B1 Basic – Noun Clause Functions
THREE types of noun clause
A. Noun Clauses Beginning with Question Words
Question words such as when, where, why, how, who/whom, what, which, and whose can introduce a noun clause.
B. Noun Clauses Beginning with Whether or If
When a yes/no question is changed to a noun clause whether or if is used to introduced the clause.
C. Noun Clauses Beginning with That
For a statement of a fact or an idea, the word that is used to introduce the noun clause.
SEVEN functions of noun clauses
A. Noun Clauses as the Subject of a Sentence
Noun Phrase Noun Clause
1. His suggestion is sensible. 1. What he suggests is sensible.
2. His reaction is unpredictable. 2. How he will react is unpredictable.
3. Her house is very beautiful. 3. Where she lives is very beautiful.
4. Her late arrival annoyed the teacher. 4. That she arrived late annoyed the teacher.
5. Anything that she says is wrong. 5. Whatever I say is wrong.
6. His honesty is questionable. 6. Whether he is honest is questionable.
B. Noun Clauses as the Object of a Sentence
Noun Phrase Noun Clause
1. I didn’t her his words. 1. I didn’t hear what he said.
2. I believe his innocence. 2. I believe that he is innocent.
3. I don’t know her name. 3. I don’t know what her name is.
C. Noun Clauses as Adjective Complement
Noun Phrase Noun Clause
1. I’m aware of its importance. 1. I’m aware that it is important.
2. We’re confident of his honesty. 2. We are condiment that he is honest.
3. I’m optimistic about my promotion. 3. I’m optimistic that I’ll be promoted.
D. Noun Clauses as Subject Complement
Noun Phrase Noun Clause
1. This is my opinion. 1. This is what I think.
2. The problem is his refusal to cooperate. 2. The problem is that he refuses to cooperate.
E. Noun Clauses as an Appositive
1. The fact that the earth is round is known by everybody.
2. My question, whether he’s willing to cooperate with us, hasn’t been answered yet.
3. His main argument, that scientific laws have no exceptions, was considered absurd.
F. Noun Clauses as the Object of a Preposition
Noun Phrase Noun Clause
1. It all depends on his reaction. 1. It all depends on how he will react.
G. Noun Clauses as Indirect Object.
Noun Phrase Noun Clause
1. The club will give the winner a prize. 1. The club will give whoever wins a prize.
*Subordinator as the subject of a Noun Clause
Sometimes the subordinator is subject of the verb in the noun clause.
a) I don’t know who helped him. b) Do you know what caused the accident?
c) They will welcome whoever is there. d) The general is authorized to take
whatever measures are necessary.