What are noun clauses? (with examples)

What are noun clauses? (with examples)

A noun clause is a clause that plays the role of a noun. For example (shaded noun clauses):

• I like what I see.
  (Like all clauses, a noun clause has a subject and a verb. In this example, the subject of the clause is“yo“and the verb is“ver“).
• I know patience has its limits.
  (In this example, the subject of the clause is“patience“and the verb is“have“.)

Compare the two examples above with these:

• I like innovation.
• I know people.

Words in bold are all nouns. This proves that the shaded clauses in the first two examples function as nouns.

The composition of a noun clause

Let’s take a quick look at the definition of“clause“.

Definition of“Clause“
A clause has a subject and a verb and functions as part of speech.

(It follows, therefore, that a noun clause functions as a noun in a sentence).

Many noun clauses begin with“it’s“, “What“or a word with“what“(namely,“what“, “who“, “which“, “when“, “where“ o “why“). For example:

• I know that happened.
• I know how it happened.
• I know why it happened.

How to check if your clause works as a noun

A great way to check if a phrase or clause works as a noun is to try replacing it with a pronoun. If you can, your phrase or clause functions as a noun.

• What I say is true.
  (Pronoun test:“It’s true“. This proves that“What I say“functions as a noun).
• Show me how they work.
  (Pronoun test:“Show me“. This proves that“how do they work“functions as a noun).

Easy Examples of Noun Clauses

Here are some easy examples of noun clauses. In each example, the noun clause is shaded, the subject of the clause is in bold, and the verb of the noun clause is underlined.

• I know that the story is true.
• How the accident happened.
• I understand for what was necessary.
• I know who said that.
  (Often, the opening word (that is,“What“, “it’s“or the word“wh“) is the subject of the noun clause.)

The function of nominal clauses

Like any noun, a noun clause can be a subject, an object, or a complement. Here are some easier examples of noun clauses like subjects, objects, and complements.

• Whoever smelled it shared it.
  (Here, the noun clause is a subject.)
• My command is whatever you want.
  (Here, the noun clause is a subject complement.)
• I’ll think about what you said for a bit.
  (Here, the noun clause is an indirect object. That’s pretty weird.)

Real life examples of noun clauses

Here are some real life examples:

• The light knows when you are looking at it . (Artist of“light and space“James Turrell)
  (Here, the noun clause is the direct object of the verb“You know“).
• It is a light thing for him who keeps his foot out of anguish , to advise and advise the one who suffers. (The Greek tragic Aeschylus)
  (Here, the noun clause is the object of a preposition (“for“).
• My relationships are between me and whoever is there , not between me and the world. (Actress Lili Reinhart)
  (Here, the noun clause is the object of a preposition (“con“).)
• Freedom means responsibility. That’s that’s why most men fear it. (Playwright George Bernard Shaw)
  (Here, the noun clause is a subject complement.)

More examples of noun clauses

In a sentence, a noun clause will be a dependent clause. In other words, a noun clause does not stand alone as a complete thought.

• Ask your child what she wants for dinner only if she’s shopping. (Fran Lebowitz)
  (This noun clause is the direct object of“to ask“).
• he knows everything about art, but he doesn’t know what he likes. (James Thurber, 1894-1961)
  (This noun clause is the direct object of“saber“).
• It is even more difficult for the average ape to believe that he has descended from man. (HL Mencken, 1880-1956)
  (This noun clause is the direct object of“believe“).
• I never know how much what I say is true. (Bette Midler)
  (This noun clause is an object of a preposition.)
• Man is what he eats (Ludwig Feuerbach)
  (This noun clause is a subject complement.)
• My only regret in life is that I’m not someone else. (Woody Allen)
  (This noun clause is a subject complement.)

Why should I care about noun clauses?

Native speakers of English use noun clauses without much inconvenience. However, there are two problems here related to noun clauses that occasionally arise.

(Problem 1) The use of a noun clause beginning with“It’s“as a subject it irritates the ear.

From a grammatical perspective, it is perfectly acceptable to use a noun clause beginning with“It’s“as the subject of a sentence. However, for many, it sounds too unnatural. Look at this example:

• That you believe in your own story is remarkable. (Jerome Blattner)
  (Begin a sentence with a noun clause beginning with“It’s“It’s okay, but it annoys a lot of people. Many writers prefer“The fact that…“.)

If it irritates your ears, opt for“The fact that“instead of just“It’s“. Note, however, that“The fact that“it is considered by some to be a tautology (an unnecessary repetition), which means that it has its own problem.

If you don’t like“It’s“ o “The fact that“, then rephrase your sentence.

• It is remarkable that he creates his own story.
  (You might prefer a compromise like this.)

(Problem 2) Choose the correct version of“who“ y “who“at the beginning of a noun clause.

“Who“is the subject of a verb.“Who is not. It’s the same deal with“whoever“ y “whoever“.

• My relationships are between me and whoever I’m with. ✔️
  (Here,“any“is the object of the preposition“con“.)
• My relations are between myself and whoever is interested. ✔️
  (Here,“who“is the subject of the verb“es“. Note that the clause“who is interested“is the object of the preposition“in between“, but that doesn’t mean that“who“become“who“. If your“whoever“is the subject of a verb, then“whoever“, no “whoever“, is correct).

If this doesn’t make any sense to you, just go with“who“ o “whoever“every time. First, they are more common, but second, most grammarians agree that“who“ y “whoever“are in their final stages in English. They go in the same direction as“here“ y “over there“.

Key Points

• If you don’t want to start your sentence with“It’s“ o “The fact that“, then rephrase your sentence.
• More and more people avoid“who“ (y “whoever“). So if you’re not sure when to use“who“ y “who“, choose“who“ y declare “who“as obsolete. (Yes, it’s time we defended that line.)