Sentence Complexity and Embedding

Subordinate Noun Clauses

Adverb clauses, as we have just seen, are one type of subordinate clause and are used in the formation of complex sentences.  There are two other types of subordinate clauses, as well: adjective clauses and noun clauses.  In this chapter we take up noun clauses.  We begin by reviewing the basic definitions of clauses, phrases, nouns, and adverb clauses.

Activity 15.1: Reviewing Clauses and Nouns

Review:  What is the definition of a clause?  What is a noun?  What is a noun phrase?  What functions does a noun phrase typically play in a sentence?

Reflect: What do you suppose is the definition of a noun clause?  Draw a comparison between an adverb clause and a noun clause.

Answer

We have already defined a clause as a group of words containing a subject-predicate pairing, and we have seen that an adverb clauses is a group of words containing a subject-predicate pairing that functions in the same ways that an adverb word or an adverb phrase functions; by telling when, where, why, how, or in what situation some action happens.

Similarly, we can define a noun clause as a group of words with a subject-predicate pairing that functions in the same way as a noun or noun phrases functions: as the subject, direct object, indirect object, object of a preposition, subject complement, object complement, or an appositive.  In order to see noun clauses, do Activity 15.2.

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