Recognizing Noun Clauses

Recognizing Noun Clauses Lesson 19 Joseph C. Blumenthal

We have now completed our study of adverb and adjective clauses. We turn next to the third (and last) type of clause—the noun clause. As its name suggests, a noun clause is a clause that is used as a _____.

We have now completed our study of adverb and adjective clauses. We turn next to the third (and last) type of clause—the noun clause. As its name suggests, a noun clause is a clause that is used as a noun.

We have seen that adverb and adjective clauses offer almost endless possibilities for showing the various kinds of rel________ that exist among our ideas.

We have seen that adverb and adjective clauses offer almost endless possibilities for showing the various kinds of relationship that exist among our ideas.

We use noun clauses so naturally that we study them mainly to complete out picture of three kinds of clauses that we find in (compound, complex) sentences.

Since noun clauses are used exactly as nouns, let us review the various ways in which nouns are used. His remark puzzled us. The noun remark is the subject of the verb _______.

Since noun clauses are used exactly as nouns, let us review the various ways in which nouns are used. His remarkpuzzled us. The noun remark is the subject of the verb puzzled.

His remark puzzled us. Whathe said puzzled us. The clause What he said does the same job in sentence bthat the noun remark does in sentence a. It is therefore a _____ clause.

His remark puzzled us. Whathe said puzzled us. The clause What he said does the same job in sentence bthat the noun remark does in sentence a. It is therefore a nounclause.

We have seen that when we omit an adverb or adjective clause, we still have a grammatically complete sentence remaining. Whathe said puzzled us. When we omit the noun clause in this sentence, does a complete sentence remain? (yes, no)

We raise vegetables. In this sentence the noun vegetables is the direct object of the verb ____.

We raise vegetables. In this sentence the noun vegetables is the direct object of the verb raise.

We raise vegetables. We raise whatever we need. The noun clause whatever we needin sentence b is used just like the direct object _________ in sentence a.

We raise vegetables. We raise whatever we need. The noun clause whatever we needin sentence b is used just like the direct object vegetables in sentence a.

We raise whatever we need. When we omit the noun clause in this sentence, does a complete sentence remain? (yes, no)

We raise (whatever we need). If we omitted the noun clause, the sentence would lack a (subject, direct object).

An indirect object precedes the direct object and shows to whom (or to what) or for whom (or for what) something is done. She will pay the finder a reward. The indirect object in the above sentence is the noun _____.

An indirect object precedes the direct object and shows to whom (or to what) or for whom (or for what) something is done. She will pay the findera reward. The indirect object in the above sentence is the noun finder.

She will pay the finder reward. She will pay whoever finds the dog a reward. Which four-word noun clause in sentence b takes the place of the indirect object finder in sentence a?

She will pay whoever finds the dog a reward. An indirect object is not an essential part of the sentence framework. If we omit the clause in the above sentence, does a complete sentence remain? (yes, no)

This is my recipe for fudge. This is how I make fudge. Both the noun clause how I make fudgein sentence b and the noun recipe in sentence a complete the meaning of the linking verb is. Both are used as (subject compliments, direct objects).

This is my recipe for fudge. This is how I make fudge. Both the noun clause how I make fudgein sentence b and the noun recipein sentence a complete the meaning of the linking verb is. Both are used as (subject compliments, direct objects).

This is (how I make fudge). We cannot omit the noun clause because we should lose an essential part of the sentence framework. The part we would lose is the (subject, direct object, subject compliment).

We were still ten miles from our destination. The noun destination is the object of the preposition _____.

We were still ten miles from our destination. The noun destination is the object of the preposition from.

We were still ten miles from our destination. We were still ten miles from where we were going. In sentence a, the noun destination is the object of the preposition from. What is the noun clause in sentence b that is the object of the preposition from?

We were still ten miles from (where we were going). We cannot omit the noun clause because the preposition from would be without an _____.

We were still ten miles from (where we were going). We cannot omit the noun clause because the preposition from would be without an object.

An appositive is a noun or pronoun set after another noun or pronoun to explain it. Our last hope, rescue by the Marines, was soon to be realized. The appositive rescue, with its modifiers, follows and explains the noun _____.

An appositive is a noun or pronoun set after another noun or pronoun to explain it. Our last hope, rescue by the Marines, was soon to be realized. The appositive rescue, with its modifiers, follows and explains the noun hope.

Our last hope, rescue by the Marines, was soon to be realized. • Our last hope, that the Marines would rescue us, was soon to be realized. The noun clause in sentence b does the same job as the appositive ______ in sentence a.

Our last hope, rescue by the Marines, was soon to be realized. • Our last hope, that the Marines would rescue us, was soon to be realized. The noun clause in sentence b does the same job as the appositive rescue in sentence a.

Our last hope, that the Marines would rescue us, was soon to be realized. • Our last hope…was soon to be realized. When we omit the noun clause used as an appositive, does a complete sentence remain? (yes, no)

A noun clause is generally an essential part of the sentence framework and cannot be omitted. The only exceptions are noun clauses used as indirect objects or as appositives. If a noun clause is used as a subject, direct object, subject complement, or object of a preposition, it (can, cannot) be omitted.

A noun clause is a clause that is used in any way that a _____ can be used.

A noun clause is a clause that is used in any way that a nouncan be used.

The words that, whether, what, how, and why are often used as clause signals to start noun clauses. That anyone should believe this rumor is absurd. The noun clause begins with the word ___ and ends with the word _____.

The words that, whether, what, how, and whyare often used as clause signals to start noun clauses. That anyone should believe this rumor is absurd. The noun clause begins with the word that and ends with the word rumor.

That anyone should believe this rumor is absurd. The noun clause in the above sentence is used as the ______ of the verb is.

Recognizing Noun Clauses