Noun Clauses

By: Moises Ramirez

Noun Clauses
Noun clauses are subject and predicate (finite verb) structures carrying out the grammatical functions attributed to a noun.

WH-WORDS Who Which Why Whether Whoever Whosever Whomever Whichever Whatever Whom What When Whose Where

CONJUCTIONS That How

If

Ending in ever are called Relative Indefinite Pronouns

Noun Clauses
A noun clause is a clause that has the same function as a noun. A noun clause can be define as a clause that fills a position that a noun phrase typically occupies in a matrix clause.

Noun Clauses examples

What he said disturbed us all. (subject) The news disturbed us all. Noun Phrase (NP) That he had done it was obvious. (subject) It was obvious. Noun Phrase (NP)

Noun Clauses axamples

He said that he was hungry. (object) He said something. Noun Phrase (NP) He asked where we were going. (object) He asked a question. Noun Phrase (NP)

Many noun clauses are introduced by the complementizer that. That may be omitted except initially in sentences:
He told me (that) I could go. It is obvious (that) he knows all about it. That he confessed so readily was shocking. That he knew about it we had no idea.

wh-words and relitive indefinite pronouns

Take what you want. Whoever did that acted rather foolishly. Whatever you did annoyed us all. Whichever came here did a mess She told him what a good job he had done. I wanted to know whether they were going.

NP

VP

NP/c

we will define a noun phrase (NP) as an articlenoun combination, this kind of noun phrase consists of an article and a common noun (abbreviated NC) NP Art NC

The monkey ate a banana Art NC

A boy watches TV Art NC

A single word can fill the slot of subject. We will call all names like Tarzan and Rover proper nouns (abbreviated NP). N NP Tarzan saw a leopard NP Rover saw a leopard NP

PS RULES
S NP VP

LEXICON
Art: a, an, the NC: engineer, car, cat, monkey, etc. NP: Rover, Luke, Chicago, etc. V: startle, bought, loves, hired, etc.

NP
NP VP

Art
NP V

NC

NP

S
NP Art
NC

VP V
NP

NP The engineer startled Sidney

S
NP
NP VP

V
Art

NP
NC

Constance bought

car

Noun clauses can do anything that nouns can do. Dependent clauses can also be classified as restrictive and non-restrictive. It can be removed from the sentence without changing its basic meaning. The teacher, who used to be secretary, could type very competently.

Notice the difference in meaning that is caused when a clause is changed from non-restrictive to restrictive.

The students, who were penniless, could not afford to buy books. The students who were penniless could not afford to buy books.

The imperfect subjunctive (e.g. base form of the verb) is used in noun clause when:
Wish Recommendation Suggestion Command

Examples of the subjunctive form

I insist that he be told. It is essential that he do it immediately. They require that I be there at noon.