A noun clause can act as the subject or object of the verb. It can also act as the object of a preposition.
Identify the noun clauses in the following sentences.
1. I wondered what he was doing there.
2. He replied that he would come.
3. She asked if I could help her.
4. That honesty is the best policy is a well-known fact.
5. I expected that I would get the first prize.
6. Do you know why he is late?
7. I don’t know what he wants.
8. Pay careful attention to what I am going to say.
9. That she should forget me so quickly hurts me.
10. That you should behave like this is strange.
Answers
1. I wondered what he was doing there. (Here the noun clause acts as the object of the verb wondered.)
2. He replied that he would come. (Here the noun clause acts as the object of the verb replied.)
3. She asked if I could help her. (Here the noun clause acts as the object of the verb asked.)
4. That honesty is the best policy is a well-known fact. (Here the noun clause acts as the subject of the verb is.)
5. I expected that I would get the first prize. (Here the noun clause acts as the object of the verb expected.)
6. Do you know why he is late? (Here the noun clause acts as the object of the verb know.)
7. I don’t know what he wants. (Here the noun clause acts as the object of the verb know.)
8. Pay careful attention to what I am going to say. (Here the noun clause acts as the object of the preposition to.)
9. That she should forget me so quickly hurts me. (Here the noun clause acts as the subject of the verb hurts.)
10. That you should behave like this is strange. (Here the noun clause acts as the subject of the verb is.)