The third kind of dependent clause does a noun’s job. A noun clause can be a subject, a direct object, an object of a preposition or a predicate noun, just like a gerund. It often begins with that, what, who, whoever, whether, if, how, why or where. Compare adjective clauses and adverb clauses.
| Job | Example |
|---|---|
| subject | What you said surprised me. |
| direct object | I know that she left early. |
| object of a preposition | The prize goes to whoever finishes first. |
| predicate noun | My hope is that the rain stops. |
Key idea
The test: replace the clause with something or someone. If the sentence still works, it is a noun clause.
Why it works
Noun clauses let you make a whole idea into a thing you can talk about: what someone said, whether it will rain, how a trick works. They are how we report thoughts and speech: “Leo asked if he could help.”
Worked example: Noun clause or adjective clause?
Compare “We know who left the gate open” and “The boy who left the gate open said sorry.”
- First: “We know something.” Works. The clause is the direct object: a noun clause.
- Second: “The boy something said sorry.” Doesn’t work. The clause tells which boy: an adjective clause.
Answer: noun clause, then adjective clause
Common mistake
Calling a noun clause an adjective clause because both can start with that, who or where. Don’t judge by the first word. An adjective clause follows a noun and describes it; a noun clause is itself the subject or an object.