Noun clause

A noun clause is a group of words which contains a subject and a predicate of its own. A noun clause does the work of a noun.

• I hope that I will win the first prize.

Here the noun clause ‘that I will win the first prize’ acts as the object of the verb ‘hope’.
More examples of noun clauses are given below.

• That he is a brave man is admitted by all. (Here the noun clause ‘that he is a brave man’ acts as the subject of the verb ‘is’.)
• Everybody knows that he is an honest man. (Here the noun clause ‘that he is an honest man’ is the object of the verb ‘knows’.)
• There is no meaning in what you say. (Here the noun clause ‘what you say’ acts as the object of the preposition ‘in’.)
• His knowledge that he is honest gave him the courage to fight. (Here the noun clause ‘that he is honest’ is in apposition to the noun ‘knowledge’.)

Fill in the blanks.

Answers

1. What he told me was a lie.
2. How the thieves escaped from the prison is still a mystery.
3. Tell me why you said that.
4. Pay attention to what I am saying.
5. It is unfortunate that you were absent.