• A noun clause performs the function of a noun in a sentence which includes:
  1. Subject of the Sentence:
     • That tomorrow is a public holiday is certain
     • That John has broken the law is no more in doubt
     • Where I shall find Matthew is still not known
  2. Object of the Sentence:
     • Janie wanted to know where John is
     • Okoro said that the teacher is sick
     • I still don’t know where we shall find Moses
  3. Complement of a Verb:
     • The result is what we hoped for
     • The soup seems like what we can manage
     • Jackson feels that the teacher is right
  4. In apposition to the Subject:
     • The disaster, what we had always prayed against, is unfortunately imminent
     • His remarks, what no one had expected, came to us as a surprise
     • I relish the idea that students should work together

• Subject: That she was nice is still a mystery to Donald
• Predicate Nominative: The answer to life is what I’m trying to find
• Direct Object: She understood why she had to write a research paper, but she didn’t like it
• Indirect Object: The teacher will give whoever is talking a detention
• Object of a Preposition: Many people have speculated about why Donald

• Noun clauses are introduced by introductory words: that, whether, what, who, whom, which, whomever, why, how, when, where, whose, etc.
• Some introductory words are understood. For example:
  • My mother said I could stay out late.
  • My mother said (that) I could stay out late

Examples

1. I know that you will be successful.
   1. First, identify the subordinate and independent clauses
      • I know that you will be successful
   2. Then identify how that subordinate clause is acting
      • know is an action verb so this is a direct object
   3. Your noun clause is that you will be successful
2. I dream about why I am a nerd
   1. Identify the subordinate/independent clauses
      • I dream about why I am a nerd
   2. Identify how the clause is acting
      • about is a preposition so this is an object of a preposition
   3. Your noun clause is why I am a nerd