Use Noun Clause Connectors Correctly

A noun clause is a clause that functions as a noun; because the noun clause is a noun, it is used in a sentence as either an object of a verb, an object of a preposition, or the subject of the sentence.

I know when he will arrive.

NOUN CLAUSE AS OBJECT OF VERB

I am concerned about when he will arrive.

NOUN CLAUSE AS OBJECT OF PREPOSITION

When he will arrive is not important.

NOUN CLAUSE AS SUBJECT

In the first example there are two clauses, I know and he will arrive. These two clauses are joined with the connector when. When changes the clause he will arrive into a noun clause that functions as the object of the verb know.

In the second example the two clauses I am concerned and he will arrive are also joined by the connector when. When changes the clause he will arrive into a noun clause that functions as the object of the preposition about.

The third example is more difficult. In this example there are two clauses, but they are a little harder to recognize. He will arrive is one of the clauses, and the connector when changes it into a noun clause that functions as the subject of the sentence. The other clause has the noun clause when he will arrive as its subject and is as its verb.

The following example shows how these sentence patterns could be tested in structure questions on the TOEFL test.

Example from the Paper and Computer TOEFL® Tests

____ was late caused many problems.

(A) That he (B) The driver (C) There (D) Because

In this example there are two verbs, was and caused, and each of these verbs needs a subject. Answer (B) is wrong because the driver is one subject, and two subjects are needed. Answers (C) and (D) are incorrect because there and because are not subjects. The best answer is answer (A). If you choose answer (A), the completed sentence would be: That he was late caused many problems. In this sentence he is the subject of the verb was, and the noun clause that he was late is the subject of the verb caused.

The following chart lists the noun clause connectors and the sentence patterns used with them:

NOUN CLAUSE CONNECTORS

• what, when, where, why, how .

whatever, whenever

whether, if

that

NOUN CLAUSE AS OBJECT

S V (noun connector) SV

I know what you did.

NOUN CLAUSE AS SUBJECT

(noun connector) S V V

What you did was wrong.