A noun clause is a group of words with its own subject and verb that does the job of a noun. Like any noun, it can be the subject or the object of a sentence.
The quickest test: if you can replace the whole group of words with it or something, it is a noun clause.
| Position | Example |
|---|---|
| subject | Where you have lunch depends on the office. |
| subject | That she actually got the job is truly remarkable. |
| object | I want you to remember that we are all on the same team. |
| object | It would be helpful to know which tasks have been completed. |
| after a preposition | It depends on which office you are working in. |
| complement | The problem is that nobody asked us. |
1 · Statement word order. A noun clause is not a question, even when it begins with a question word. Keep subject before verb, and use no do, does or did.
2 · Singular agreement. When the noun clause is the subject, the main verb is singular — no matter how many people or things are mentioned inside the clause.
You can omit that when the clause is the object of a common verb like know, think, say or believe. You can never omit it when the clause is the subject.
Use whether (or if) for a yes/no idea. Only whether works before a to-infinitive or after a preposition.
After a question word you can shorten the clause to a to-infinitive when the subject is obvious: He's not sure how to use the photocopier.