Passages U1_B

What's your family like?

Noun Clause: What It Is and How to Identify It

A noun clause is a group of words acting together as a noun.

These clauses are always dependent clauses. That is, they do not form a complete sentence. 

What Is a Noun Clause?

A noun clause functions as a noun in a sentence. It follows a linking or copular verb to describe or modify the subject of the sentence. Unlike noun phrases, noun clauses contain both a subject and a verb.

Noun clause examples include:

• Do you know what time it is?

• I don’t understand what you’re talking about.

• Whether Roman accepts the job or not is his business.

• The blue noun clauses are dependent clauses. Unlike independent clauses, they can’t stand alone as full sentences.

Noun clauses function to add more details to a sentence. If you’re not sure whether a clause is a noun clause, try replacing it with other nouns or pronouns. For example:

• Do you know it?

• I don’t understand him.

• It is his business.

• 
  

How to Spot a Noun Clause

Because noun clauses can appear almost anywhere in a sentence, they can be tricky to spot. One of the easiest ways to spot a noun clause is to look for these words:

• how

• that

• what

• whatever - when - where - whether - which - whichever - who - whoever - whom - whomever - why

Multiple Choice

The management ................that the workers would be sacked if they went on strike.

• discovered

• noticed

• threatened

• grumbled

• appreciated

Multiple Choice

I might be able to tell you............... road to take if I knew............... on the map we are now.

• where / when

• which / where

• what / how

• how far / which

• whose / when

Multiple Choice

I couldn’t believe.................... it took them to process my application.

• how much

• how many

• where

• how long

• when

Multiple Choice

I couldn’t believe.................... it took them to process my application.

• how much

• how many

• where

• how long

• when

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct conjunction to complete the nominal phrase: World leaders are __________ we are relying on to solve the problem.

• whether

• where

• what

• when

• who

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct conjunction to complete the nominal phrase: 2100 is __________ the world's population is predicted to reach 16 billion.

• whether

• where

• what

• when

• that

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct conjunction to complete the nominal phrase: London is __________ the population increased eightfold in a century.

• who

• where

• what

• when

• whether

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct conjunction to complete the nominal phrase: Lack of water and food are __________ many people are worried about.

• who

• where

• what

• when

• that

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct conjunction to complete the nominal phrase: We need to know __________ overpopulation really is a serious problem.

• that

• where

• what

• when

• whether

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct conjunction to complete the nominal phrase: What we know is __________ the world's population is increasing.

• that

• where

• what

• when

• who

Multiple Choice

I don't know _____ .

• how many children he has.

• how many chidren does he have.

Multiple Choice

John asked me _____ .

• where was his wallet.

• where his wallet was.

Multiple Choice

John asked me _____ .

• where was his wallet.

• where his wallet was.