NOUN CLAUSE

PRE-ADVANCE STRUCTURE
BY EKO RUJITO DA
 INTRODUCTION
 A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb. There are two
types of clauses: independent clause and dependent clause.
 A Noun Clause is a group of words which contains a Subject and a Predicate
of its own, and does the work of a Noun.
He said something. (Noun)
He said some words. (Noun Phrase)
He said (that) he was sick. (Noun Clause)
S P
 Since a noun clause does the work of a Noun in a complex sentence, it can be:
1. the subject of a verb.
2. the object of a transitive verb.
3. the object of a preposition.
4. an apposition to a noun or pronoun.
5. an object complement
6. the complement of a verb of incomplete predication/a subject complement
7. an adjective complement
 1. SUBJECT OF A VERB
 It functions as the subject of a dependent clause and does
exactly what a subject does
 Look at the following examples:
It surprises me (N/Pronoun)
That you should say so surprises me. (NC)
The matter was a chief concern (NP)
How the country could fall into chaotic situation was a
chief concern. (NC)
The reason of his leaving is a mystery (NP)
Why he left is a mystery. (NC)
 More examples:
That it would rain seemed likely.
What he said was true,
When I shall return is uncertain.
 2. OBJECT OF A VERB

 It functions as the object of a verb in a sentence, particularly of

a transitive verb

 Examples:
She denied the charge . (NP)
She denied what she had done. (NC)
I cannot tell the matter to you (Noun)
I cannot tell where he‘s gone (NC)

 More examples:
He says that he won’t go.
I hoped that it was true.
Tell me why you did this.
Tell me where you live.
No one knows who he is.
 3. THE OBJECT OF A PREPOSITION.

 It follows a preposition to complete the meaning of the

prepositional phrase.
 Examples:

Sarah didn’t listen to Mary’s words

Sarah didn’t listen to what Mary said.

He wants to learn about everything

He wants to learn about whatever is interesting.

 More examples:
Pay careful attention to what I am going to say.
There is no meaning in what you say.
There were no complaints except that the day was too hot.
Some people believe in whatever organized religion tells them.
 4. APPOSITION TO A NOUN OR PRONOUN
 Apposition/appositive means “placing near”, grammatically refers
to words, phrases, and clauses that describe or explain another
noun/noun phrase.
 In the following examples, the noun clauses gives more description
or additional information to noun phrases before them:
That man, whoever he was, tried to steal some library books.
The problem, that the storm knocked out power, is affecting the
entire town.
His belief that some day he would succeed cheered him through
many disappointments.
The report that he was killed is untrue.
 Compare to adjective clauses in the following sentences:
That man, who wore a black shirt, tried to steal some library books.
The report that they broadcasted last week was untrue.
 5. OBJECT COMPLEMENT

 Object complements are defined as words, phrases, and

clauses that directly follow and describe the direct object.
 Examples:

Her grandfather considers his biggest mistake that he did

not finish college.

The committee has announced the winner whoever wrote

the essay on noun clauses.

I have often declared the problem that most students do not

understand grammar.
6. THE COMPLEMENT OF A VERB OF INCOMPLETE PREDICATION/
SUBJECT COMPLEMENT

 Verbs of incomplete predication usually express the idea of

being, becoming, seeming, appearing.
 The complement usually consists of a Noun (called a Predicative
Noun) or an Adjective (called a Predicative Adjective).
 When the Complement describes the Subject, as in the following
sentences, it is called a Subjective Complement:
Tabby is a cat.
The earth is round.
John became a soldier.
Mr. Mehta became mayor.
The man seems tired.
 SUBJECT COMPLEMENT
 A noun clause can take the role as subjective complement
as in the following examples:

My belief is that he will not come.

Her constant prayer was that the child might live.
His great fear is that he may fail.
My wish is that I may please you.
Their request will be that they may be allowed to resign.
Life is what we make it.
This is where I live.
Hary’s mistake was that he refused to take lessons.
 7. ADJECTIVE COMPLEMENT
 As an adjective complement, a noun clause describes the
adjective before it. It completes the meaning of the
adjective phrase

 Examples:
He is happy that he is learning English.
We are all afraid that the final exam will be difficult.
They felt sorry that they lost the match.
The patient was sure that he would recover.
She did not seem hopeful that he would arrive.
They was surprised that their team won the match
It is disappointing that you said that.
 NOUN CLAUSE MARKERS

 A noun clause is always begun with a noun clause

marker, or sometimes called subordinator.

