Download NOUN CLAUSES

ANALYTICAL GRAMMAR (UNIT #17)
NOTES-PAGE 35
NOUN CLAUSES
DEFINITION: A NOUN CLAUSE is a subordinate clause which is used as a noun in the sentence. It may be a
subject, a complement (direct object, indirect object, or predicate nominative), or the object of a preposition.
EXAMPLES:
1.)
pro pro av
av
pro
What he said surprised me.
(The noun clause “What he said” acts as the subject of the verb “surprised.”)
he
said
What
surprised
2.)
me
art
n
hv lv pro
av
The champion will be whoever wins.
(The noun clause “whoever wins” acts as the predicate nominative of “will be.”)
whoever
champion
Th
e
3.)
wins
will be
pn av pro adj n lv
Jane knows what your secret is.
(The noun clause “what your secret is” is the direct object of “knows.”)
Jane
4.)
secret is
yo
ur
knows
what
pro hv av
pro
av art n
I will give whoever comes a ticket.
(The noun clause “whoever comes” is the indirect object of “give.”)
I
will give
ticket
a
whoever comes
(over)
!
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ANALYTICAL GRAMMAR (UNIT #17)
5.)
NOTES - PAGE 36
pro av
n pp pro lv p-adj
She brings food (to whoever is ill.)
(The noun clause “whoever is ill” is the object of the preposition “to.”)
She
brings
food
whoever is
to
ill
Noun clauses are usually introduced by the following pronouns:
that
what
whatever
who
whoever
whom
whomever
why
whyever
how
however
And sometimes by the following adverbs:
where
wherever
when
whenever
THESE INTRODUCTORY WORDS HAVE NO SPECIAL NAME OF THEIR OWN; JUST PARSE THEM
EITHER “PRO” OR “ADV.”
IMPORTANT NOTE: Most of the time the introductory word has some job to do in the clause (see the above
diagrams); however, sometimes (with the word “that”) it has no function in the clause at all. Its only function is to
connect the subordinate clause to the main clause.
EXAMPLE:
pro av pro pro lv p-adj
She thought that I was sick.
that
I
She
was
sick
thought
#
!
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