00 / Clauses & Questions
Noun clauses
Noun clauses are dependent clauses that function as nouns within a sentence, acting as subjects, objects, or complements.
B2Upper Intermediate
01 / Overview
A noun clause performs the same grammatical function as a single noun or a noun phrase. It cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it is a dependent clause. These clauses typically begin with wh- words (who, what, where, when, why, how), if/whether, or the conjunction that.
02 / Structure and Word Order
Wh- word/That/Whether + Subject + Verb
Noun clauses follow statement word order (subject + verb), even when they begin with a question word. When the clause is the subject of the sentence, the main verb is singular.
03 / Common Uses
04 / Common Mistakes
I wonder what time is it.
I wonder what time it is.
Noun clauses must use statement word order, not question word order.
That he is late is not matter.
That he is late does not matter.
When a 'that' clause is the subject, it requires a standard predicate.
05 / Noun Clauses vs. Relative Clauses
Noun clauses replace a noun, while relative clauses provide extra information about a noun that is already present in the main clause.
| Feature | Noun Clause | Relative Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Acts as a noun (Subject/Object) | Acts as an adjective (Modifies a noun) |
| Example | I know where he lives. | I visited the house where he lives. |
06 / Practice
Complete the sentence: 'I am not sure _______ (he wants) for his birthday.'
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Answer: what he wants
Why: The noun clause acts as the object of the preposition 'sure of' (or the adjective complement), using the question word 'what' followed by statement word order.
Correct the error: 'Where did she go is a mystery.'
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Answer: Where she went is a mystery.
Why: When a noun clause is the subject, it must use statement word order (Subject + Verb) rather than auxiliary inversion.
Rewrite using a noun clause: 'Will it rain? It depends on that.'
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Answer: Whether it will rain depends on that.
Why: Yes/no questions become noun clauses using 'whether' or 'if' followed by the subject and verb.