 Here are the noun clause markers used in noun

clause:
1. that
2. if, whether
3. Wh-words: how, what, when, where, which, who,
whom, whose, why
4. Wh-ever words: however, whatever, whenever,
wherever, whichever, whoever, whomever
 NOUN CLAUSE MARKERS

 The choice of the noun clause marker (see below) depends on the
type of clause .

1. “that” is used for a statement:

I know that Billy made a mistake
The truth was that the moving company lost all your furniture.
2. “if” and “whether” are used for yes/no questions:
George wonders if Fred knows how to cook
I did not know whether I should laugh or cry
3. “wh-words” are used for wh-questions:
I don’t know where George is
They guessed what he meant
4. “wh-ever words” are used for wh-questions:
Whoever broke the vase will have to pay for it.
George eats whatever is on his plate
 MORE ABOUT NOUN CLAUSE

 Except for “that”, noun clause markers cannot be omitted:

He swore that he would take vengeance
He swore he would take vengeance
 “That” cannot be omitted when it functions as a subject marker:
That they would oppose the plan was clear from the beginning.
 A subject noun clause always functions as a singular noun:
What they want is an honest answer.
How he came up with such ideas was a surprise.
 Statement word order (afifrmative) is always used in a noun
clause, even if the main clause is a question:
Do you know what time it is? (not what time is it)
Everybody wondered where the man went (not where did the man go)
Will you explain why you behaved so? (not why did you behave so)
I do not know how I can deal with this rascal (not how can I deal
with this rascal)
 NOUN CLAUSE IN REPORTED SPEECH

 Reported speech refers to using a noun clause to report what someone

has said.
 The most significant grammatical feature is the change in the verb
form in the reported clause.

Quoted Speech Reported Speech

1 She said, “I study every day.” She said (that) she studied every
day
2 She said, “I’m studying.” She said (that) she was
studying.
3 She said, “I have studied.” She said (that) she had studied.
4 She said, “I studied last night.” She said (that) she had studied
the night before.
5 She said, “I will study.” She said (that) she would study.
6 She said, “I’m going to study.” She said (that) she was going to
study
 NOUN CLAUSE IN REPORTED SPEECH
7 She said, “I can study.” She said (that) she could study.
8 She said, “I may study.” She said (that) she might study.
9 She said, “I might study.” She said (that) she might study.
10 She said, “I must study.” She said (that) she had to study.
11 She said, “I have to study.” She said (that) she had to study.
12 She said, “I should study.” She said (that) she should study.

*. In reported speech, an imperative sentence is changed into infinitive.

Tell is used instead of say as reporting verb. Note that tell is
immediately followed by a noun/pronoun object, but say is not.
**. Ask is commonly used instead of say in reported question. Like tell,
ask is immediately followed by a noun/pronoun object.

