English Grammar & Punctuation : What Is a Noun Clause?

A noun clause answers the question of what a person is thinking. Find out why noun clauses that start with a question are used to answer a question with help from a certified tutor in this free video on grammar in the English language.

Expert: Paige Carrera
Bio: Paige Carrera is a certified tutor for both Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties in the Tampa Bay area of Florida.
Filmmaker: Christopher Rokosz

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• English
• grammar
• punctuation
• apostrophes
• quotation marks
• adverbs
• nouns
• adjectives
• verbs
• parts of speech
• language
• linguistics

[YoungChry]

SWEET! your like a second mother to me. Not even my teacher explains it like that, its something about your voice. Thank You for taking the time and teaching some english grammar. MUAH!

[DeMarkieSade]

Actually, the "THAT" in the first clause she introduces is really optional; the sentence could, if one chose to omit it, stand just as plainly and frimly without the "THAT" conjunctive. "I think Tom is strange." Noun clauses usually always succeed a verb.

"What is [she looking for here?]" <----Noun clause. I think this is [what they were looking for.] <----Noun clause. I wonder [when she and John will return?] Technically this would be an adverbial clause an not a noun clause.

[DeMarkieSade]

There are only three of them: nothing of which to be frightened.

They are either Noun clauses acting as a subject or object of a verb.

They are adverbial clauses modifying the verb of the sentence, lending it more explanation.

Last, they are adjectival clauses that describe information about the object or subject of a sentence or statement, by adding information about the subject or object of the sentence or statement.

[DeMarkieSade]

Picking out the three different types of clauses that constitute sentences will come easier to you as you practice doing it. Clauses function as three different things or elements within a sentence or statement.

[DeMarkieSade]

Also, if a clause comes after an indirect or direct object in a sentence, "Hey, you are the guy (that or who) chased me with your wooden leg yesterday." These are not functioning as mere noun clauses either, even though a noun clause is within them, but these are adjective clauses. They add information about the indirect or direct object of the sentence and do not function as the direct or indirect object of the sentence.

[DeMarkieSade]

@DeMarkieSade If the clauses begin with words such as-- after, since, because, when, until, except, then, than, Maybe, if, before, etc. These clauses are adverbial. They modify the sentences verbs; they do not act as objects or subjects of the verbs. Remember that noun clauses take, or can take, the place of a single noun or pronoun (him, her, it, that, this etc.), and this is why they are always the objects, or, in some cases, the subjects of verbs within a sentence.

[DeMarkieSade]

@Kropotkinskaya I noticed her doing that as well; I am glad someone else noticed it, too. It is very easy to be misled on here people, so watch your sources.

[Kropotkinskaya]

Your first example is correct. However, you describe conditional clauses and adverbial clauses as noun clauses, so that's not right. I'd suggest looking at a grammar book before publishing your teaching on the web.

[18queen4ever]

great video !!!!!!

can't believe that are subtitle ^^

[chocolatina816]

VERY GOOD EXPLANATION WAS TO FAST FOR ME SINCE I AM SECOND LANGUGE