A noun clause is a clause which does the work of a noun in a sentence. It is a group of words containing a subject and a verb of its own. It can be used as a subject, predicate nominative, direct object, appositive, indirect object, or object of the preposition.

Usually noun clauses begin with that, what, where, when, who, whom, which, whose, how, why, whether, etc.

Examples:

* He said that he would not come.

* We were all curious to know what he had done.

* Nobody knows when the registration will begin.

* We all wanted to find out who the winner was.

* Whom they were in contact with on the day of the robbery is of great interest to the police.

* Jane is not sure which university she should apply for.

* The judges had a hard time deciding whose painting was the best.

* How the baby fell from the window is a mystery.

* They asked the boy why he had hit his classmate.

* Whether you like it or not is not the issue.

Uses of Noun Clauses

Noun Clauses can be used in the following ways:

a.As the subject of a verb

Why she kept on crying puzzled every one. noun clause main verb b. As the object

Nobody knows how he got involved in gangland activities verb noun clause c. As the complement of the verb "to be" or predicative

What we are worried about is that he may have another heart attack.

The question is why they could escape through the front door when there were so many guards there. Step II:

Find the noun clauses in the following sentences and tell how they are used. (Subject, predicate nominative, direct object, appositive, indirect object, or object of the preposition)

1. How the prisoner escaped is a mystery.

2. My feeling is that the robbery was an inside job.

3. Everyone is wondering how he could just disappear.

4. The news that he had escaped frightened the whole town.

5. The police have offered whoever finds the stolen diamonds a reward.

6. The family has had no word about where he might be.

7. That we were ready to go was a miracle.

8. Give whowever wants to go a ride to the game.

9. That you are losing ground was evident from the polls.

10. Whoever injured the handicapped woman must be feeling guilty.