13 She said, “I ought to study.” She said (that) she ought to

study.
14 She said, “Study!” She told me to study.*)
15 She said, “Do you study?” She asked (me) if I studied.**)
 NOTES ON REPORTED SPEECH
 If the reporting verb is in the past (e.g. said), the verb in the noun clause will usually
also be in the past form (see the examples on the previous page)
 When the reporting verb is in simple present, present perfect or future, the noun
clause verb is not changed:
She says, “I study every day.” ---- She says (that) she studies every day.
She has said, “I study every day.” ----- She has said (that) she studies
every day.
She will say, “I study every day.” ------ She will say (that) she studies
every day.
o Indirect speech introduced by a verb in a present tense: He says that. . . is usual when
we are:
(a) reporting a conversation that is still going on
The president says that the country’s economy is improving.
(b) reading a letter and reporting what it says
It says that he is doing well in his study.
(c) reading instructions and reporting them
It says that the battery will be expired in two years.
(d) reporting a statement that someone makes very often
Tom always says that he prefers being single.
o Clause marker (that) can be omitted (as in examples above), but it should not be if the
reporting verbs are complain, explain, object, point out, protest:
They complained that they had not been informed about the delay.
o Sometimes in spoken English, no change is made in the noun clause
verb, especially when the speaker is reporting something
immediately or soon after it was said:
A: What did the teacher just say? I didn’t hear him.
B: He said he wants us to read Chapter 6 (“ I want you to read
Chapter 6”)
o The past continuous tense in theory changes to the past perfect
continuous but in practice usually remains unchanged except when it
refers to a completed action:
She said, 'We were thinking of selling the house but we have decided
not to' =
She said that they had been thinking of selling the house but had
decided not to.
But,
He said, 'When I saw them they were playing tennis' =
He said that when he saw them they were playing tennis.
o Sometimes the present tense is retained when the reported sentence
deals with a general truth:
She said that there are 29 days in February if it is a leap year.
 In written English past tenses usually change to past
perfect but there are the following exceptions:
1. Past/Past continuous tenses in time clauses do not
normally change:
He said, 'When we were living/lived in Paris . . .' =
He said that when they were living/lived in Paris . . .
The main verb of such sentences can either remain
unchanged or become the past perfect:
He said, 'When we were living/lived in Paris we often
saw Paul often saw/had often seen Paul.
2. A past tense used to describe a state of affairs which
still exists when the speech is reported remains
unchanged:
She said, 'I decided not to buy the house because it was
on a main road' =
She said that she had decided not to buy the house
because it was on a main road.
 PRONOUN AND ADJECTIVE
 Pronouns and possessive adjectives usually change from first or
second to third person except when the speaker is reporting his
own words:
He said, 'I've forgotten the combination of my safe' =
He said that he had forgotten the combination of his safe.
I said, 'I like my new house' =
I said that I liked my new house. (speaker reporting his
own words)
 Sometimes a noun must be inserted to avoid ambiguity:
Tom said. 'He came in through the window' would not normally
be reported Tom said he had come in through the window as
this might imply that Tom himself had come in this way; but if
we use a noun there can be no confusion:
Tom said that the man/burglar/ had come in through….
 Pronoun changes may affect the verb:
He says. 'I know her' = He says he knows her.
 “this” and “these”
1. ‘this” used in time expressions usually becomes “that”:
He said, 'She is coming this week' =
He said that she was coming that week.
2. “this” and “that” used as adjectives usually change to “the”:
He said, 'I bought this/these pearl/these pearls for my
mother' =
He said that he had bought the pear/pearls for his mother.
3. “this”, “these” used as pronouns can become “it”, “they/them”:
He said, 'I found these embedded in the panelling,‘ =
He said he had found them (the bullets) embedded in the
panelling.
He said, 'We will discuss this tomorrow' =
He said that they would discuss it/the problem the next day.
4. “this”, “these” (adjectives or pronouns), used to indicate choice
or to distinguish some things from others, can become the
one(s) …
'I'll have this (one),' he said to me =
He said he would have the one near him (the watch)
EXPRESSIONS OF TIME AND PLACE IN INDIRECT
SPEECH

Adverbs and adverbial phrases of time change as

follows:
today that day
yesterday the day before
the day before yesterday two days before
tomorrow the next day/the following
day
the day after tomorrow in two days' time
next week/year etc. the following week/year etc.
last week/year etc. the previous week/year etc.
a year etc. ago a year before/the previous
year
 Examples:

'I saw her the day before yesterday,' he said =

He said he'd seen her two days before.

'I'll do it tomorrow,' he promised =

He promised that he would do it the next day.
'I'm starting the day after tomorrow,‘ he said =
He said that he was starting in two days' time.

