7.1: Noun Clauses Introduced

Page by Don Bissonnette

Noun Clauses

Noun Clauses are clauses containing at least a subject and a verb and function as a noun. They are a type of dependent clause. In other words, they can’t stand alone and make sense. They need an independent clause (a complete sentence) to make sense. Noun clauses replace a noun in a sentence. A noun clause can be used in every place that a noun can be used (except as the object of a preposition that uses a that clause). Another name for a that clause is an embedded statement. A noun clause beginning with a WH question word is called an interrogative noun clause. Look at the sentences below.

• I know something.

This is a very simple sentence. I is the subject; know is the verb; and something is the object.

• I know that my name is Donald R. Bissonnette.

This is basically the same sentence as the one above. I is the subject; know is the verb; and that my name is Donald R. Bissonnette is the object. That my name is Donald R. Bissonnette is a noun clause.

Something in the first sentence equals that my name is Donald R. Bissonnette in the second sentence. That my name is Donald R. Bissonnette is called a that clause. A that clause is a noun clause beginning with the word that. Look at some other examples below.

• I understand that learning to speak English is difficult.
• That all of you want to learn English is easy for me to understand.
• I know that people love their children all over the world.
• That people love their children is true all over the world.
• My friend asked me how old I was. I answered that I was 70 years old.

1. Some other verbs that can be commonly used with embedded statements are as follows:

agree         doubt       hope          regret     answer     dream     imagine     remember 

assume       feel          know         say         believe     forget     learn         suppose 

conclude     guess       notice        think       decide      hear       realize       understand

This is not a complete list. There are many more verbs that can be used in this way. (See the appendices for a longer list)

2. Some other verbs follow a different pattern. These verbs must first be followed by an object and then followed by a that clause. Notice the sentences below, please.

I told her that I would be home late.

My students assured me that they would do their homework.

I informed Jerry that I didn’t feel like going fishing on Saturday.

The following verbs are commonly used in this pattern.

assure     convince     inform    notify     remind     tell

3. Another different pattern that uses that clauses may (or may not) be followed by an object.

I promised (my mother) that I would be a good boy.

My friend wrote (me) that she would arrive in Houston on September 22^nd.

The following verbs commonly use this pattern.

promise     show     teach    warn     write

4. A fourth pattern that uses that clauses concerns verbs that can be followed by to + an object. The infinitive comes directly after these verbs.

He explained (to his students) that they would need to buy the handout in order to do their homework for his class.

I mentioned (to my wife) that I would be home late due to a meeting.TheThe mother announced (to the family )that they were going to Hawaii on vacation.

The following verbs are commonly used in this pattern.

say            admit            announce      explain         mention         point out 

prove         complain        reply            report           suggest         demonstrate               

Many times people omit (don’t use) the word that in the that clause. It is understood to be there by native speakers, however. Also, when a that clause is used as a subject, it has the same meaning as IT and must have subject / verb agreement when necessary.

Exercise 1:

Read the statement and the subject and verb that follows it. Then combine them into one sentence. You may use or not use the word that in your answer.

Examples:

It rains a lot in Houston. I know - I know that it rains a lot in Houston.
I know it rains a lot in Houston.

Houston is a very hot city in the summer. She agrees - She agrees Houston is a very hot city in the summer.
She agrees that Houston is a very hot city in the summer

1. Houston is the capital of Texas. I don’t think -
2. Austin is the capital of Texas. I know –
3. About seven million people live in the Houston metropolitan area. I have heard –
4. Houston is named after Sam Houston, a founder of Texas. My teacher told me –
5. Houston used to have a major football team. I believe –
6. The team was called the Oilers. My friend said –
7. The team left town a number of years ago. I understand –
8. Houston has on average 200 growing days for gardens. My teacher informed us –
9. He had to do homework last night. The student forgot -
10. Mt. Rainier is one of the biggest mountains in America. I guess –
11. Children must look both ways when crossing streets. The mother warned –
12. Drinking alcohol and driving a car is very dangerous. I realize -

Exercise 2:

Answer the following questions using an embedded statement with the verb provided.

Examples:

Which is bigger, an elephant or a mouse? Know -
I know that an elephant is bigger than a mouse.

Who was the president of the United States in 2010, Barak Obama or George Bush? Believe -
I believe that Barak Obama was the president of the United States in 2010.

Will we have school on Fridays? Notify –
Our teacher notified us that we would not have school on Fridays.

1. Is New York City bigger than Houston? Think –
2. Is Houston bigger than Austin? Guess –
3. Is Houston a major shipping port in America? Understand –
4. Is Houston a good place to have a garden? Learned –
5. Will you go on vacation to Hawaii someday? Hope –
6. Are there sharks in the waters around Galveston? Assume –
7. Does learning to speak English take a lot of time? Realize –
8. Will you have homework this weekend? Assume –
9. Do your classmates want to get high-paying jobs? Suppose –
10. Will you need to study noun clauses in order to use them correctly? Conclude -
11. Which is more expensive, a new house or a new car? Assume –
12. Does everyone in America speak English? Realize –

Exercise 3:

Complete the following sentences.

Examples:

That my teacher likes cats -----
That my teacher likes cats is clear.

That guns are dangerous ------
That guns are dangerous is not difficult to understand.

That my sons graduated from college ------
That my sons graduated from college makes me happy.

That some parents don’t value education ------
That some parents don’t value education causes their children not to study hard in school.

1. That people want their children to be healthy ------
2. That rainy weather makes people sad ------
3. That some people are afraid of snakes ------
4. That police have speed traps on some streets ------
5. That eating vegetables is good for people’s health ------
6. That some children have hard lives ------
7. That loving someone is better than hating someone ------
8. That learning to speak English will help you in the long run ------
9. That getting enough sleep is important for children ------
10. That this is the last sentence in this exercise ------