Noun Clause

A noun clause is group of short words that function as nouns either in the subject or object position. They begin with a number of signal words like the following relative pronouns:

which what who (whose, whom)
that whatever whoever (whomever)

or they may employ the following signal words as well:

when where whether why how

The noun clause is used to take the place of a noun in the sentence, and it is often associated with verbs that name some sort of mental operation, such as "imagine," "think," "discuss," "question," "relate," etc. Also, noun clauses can be difficult to identify because they share some of the same signal words as relative clauses. However, often these noun clauses appear as direct objects directly after many of the "mental operation" or "communication" verbs mentioned above.Relative clauses, however, usually appear after the noun they are describing.

Example:

Noun clause in the subject's position:

What you do today will determine your punishment tomorrow.

Noun clause in the object's position (direct object):

He knew that he would buy another lucky Kangaroo's foot from Mickey.

he knew what?
that he would buy another lucky kangaroo's foot from Mickey.

Noun clause as the object of a preposition:

Jascha talked to me about how he derived his odd fingerings.


Study the following sentences and identify whether the clauses that contain "that" are noun clauses or relative (adjective) clauses.

1. Some observers suggest that our current scientific flowering is due to the happy bonding of science and technology in our society.

2. Any social activity generates social norms that suggest how people should behave, and science is no exception.

3. The part of the wheat plant that is made into flour and then into bread and other baked goods is the kernel.

4. Of all the great variety of proteins in living organisms, the antibodies best demonstrate that proteins are specific for one organism.