Noun Clause – Definition Examples Exercise

Learn The Noun Clause comprehensively by definition, examples, uses, and exercises with answers. Get the concepts and learn effectively.

The Noun Clause | How to Learn with Definition and Examples 

3. The Noun Clause

When a clause works for the same objective in a sentence as is served by a Noun, it is called the Noun Clause. It is used as same as a noun is used. It holds a subject and a predicate. 

Before studying the use of the Noun Clause, let us learn the use of Noun.

A Noun has the following role in a sentence.

1. Noun as a Subject

For example,

• The boys play hockey.
• The goats graze in the fields.

2. Noun as an Object

For example,

• We play tennis.
• They write some letters.

3. Noun as an Object of Preposition

• I shall go to London.
• She will leave for Islamabad.

Note: The Noun or Pronoun followed by a preposition is an object of that proposition.

4. As Object of An Infinitive

For example,

• We want to serve our country. 
•  I want to see you. 

 Note: Infinitive is framed by adding. “to” before a verb as “to come, to. go, read, to write” etc. 

5.  As Object of a Participle

For example,

i. The thief began to steal considering the inmates sleeping. 

Note: Participle is framed by adding “ing” to the first form of a verb as, eat: eating, work: working, play: playing, etc.

ii. Taking the butcher blind, the dog stole a piece of meat.

6. As Complement To a Verb

For example,

•  He was Hamzah. 
•  We made Ahmad our captain.

7. Apposition to A Noun or Pronoun

• The Quaid-e-Azam, the founder of Pakistan, was born in Karachi. 
• Lahore, the capital of Punjab, is a beautiful city. 
• Karachi, the mini Pakistan, is the capital of Sindh.

Note: When a word or writing in a sentence has the same meaning as another word or writing, they are called Apposition to each other. 

FUNCTION OF A NOUN CLAUSE

Function of a   Noun Clause	Examples
As Subject	All that he reported is false. Whether he will come is certain. When he will leave is uncertain. That you are a cheat is known to all. How he passed is clear to us.
Object	We know that he is a cheat. They are sure that he will reach soon. We believe what he says.
Object to a Preposition	I know nothing of what he did. It depends on what he concludes.
Complement	This is all what we struggled. That is all what they concluded.
Apposition to “It or Noun”	My hope that he will pass proved false. It is a fact that he is honest. It is true that she is a swindler.

LINKING WORDS USED IN A NOUN CLAUSE 

that: He said that he would pass.
who: He knows who I am.
whose: I know whose papers these are.
whom: We know whom you want to invite.
what: Everyone knows what caused his death.

which: I can tell which one is your cow.

where: I do not know where he lives.

when: Do you know when Ali will come? 

how: I shall explain how the chain was broken. 

why: Do you know why he came here?

whatever: We spend whatever we like.

if/whether: He asked me whether/if I would do him favour.

USE OF NOUN CLAUSE

Following are the uses of the Noun Clause.

SUBJECT TO A VERB

1. That he will come is not certain. 
2. That he will return is quite certain. 
3. What he says is false. 
4. Who came here, no one knows with certainty. 
5. When he will marry is uncertain. 
6. Why he left the school is a mystery. 
7. Whatever he says is written by us. 
8. Which he selects is not known to anyone. 
9. How the thief stole is not known. 
10. Whether she will come seems uncertain. 

OBJECT TO A VERB

1. I think that the post office is quite near. 
2. We are certain that he always speaks the truth. 
3.  I denied that you had taken tea. 
4.  I can explain what befell him. 
5.  Do not know how he was mined. 
6.  Can you tell why Ali did this? 
7.  I cannot say when they will come. 
8.  Do you know where he lives? 
9.  No one knows who the protestor was. 
10. I know what she wants. 
11. I could not understand what she said. 
12. She said that she would attend the classes. 

OBJECT TO A PREPOSITION 

1. We should listen to what he says. 
2. There is some sense in what he pronounces. 
3. I know nothing of what he intends to do.
4. She is afraid of whatever she sees. 
5. Pay attention to what your teacher says. 
6.  He is suffering from what the doctor knows. 
7. We live on what we eat. 
8.  There was no complaint except that the night was cold. 
9. This house will be sold for what it is worth. 
10.  There is nothing in what you said.

OBJECT TO A PARTICIPLE

1. We went out thinking that the night was starry. 
2. He came to me hoping that he would. cheat me. 
3. The fox went away saying that the grapes are sour. 
4. The bear went away taking the man to be dead. 
5. The dacoit fired thinking that we were unarmed.
6. The doctor went away saying that he would come back.
7. They cried for help seeing that they were in danger. 
8. We rushed to help him seeing that he was in trouble.
9.  I went to Lahore hoping that I would meet the Secretary. 
10. We work hard hoping that we would pass.

OBJECT TO INFINITIVE

1. We want to know what has happened?
2. We are sorry to say that we could not reach in time. 
3. It is essential to inquire how he was killed. 
4. We want to ask how the sum was solved. 
5. The crow wanted to see what was in the jug. 
6. We like to see what is hidden under the earth.
7.  He wanted to discover where his house is situated.
8. I want to know why he failed.
9. I am obliged to say that he is a noble fellow. 
10. The culprit was forced to admit what police wanted.

COMPLEMENT TO A VERB

1. Life is what we make it. 
2. This is how we solved the sum.  
3. His request is that he may be granted leave. 
4. That is what we expected. 
5.  This is what nobody can understand. 
6. His fear was that the snake would bite him. 
7. Things are not what they seem. 
8. My faith is that Allah is Omnipotent.
9.  His wish is that he may succeed. 
10. This was how he behaved.

APPOSITION TO A NOUN OR PRONOUN

1. My idea that he is honest proved false. 
2. Our idea that we must sail was appreciated.
3. The fact that he is dead is painful to us
4. It was fortunate that we left before the storm. 
5. The fear that the storm would harm was baseless.
6. The news that he has arrived is not true. 
7. It is hoped that he will reach soon. 
8. It is true that the lady is honest. 
9. The report that he has left is not true. 
10. His dream that he killed the lion is true. 

Note: In the NOUN CLAUSE words such as “whiz), whose, what, which, when, how” are also used.

Exercise

Note a few examples of joining sentences and making Noun Clause.

1. Nasima wanted to join the school. She told us so.

Ans. Nasiam told us that she wanted to join the school.

 2. She is going somewhere. He does not know. 

Ans. He does not know where she is going. 

3. The house was built in one year, It was a grand structure.

Ans. The house, a grand structure, was built in one year.

4. The train will reach at a certain time. Do you know the time?

 Ans. Do you know the time when the train will reach? 

5. No one pities him. It is a fact.

Ans. It is a fact that no one pities him.

 6. They will be late. It is not certain.

 Ans. It is not certain that they will be late.

 7. You will succeed. We expect it.

 Ans. We expect that you will succeed.

 8. You have solved the problem. No one knows the method.

 Ans. No one knows how you have solved the problem. 

9. He is very sad these days. I wanted to know the reason. 

Ans. I wanted to know why he Is sad these days. 

10. He is a great writer. This fact cannot be denied.

 Ans. This fact cannot be denied that he is a great writer.

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