Apposition to noun ‘news‘ in (1)
(2) The proverb, haste makes waste, is universally acknowledged.(1) The proverb is universally acknowledged.

(2) Haste makes waste.
Principal Clause
Noun Clause
In Apposition to noun ‘proverb‘ in (1)
(3) The fact, some misguided youths are anti-socials, is hundred percent true.(1) The fact is hundred percent true.

(2) Some misguided youths are anti-socials.
Principal Clause
Noun Clause
In Apposition to noun ‘fact‘ in principal clause
(4) The saying knowledge is power, is believable.(1) The saying is believable.

(2) Knowledge is power.
Principal Clause
Noun Clause
In Apposition to noun ‘saying‘ in principal clause

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