She said, 'My father died a year ago' =

She said that her father had died a year before/the
previous year.
SOME NOTES:
o If the speech is made and reported on the same day these time changes
are not necessary:
At breakfast this morning he said. ‘I’ll be very busy today' =
At breakfast this morning he said that he would be very busy today.
o Logical adjustments are necessary if a speech is reported one/two days
after it is made.
On Monday Jack said to Tom: I'm leaving the day after tomorrow.
If Tom reports this on the next day (Tuesday) he will probably say:
Jack said he was leaving tomorrow.
If he reports it on Wednesday, he will probably say:
Jack said he was leaving today.
o “here” can become “there” but only when it is clear what place is meant:
At the station he said, ‘I’ll be here again tomorrow' =
He said that he 'd be there again the next day.
Usually “here” has to be replaced by some phrase:
She said, 'You can sit here, Tom' = She told Tom that he could sit
beside her etc.
 “SAY” AND “TELL” AS INTRODUCTORY VERBS
 “say” and “tell” with direct speech
1. “say” can introduce a statement or follow it:
Tom said, 'I've just heard the news' or 'I've just heard the news,' Tom said
When say + to + addressed person, it must follow the direct statement, an
inversion is not possible:
'I've just heard the news,‘ Tom said to me.
2. “tell” requires the person addressed or a direct object:
Tell me/us/Tom or tell lies/stories/the truth etc.
“tell” used with direct speech must be placed after the
direct statement and inversion is not possible:
'I'm leaving at once,' Tom told me.
 “say” and “tell” with indirect speech
Indirect statements are normally introduced by say, or tell + object:
He said (to me) that he'd just heard the news.
He told me that he'd just heard the news.
However, “tell” is more commonly used in reporting an imperative:
He said, “Turn left!” = He told me to turn left.
 QUESTIONS IN INDIRECT SPEECH
 The interrogative form of the verb changes to the affirmative form.
The question mark (?) is therefore omitted in indirect questions:
He said, 'Where does she live?' = He asked where she lived.
 With affirmative verb questions this change is obviously not
necessary:
'Who lives next door?' he said = He asked who lived next door.
'What happened?' she said = She asked what had happened.
 If the introductory verb is say, it must be changed to avert of
inquiry, e.g. ask, inquire, wonder, want to know etc.:
He said, 'Where is the station?' = He asked where the station was.
 Only “ask” can be followed by the person addressed (indirect object):
He asked, 'What have you got in your bag?' =
He asked me what I had got in my bag.
He said, 'Mary, when is the next train?' =
He asked Mary when the next train was
 If the direct question begins with a question word (when, where,
who, how, why etc.) the question word is repeated in the indirect
question:
He said, 'Why didn't you put on the brake?' =
He asked (her) why she had not put on the brake.
She said, 'What do you want?' =
She asked (them) what they wanted.
 If there is no question word, if or whether must be used:
1. Normally both if and whether can be used, with if is the more
usual:
'Do you know Bill?' he said = He asked if/whether I knew Bill.
'Did you see the accident?' the policeman asked =
The policeman asked if/whether I had seen the accident.
2. whether emphasizes that a choice has to be made:
'Do you want to go by air or sea?' the travel agent asked =
The travel agent asked whether I wanted to go by air or by sea.
Note whether or not:
'Do you want to insure your luggage or not?' he asked =
He asked whether or not I wanted to insure my luggage, or
He asked if I wanted to insure my luggage or not.
 INDIRECT SPEECH: MIXED TYPES
 Direct speech may consist of statement + question, question +
command, command + statement, or all three together.
 Normally each requires its own introductory verb:
'I don't know the way. Do you?' he asked=
He said he didn't know the way and asked me if I did/if I knew it.

'Someone's coming,' he said. 'Get behind the screen!' =

He said that someone was coming and told me to get behind the
screen.

'I'm going shopping. Can I get you anything?' she said =

She said she was going shopping and asked if she could get me
anything.

'I can hardly hear the radio,' he said. 'Could you turn it up?' =
He said he could hardly hear the radio and asked her to turn it up.
 But sometimes, when the last clause is a statement which helps
to explain the first, as can be used instead of a second
introductory verb:
'You'd better wear a coat. It's very cold outside‘ he said =
He advised me to wear a coat as it was very cold out.
'You'd better not walk across the park alone. People have been
mugged there,' he said =
He warned her not to walk across the park alone as people had
been mugged there.
 Sometimes the second introductory verb can be a participle:
'Please, please, don't drink too much! Remember that you have
to drive home,' she said =
She begged him not to drink too much, reminding him that he 'd
have to drive home.
'Let's shop on Friday. The supermarket will be very crowded on
Saturday,' she said =
She suggested shopping on Friday, pointing out that the
supermarket would be very crowded on Saturday. (as could be
used in both these examples.)