Noun clause
A clause which comes instead a noun.
It can be replaced with (something or somebody)
Noun and noun clause places:
1-Subject
2-Object of verb
3-Object of preposition
4- Subjective complement
Example:
Noun as subject:
John goes home.
Noun as object of verb:
I see John everyday.
Noun as object of preposition:
I speak with John everyday.
Noun as subjective complement:
He is John.
Example:
Noun clause as subject:
[Whether he comes] is still uncertain.
Noun clause as object of verb:
We do not know [whether he comes].
Noun clause as object of preposition:
We talked all night about [whether he comes].
Noun clause subjective complement:
It is still uncertain [whether he comes].
Notice:
The word "Whether" is a connector here.
Types of noun clauses:
1- Statement (positive or negative)
2- "Wh" - question
3- "yes/No" – question
Example:
John plays the piano well. (Statement)
That John plays the piano well is an accepted fact.
Notice:
"That" is generally used as a connector in "statement noun clauses"
Example:
Main sentence: My father knows [something].
Statement noun clause: His team will win.
Combined sentence: My father knows [that his team will win].
That: Connector
His team will win: Noun clause
Object of verb
Positive statement
Notice:
4 functions of noun clauses * 3 types of noun clause = 12 different form of
noun clauses.
Coherence and cohesion of sentences are only achievable by the use of noun
clauses.
Example:
He deals with something every day. (Statement)
I don't like to deal with something. (Main sentence)
I don't like to deal with what he deals with every day.
Notice:
Whenever we have a preposition before "that" that should be replaced with
"what".
Here: "with that" turned to "with what"
Example:
I am against something. (Main sentence)
He has said something. (Statement)
I am against [what he has said].
[What he has said]: Noun clause, object of preposition, statement.
Notice: Whenever noun clause is an object of preposition the connector should be
"what".
Example:
Something is debate full. (Main sentence)
The government doesn’t increase the taxes. (Statement)
It is debate full [that the government doesn't increase the taxes.]
Noun clause: Subjective complement, statement.
Example:
I want to know something. (Main sentence)
What do you need? (Wh-question)
I want to know [what you need]. (Combination)
What you need: Noun clause, object of verb, Wh-question.
Notice:
In Wh-question noun clauses Wh-question word is used instead the
connector.
Example:
Something is not important for us. (Main sentence)
What do you need? (Wh-question)
[What you need] is not important for us. (Combination)
What you need: Noun clause, Wh-question, Subject
Example:
Something has not been reported to us. (Main sentence)
Have the students finished their exam? (Yes/No-question)
[Whether/If students have finished their exam] has not been reported to us.
(Combination)
Whether/If students have finished their exam: Noun clause, subject,
Yes/No question.
Notice:
"If/Whether" is used as connector in Yes/No-question noun clauses.
It is optional to use "or not" for "whether".
It is wrong to use "or not" for "if".