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.
