Noun Clause – Meaning & Definition with Examples

In English grammar, Noun Clause is one of the three parts of a Subordinate Clause. There are three main types of clauses: Principal Clause (Independent Clause) (मुख्य/स्वतंत्र उपवाक्य), Co-ordinate Clause (समानपदीय उपवाक्य), and Subordinate Clause (Dependent Clause) (आश्रित उपवाक्य). Subordinate Clause is further divided into Noun Clause, Adjective Clause, and Adverb Clause. In this post, we will discuss “Noun Clauses” in detail.

Meaning & Definition

Noun Clause : संज्ञा उपवाक्य (Noun Clause) वाक्य में संज्ञा (Noun) का कार्य करती है।

Noun clauses can function as subjects, objects of prepositions, direct objects, indirect objects, and predicate nouns.

उदाहरण के लिए-

• He said that Hari helped Hamid. (इस वाक्य में “That Hari helped Hamid” Noun Clause है क्योंकि यह ‘said’ क्रिया का Object (कर्म) है।)
• Life is what we make it. (इस वाक्य में “What we make it” Noun Clause है क्योंकि यह ‘is’ क्रिया का Complement (पूरक) है।)
• There is no meaning in what you say. (इस वाक्य में “What you say” Noun Clause है क्योंकि यह ‘in‘ Preposition का कर्म (Object) है अर्थात यह in द्वारा सम्बन्धित (governed) है।)
• It is clear that he was guilty. (इस वाक्य में “That he was guilty” Noun Clause है क्योंकि यह ‘It’ का Case in Apposition है।
• What he said was true. (इस वाक्य में “What he said” Noun Clause है क्योंकि यह ‘was’ क्रिया का कर्ता (Subject) है।)

अंतिम वाक्य में निम्नलिखित दो Clauses हैं-

1. It was true. (Principal clause)
2. What he said. (Noun clause, Subject to the verb ‘was’ in clause)

Examples of Noun Clauses

1. I want to know what all the fuss is about. (functions in the sentence as the direct object of the verb “know”)
2. She will listen to whatever you recommend. (functions as a direct object)
3. I hope we are going to wherever the source of the river is. (functions as the object of the preposition “to”)
4. The parachutist’s only flaw was that she balked when given the signal to jump. (functions in this sentence as a subject complement.)
5. I know that she will arrive late.
6. Can you tell me where the nearest grocery store is?
7. They are discussing whether they should go on vacation.
8. He asked what time the movie starts.
9. I believe that honesty is the best policy.
10. We are curious about what happened last night.
11. She wonders why he didn’t show up for the meeting.
12. The teacher asked who had completed the assignment.
13. He is unsure of whether he should accept the job offer.
14. The team is excited to find out if they won the championship.

Frequently Asked Questions on Noun Clause

What is a Noun Clause?

A Noun Clause is a type of subordinate clause that functions as a noun within a sentence. It can act as a subject, object, or complement and performs the same grammatical functions as a regular noun.

How do you identify a Noun Clause?

A Noun Clause can be identified by its role within a sentence. It often starts with words such as “that,” “whether,” “if,” or question words like “who,” “what,” “where,” “when,” “why,” and “how.” Additionally, it functions as a noun, occupying the position of a subject, object, or complement.

What are the functions of a Noun Clause?

Noun Clauses can function as subjects, objects (direct objects, indirect objects, or objects of prepositions), and complements (predicate nominatives or predicate accusatives). They serve the same grammatical purposes as regular nouns in a sentence.

What are some examples of Noun Clauses?

Examples of Noun Clauses include:

1. I don’t know why she is upset. (Noun Clause as the direct object of the verb “know”)
2. What he said made me happy. (Noun Clause as the subject of the verb “made”)
3. They are wondering where the party will be held. (Noun Clause as the object of the verb “wondering”)

How do Noun Clauses differ from other types of clauses?

Noun Clauses differ from other types of clauses (such as Adjective and Adverb Clauses) because they function as nouns within a sentence. They can be replaced by pronouns like “it” or “that,” and they occupy noun positions in a sentence’s structure. In contrast, Adjective Clauses modify nouns, and Adverb Clauses modify verbs, adjectives, or adverbs.