NOUN CLAUSE

A noun clause does the work of a noun in a sentence or phrase. It is a group of words containing a subject and a finite verb of its own.

Some Rules : noun clauses usually begin with words like how, why, what, where, when, who, that, which, whose, whether, etc. Also words like whoever, whenever, whatever and wherever

There are therefore just three basic types of noun clauses:

♦    those that start with a question word such as where, how, who, when and why

♦     those that start with whether, whatever etc or if

♦     those that start with that.

Because of its function as a noun, the noun clause can occupy the following positions:
1. The subject of the sentence (subject of a sentence)
2. Transitive verb object (object of a Transitive verb)
3. The object of the preposition (the object of a preposition)
4. Complement (complement)
5. Giving additional information (noun in apposition)

For more details, consider the examples below!
1. Noun clause as subject of sentence
Example:

1. What you said doesn’t convince me at all.

2.  How he becomes so rich makes people curious.

3.  What the salesman has said is untrue.

4.  That the world is round is a fact.

5.  Studying needs time and patience.

2. Noun clause as object of transitive verb
Example:

1.  I know what you mean.

2.  I don’t understand what he is talking about.

3.  He said that his son would study in Australia.

3. Noun clause as object of preposition
Example:

1.  Please listen to what your teacher is saying.

2.  Budi pays full attention to how the native speaker is pronouncing the English word.

3.  Be careful of what you’re doing.

4.  I have no objection to hearing your story.

5.  You will not be clever without studying

4. Noun clause as a complement
Example:

1.  The good news is that the culprit has been put into the jail.

2.  This is what I want.

3.  That is what you need.

5. Noun clause as a noun in apposition
Example:

1.  The idea that people can live without oxygen is unreasonable.

2.  The fact that Rudi always comes late doesn’t surprise me.

3.  I do not like quarrelling, a useless job.
4.  My hobby, fishing, is interesting