NOUN CLAUSES

Noun clause is a clause which functioned as a noun. Noun clause in the sentence is generally used as a subject and an object sentences.

According to the type of original sentences, noun clause can be classified into four types, namely:

·         Statement

·         Question

·         Request

·         Exclamation

A.   Noun clauses beginning with the words Question

In How to Address Questions about the use of the word have been discussed both in making information asked questions and in making embedded questions.

Embedded questions are noun clause. In this section are given additional examples to refresh your memory.

Single question words.

a.   Where she is now is still unknown.

b.   When they arrive is still uncertain.

c.    I know what you did last summer and I still know what you did last summer are two Hollywood movies starred by Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Note: In this sentence, the noun clause what you did last summer became the object of I know and I still know, and once combined with: are two Hollywood movies starred by Jennifer Love Hewitt, a compound subject of the sentence.

Noun clause can be placed at the beginning of the sentence (as a subject) or as an object. If you want to change the position of the subject noun clause object sentence into a sentence, it is usually necessary pronoun or a slight modification of words. The above example becomes:

1.    It is still unknown where she is now.

2.    Do you know when they arrive?

3.    Two Hollywood movies starred by Jennifer Love Hewitt are I know what you did last summer and I still know what you did last summer. Since the title of movies, noun clause what you did last summer does not have to play his position.

Note

a)   Clause question preceded by certain words (ie when, Whenever, where) can also function as an adverbial clause.

-      I was reading a book when the phone rang.

-      I went to where I and my ex-girlfriend had been last weekend.

-      Suddenly I get nausea Whenever I see his face. (Nausea = nausea / vomiting like).

b)     Clause question preceded by certain words (ie who, Whom, Whose + noun) can also function as an adjective clause. In this case, the question is actually a relative pronoun. Well, do not be too confused by the term. What is important you understand the patterns / sentence structure. But, if you are curious, please read the topic adjective clauses.

-      I think you Whom Mr. Dodi was looking for. (I guess you (people) who pack Dodi were looking for earlier).

-      Mr. Dodi, who is a teacher, was looking for you at school.

-      Rommy, Whose book was stolen last week, just bought another new book yesterday.

Question words + ever / soever

Except how, at the end of question words can be added ever or soever be Whenever = whensoever, whatever = whatsoever, and so on. The meaning here ever or soever the same, that it / was, living combined with question words in front of him. Meanwhile, how + ever be however (ie adverb or also called transitional word that means yet / even if it is the case) is not included in this category.

1)    We will accept whatever you want us to do. (We will accept / do whatever you want us to do).

2)    Whoever can melt her feeling is a very lucky guy. (Melt = melt). Be careful: guy (pronounced gae) = men, while gay (read gei) = fag = fag.

3)    She has agreed to wherever the man would bring her. (He has agreed to take him wherever he goes). Note: in speaking (informal), preposition (in this case to, etc.) Is usually placed at the end of the sentence. She has agreed wherever the man would bring her to.

Question words nouns

Question words + nouns that are often used include: what time (time), what day (any day), what time (time), what kind (any kind), what type (any type), Whose + nouns (ie Whose car, Whose book, ect.), and so on.

1)    I can not remember what day we will take the exam.

2)    As long as I am faithful, she does not care what type of family I come from. (Faithful = true).

3)    Do you know what time it is?

4)    I do not know Whose car is parked in front of my house.

Question words + adjectives

1)    Question words are frequently used adjectives such as: how long (how long / long), how far (how much), how old (how old / old), ect.
Man! She still looks young. Do you know how old she actually is?

2)    I am lost. Could you tell me how far it is from here to the post office?

3)    What a jerk. He did not even ask how long I had been waiting for him.

Question words + determiners.

Determiners + Question words often used is: how many (how many) and how much (how much). Remember: how many followed by plural nouns, whereas how much followed by uncountable nouns.

1)    Is there any correlation between how good he or she is in English and how many books he or she has?

2)    How much will improve your English skills is determined by how hard you practice.

Question words + adverbs.

Question words + adverbs are often used are: how Often (how often), how many times (how many times) ect.

1)    No matter how Often I practice, my English still sucks. (No matter how many times I practice, my English is still bad). Suck (informal verb) = bad / not good; meaning another suck: suck.

2)    I do not want my parents to know how many times I have left school early. (Leave school early = absent)

Question words + infinitives.

If the question words immediately followed by infinitives, invinitives the meaning should or can / could. Note that the subject after question words omitted.

1)    She did not know what to do = She did not know what she should do. (He does not know what he should do).

2)    Please tell me how to get the train station from here = Please tell me how I can get the train station from here.

3)    We have not Decided when to go to the beach = We have not Decided when we should go to the beach.

4)    Mary told us where to find her = Mary told us where we could find her.

B.   Whether Noun clauses beginning with / if

Whether can be followed by OR / NOT can also not; meaning of the sentence is usually the same although the OR / NOT is not specified (it depends on the context of the sentence). For use if, in addition to the topic discussed in conjunctions, have also been discussed in the topic conditionals. Note: Whether the same pronunciation with the weather (weather), the writing is also similar. Be careful, do not get confused.

1.    Whether I am not sure she is coming or not = I am not sure Whether or not she is coming = I am not sure Whether she is coming. (I'm not sure whether he will come or not).

2.    We can not decide Whether we should go out or stay home. = We can not decide Whether to go or (to) stay home. Note, infinitives can also be used after Whether.

3.    I am not sure Whether I should take economics or law after I graduate from high school. (I'm not sure if I should take some Economics or Law after graduating from high school later).

4.    If you take economics, I will take economics. On the other hand, if you take law, I will take law too.

C.   Noun clauses beginning with that / the fact that

Here, that means that, while the fact that means that fact. Meanwhile, that the adjective clauses mean that.

1.    That she has had a PhD degree at the age of 20 surprises a lot of people = It surprises a lot of people that she has had a PhD degree at the age of 20.

2.    It is the fact that the world is round = the fact that the world is round is well known.

3.    It was obvious that she was very sick = The fact that she was very sick was obvious.

4.    It seems that it is going to rain soon.

Now let's make a sentence using the exercise:

a.   It is + (true, too bad, unfortunate, strange, impossible, unlikely, a well known fact, my belief, etc) + (that / the fact that) + S + V.

b.   It stative + + (that / the fact that) + S + V. Words that includes stative verbs can be seen on the topic of simple present tense.

EXAMPLE:

-    There is three brothers in my family.

Answer: There are three brothers in my family.

-      Is there a guitar in the house?

-      Answer: Are there guitar in the house?

-      Is there two books in my bag?

Answer: Are there two books in my bag?

-      A child milks a Dancow.

Answer: Children milks a Dancow.

-      There is five cars in my house.

Answer: There are five cars in my house.

Referensi :

http://swarabhaskara.com/parts-of-speech/noun-clauses/

http://wantosakti.wordpress.com/category/ug-softskill/