Noun Clause Construction

   A.  Definition of noun clause

       Noun clauses is a group of words that can not stand alone (dependent clauses) that has a subject and predicate and functioning as nouns (nouns), which can be as subject, object, or complement. As a dependent clause, with must connect to an independent clause. Noun clause usually begin with word such as How, That, What, Whatever, When, Where, Which, Who, Whoever and Why. The most common word among them is that.

Examples :

- I know that you speak two languages.

- I believe that drug abuse can ruin one’s health.

B.   The functions of noun clause :

       1) Noun clause as subject

       2) Noun clause as object

       3) Noun clause as complement

       4) Noun clause as object preposition

      

Note:

Ø  Noun clause can be derived from :

       1) Statement

       2) Yes/No questions

       3) W/H questions

1. Noun clause as subject

a) From statement : we should put conjunction “that (sub ordinary conjunction)” in front of statement

example :

That the earth revolves around the sun is true.

b) From Yes/No question:

    - We use “if/whether” as S.O.C

    - put “if/whether” at the beginning of the sentence.

    - change interrogative sentence become positive sentence.

Example:

Whether he needs money is not important.

c) W/H question:

- We use W/H question as S.O.C (what, where, where, when, who, which, How etc)

- change interrogative sentence become positive sentence.

Example :

What the salesman has said is untrue.

            2. Noun clause as object

a) From statement : we use “that (sub ordinary conjunction)”.

Example :

We know that noun clause is not easy.

            b) From Yes/No question :

- we use “if/whether” as S.O.C

            Example :

            I want to know whether he is suspicious with us.

            c) From W/H question :

            Example :

            I want to ask why he is angry with us.

            3. Noun clause as complement : complement is put after “tobe” (is, am, are, was, were, has been, had been, must be, etc)

            a) From statement :

                 Example :

                 My conclusion is that he is a good leader.

            b) From Yes/No question :

                 Example :

                 The question is whether they are trained in using this machine?

            c) From W/H question :

                 Example :

                 The question is why she is always jealous to her husband.

            4.  Noun clause as object of preposition

                 Preposition : in, on, at, for, from, before, after, etc.

            a) From statement : we put “the fact that” before statement, and the meaning is “because”.

                 Example :

                 Everybody was surprised with the fact that he resigned from his position. 

           

            b)  From Yes/No question

                 Example :

                 We are concerned with whether he will get better soon.

            c)  From W/H question

                 Example :

                 Be careful of what you are doing.