Noun Clauses

What you need to know about noun clauses in English:

Noun clauses can be used in place of simple subjects, objects or subject complements.

Noun clauses consist of a subject, a verb and a subordinator (“extra word”)

For example,

What you say . . . 

Noun clauses must be connected to another group of words to make a complete sentence.

What you are saying is important. 

I hear what you are saying.

The subordinator can be something like “whatever, whoever, what, why, that, if” or similar words (see list below).

The subordinator comes at the beginning of the noun clause:

For example,  Whatever you do . . .

Sometimes the subordinator can merged with the subject of the noun clause.

Whoever lives there . . .

For more information, see video and explanation below.

Noun clause used as an object

Noun clause used as a subject

The subordinator may take the “subject” or “object” position in a noun clause.

Note the usage of the following:

Subordinators which are used in noun clauses:

(Some of these words are also used in Grammar: Relative Clauses and Grammar: Wh – Questions.) .

Remember to preserve word order in noun clauses:

• I don’t know who he is.
• Whoever she is is not important.
• Whatever is in the box is a mystery.
• Can you tell me what he is doing?
• She doesn’t understand why he is leaving.
• I wonder how much that costs.
• Do you know how long it will take?