What Are Noun Clauses?
A noun clause is a clause that plays the role of a noun. For example
I like *what I see*.
I know *that the tide is turning*.
I've met *the man who won the lottery*.
(Not all agree this is a noun clause.)
Compare the three examples above to these:
I like 'cakes'.
I know 'London'.
I've met 'Madonna'.
The words in inverted comma are all nouns. This shows that asterisked clauses in the first three examples are functioning as nouns, making them noun clauses.
Like any noun, a noun clause can be a subject, an object, or a complement.
In a sentence, a noun clause will be a dependent clause. In other words, a noun clause does not stand alone as a complete thought
Here are some examples of noun clauses:
*A person who trusts no one* can't be trusted.
(This noun clause is the subject of the sentence.)
(Not all agree this is a noun clause.)
*That he believes his own story* is remarkable.
(This noun clause is the subject of the sentence. Be aware that starting a sentence with a noun clause starting That is acceptable, but it grates on lots of people's ears. As a result, many writers prefer to precede it with "The fact…".)
Ask your child *what he wants for dinner* only if he's buying.
(This noun clause is the direct object of ask.)
He knows all about art, but he doesn't know *what he likes*.
(This noun clause is the direct object of know.)
It is even harder for the average ape to believe *that he has descended from man*.
(This noun clause is the direct object of believe.)
I never know how much of *what I say* is true.
(This noun clause is an object of a preposition.)
Man is *what he eats*.
(This noun clause is a subject complement.)
My one regret in life is that I am not someone else. (Woody Allen)
(This noun clause is a subject complement.)
An economist is a man who states the obvious in terms of the incomprehensible.
(This noun clause is a subject complement.)
(Not all agree this is a noun clause.
COMMON STARTS TO NOUN CLAUSES
Lots of noun clauses in English start with that, how, or a "wh"-word (i.e., what, who, which, when, where, why).
For example:
I know that it happened.
I know how it happened.
I know why it happened.
