Noun ClausesNoun Clauses

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Uses for Noun ClausesUses for Noun Clauses

You have studied adjective You have studied adjective clauses and adverb clauses. clauses and adverb clauses. Another kind of clause is the noun Another kind of clause is the noun clause. clause.

A noun clause is a subordinate A noun clause is a subordinate clause that functions as a noun. clause that functions as a noun.

You can use a noun clause in all You can use a noun clause in all the ways you can use nouns. the ways you can use nouns.

Words that introduce Words that introduce noun clauses. noun clauses.

HowHow WhatWhat WhereWhere WhichWhich whoeverwhoever

IfIf WhatevWhateverer

WherevWhereverer

WhicheverWhichever WhomeverWhomever

ThatThat When When WhetherWhether Who, Who, whomwhom

whywhy

Noun clauses can be Noun clauses can be used as the following:used as the following:

SubjectSubject What he saidWhat he said was clear. was clear.

Direct objectDirect object I don’t know I don’t know how he can be how he can be reached. reached.

Indirect objectIndirect object Give Give whoever answerswhoever answers the the message.message.

Object of a Object of a prepositionpreposition

I sent the notice to I sent the notice to whoever whoever was interested. was interested.

Predicate nounPredicate noun That is That is what I intend. what I intend.

Identify each noun clause. Is it used as a Identify each noun clause. Is it used as a subject, a direct object, an indirect object, subject, a direct object, an indirect object, an object of a preposition, or a predicate an object of a preposition, or a predicate noun?noun?

1.1. You know that the telephone uses You know that the telephone uses electricity.electricity.

2.2. What you say into a phone creates What you say into a phone creates sound waves. sound waves.

3.3. An electric current carries the sound An electric current carries the sound to whoever is listening. to whoever is listening.

4.4. Basically, this is how a telephone Basically, this is how a telephone operates. operates.

5.5. You can talk to whomever you like You can talk to whomever you like and say whatever you think. and say whatever you think.

Noun clauses with who Noun clauses with who and whomand whom To decide whether to use To decide whether to use whowho or or whomwhom in a noun clause, first in a noun clause, first decide how the relative pronoun decide how the relative pronoun functions within the clause. functions within the clause.

Use Use whowho or or whoeverwhoever as the as the subject of a verb within a noun subject of a verb within a noun clause. clause. – Who is calling is not clear.Who is calling is not clear.– Whoever calls can talk to me. Whoever calls can talk to me.

Noun clauses with who Noun clauses with who and whomand whom Use whom or whomever as the Use whom or whomever as the

object of a verb or the object of a object of a verb or the object of a preposition that is within a noun preposition that is within a noun clause. clause. – Whom you meantWhom you meant is not clear. (You is not clear. (You

meant whom)meant whom)– I’ll give the message I’ll give the message to to whomever it whomever it

was meant forwas meant for. (It was meant for . (It was meant for whomeverwhomever

Identify the noun clause in each Identify the noun clause in each sentence. Which relative pronoun is sentence. Which relative pronoun is correct?correct?

6. Tell me (who, whom) is likely to run for that office. 6. Tell me (who, whom) is likely to run for that office. 7. (Whoever, Whomever) they nominate will 7. (Whoever, Whomever) they nominate will

probably accept. probably accept. 8. I will vote for (whoever, whomever) will do the 8. I will vote for (whoever, whomever) will do the

best job.best job. 9. The candidate chosen was exactly (who, whom) 9. The candidate chosen was exactly (who, whom)

you predicted. you predicted. 10. The results of the election show (who, whom) the 10. The results of the election show (who, whom) the

voters regarded as the most capable candidate. voters regarded as the most capable candidate. 11. Give my congratulations to (whoever, 11. Give my congratulations to (whoever,

whomever) chose her. whomever) chose her. 12. I want to thank (whoever, whomever) was the 12. I want to thank (whoever, whomever) was the

campaign manager. campaign manager.

Write each noun clause. Label it Write each noun clause. Label it subject, direct object, indirect subject, direct object, indirect object, object of a preposition, or object, object of a preposition, or

predicate noun.predicate noun. 13. Campaign workers use whatever helps them. 13. Campaign workers use whatever helps them. 14. That telephones can be very helpful has 14. That telephones can be very helpful has

been shown in many elections. been shown in many elections. 15. Who will win the election is what people 15. Who will win the election is what people

want to know. want to know. 16. Telephoners ask whoever answers a series of 16. Telephoners ask whoever answers a series of

questions. questions. 17. Whether a candidate is popular is a vital 17. Whether a candidate is popular is a vital

matter. matter. 18. Another question may be what the major 18. Another question may be what the major

issues are. issues are. 19. Voters usually give whoever is calling an 19. Voters usually give whoever is calling an

answer. answer.