Grammar
Noun clauses: use a clause as a subject or object
I know that the office is closed. What the manager said surprised me. The clauses after know and before surprised contain a subject and a verb, but they fill a noun-like place in the larger sentence.
Use a noun clause after common verbs and in subject position, choosing that, whether, or a question word with statement word order.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
Can you tell me where the meeting room is? /kæn juː tel miː weə ðə ˈmiːtɪŋ ruːm ɪz/
The short answer
Use a noun clause when you need to name information, a question, or a fact as part of a larger sentence. After verbs such as know, think, ask, and explain, use a clause as the object: I know that the office is closed. In a clause after a question word, use statement order: I know where the keys are, not where are the keys.
We discussed whether the train would stop at Central Station.
Why it works: Whether the train would stop at Central Station is the object of discussed. It names the question the group talked about.
5 more examples
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I think that the cafe closes at six.
The clause is the object of think. It reports the speaker's opinion about the cafe's closing time.
Not this:
The cafe closes at six. What changes: This is a main clause that can stand alone. After think, that introduces the reported idea. -
Do you know where the nearest pharmacy is?
Where introduces an indirect question. The subject the nearest pharmacy comes before the verb is.
Not this:
Where is the nearest pharmacy? What changes: This is a direct question, so the verb comes before the subject. -
Whether we leave now depends on the weather.
The whether-clause is the subject of depends. It names the choice between leaving now and not leaving now.
Not this:We will leave now
if the weather improves. What changes: Here if introduces a condition. It does not name a yes-or-no question. -
What the technician recommended saved us time.
What the technician recommended acts as the subject. It means the recommendation from the technician.
Not this:The technician
recommended a faster route. What changes: This sentence gives the recommendation directly instead of naming it with a what-clause. -
The problem is that the receipt is missing.
The clause completes the meaning after is by naming the problem.
Not this:
The missing receiptis the problem. What changes: A noun phrase can also complete the sentence after is. The noun clause gives a fuller statement.
Read the full guide
First, find the larger sentence and the job done by the clause inside it. In I believe that the plan will work, the speaker believes one piece of information. In What you choose matters, the whole clause is the subject of matters. A noun clause has its own subject and verb, but it does not usually stand alone in these patterns.
Find the noun-like job
A noun clause is longer than a noun, but it can do a similar job. It may name information, an idea, or a question. Look for a clause that answers what someone knows, says, asks, or needs.
Mara knows that the museum is closed on Mondays.
That the museum is closed on Mondays is the information Mara knows.
The museum schedule is on the website.
The museum schedule is a noun phrase. It fills the same kind of object place after a verb or preposition.
What does that the museum is closed on Mondays name in the first sentence?
It names the information that Mara knows.
Use that to report a statement
Use that when a noun clause reports a statement or fact. It commonly follows verbs such as know, think, hear, say, explain, and believe. The clause keeps ordinary statement word order.
The receptionist explained that the lift was out of service.
That the lift was out of service gives the information the receptionist explained.
I heard that the flight has been delayed.
The noun clause is the object of heard. It reports what the speaker learned.
Complete the sentence: 'We believe ___ the address is correct.'
Use that. The clause reports the belief.
Use whether or if for a yes-or-no question
Use whether or if when the clause names a yes-or-no question. Both are common after verbs such as ask, know, and find out. Whether is the safer choice before to plus a verb and after a preposition.
Please check whether the package has arrived.
Whether the package has arrived names the question that needs checking.
I do not know if the shop accepts cards.
If the shop accepts cards is an indirect yes-or-no question after know.
Choose the word: 'It depends on ___ the courier can deliver today.'
Use whether. After the preposition on, whether is the standard choice.
Keep statement order after a question word
A question word can introduce a noun clause about a person, place, time, reason, method, or choice. The larger sentence may be a question, but the clause itself keeps statement order. Put the subject before the verb.
Could you explain why the payment failed?
Why the payment failed is the information requested. Payment comes before failed.
I cannot remember where I parked the car.
Where I parked the car is an indirect question, so it does not use where did I park.
Which form completes the sentence: 'Do you know where the bus ___?'
Use stops. The subject the bus comes before the verb stops.
Put a noun clause in subject position
A noun clause can be the subject of a sentence. This form is common when the writer wants to focus on information, a decision, or a question. A what-clause often means the thing that or the information that.
What you decide today affects the schedule.
What you decide today is the subject of affects. It names the decision.
That the roads are clear is good news.
The whole that-clause is the subject. This pattern is more common in formal writing.
What is the subject in 'Whether the event runs late remains uncertain'?
Whether the event runs late is the subject. It names the question that remains uncertain.
Use a noun clause after be
A noun clause can also complete a sentence after be. This pattern lets you name a problem, reason, question, or important point with a complete idea.
The question is whether we have enough time.
Whether we have enough time completes the meaning of the question.
The reason is that the road is closed.
That the road is closed gives the reason in a full clause.
Complete the sentence: 'What matters is ___ everyone understands the plan.'
Use that. The clause after is states the important point.
Before you go
Remember this
A noun clause contains a subject and a verb but fills a noun-like job in a larger sentence. Use that to report a statement, whether or if for a yes-or-no question, and question words for specific information. After a question word inside a noun clause, keep statement word order. Ask yourself what information the larger sentence needs.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "Noun clauses: use a clause as a subject or object"
What is a noun clause in English?
A noun clause contains a subject and a verb, but it fills a noun-like place in a larger sentence. It can be the object of a verb, as in I know that the office is closed, or the subject, as in What the manager said surprised me. Read the whole clause as one piece of information.
I think that the cafe closes at six.
When do I use that in a noun clause?
Use that when the clause reports a statement or fact after verbs such as know, think, hear, say, explain, and believe. In I think that the cafe closes at six, that introduces the information the speaker believes. In informal conversation, that is often optional after common verbs.
The cafe closes at six.
What is the word order in an indirect question?
After a question word in a noun clause, use statement word order. Say Do you know where the nearest pharmacy is, with the subject before the verb. Use direct question order only when the question stands alone: Where is the nearest pharmacy?
Do you know where the nearest pharmacy is?
Should I use whether or if in a noun clause?
Use whether or if after many verbs when the clause names a yes-or-no question. Whether is the standard choice before to plus a verb and after a preposition. For example, use whether in We discussed whether to wait and It depends on whether the store is open.
Where is the nearest pharmacy?
Can a noun clause be the subject of a sentence?
Yes. A noun clause can act as the subject when it names an idea, decision, or question. In What you decide today affects the schedule, the what-clause is the subject. In formal writing, a that-clause can also be the subject: That the roads are clear is good news.
Whether we leave now depends on the weather.