SKILL 9: USE NOUN CLAUSE CONNECTORS CORRECTLY

A noun clause is a clause that functions as a noun which can be a subject of a sentence, an object of a
verb, or an object of a preposition.

Example:
a. Noun clause as a subject of a sentence
When the passengers must board is important to remember
b. Noun clause as an object of a verb
I know when the passengers must board
c. Noun clause as an object of a preposition
I am concerned about when the passengers must board

In example a, there are two clauses, the passengers must board and it is important to remember. The
connector “when” is placed in the beginning of the first clause and change it into a noun clause which
functions as the subject of the sentence. The word “it” as the subject of the second clause is omitted to
function it as the complement of the sentence.

In example b, there two clauses, I know and the passengers must board. The first clause functions as
the verb of the sentence. The connector “when” is placed between the first and the second clauses to
join them, and exactly before the second clause to change it into a noun clause which functions as the
object of the verb.

In example c, there are two clauses, I am concerned and the passengers must board. They are also
joined by the connector “when” which is placed before the second clause to change it into a noun clause.
The preposition “about” follows the word “concerned” and makes the noun clause function as the object
of the preposition.

The following example shows how these sentence patterns could be tested in the structure section of
the TOEFL test.

Example:
…. was changed caused many problems.
a. The schedule
b. There
c. That the schedule
d. Because

Option a. the schedule is incorrect as it is one subject, so it cannot form the first clause into a noun
clause. Option b. there and d. because are also incorrect because they are not subjects. Option c. that
the schedule is the correct answer. The word “that” as the connector changes “the schedule was
changed” into a noun clause which functions as the subject of the sentence, where the word “caused”
as the verb and “many problems” as the object. The complete sentence must be “that the schedule was
changed caused many problems.”

The following figure lists the noun clause connectors and the sentence patterns used with them.
EXERCISE 9. Each of the following sentences contains more than one clause. Underline the subjects once
and the verbs twice. Circle the connectors. Put boxes around the noun clauses. Then indicate if the
sentences are correct [C] or incorrect [I].

C 1 When the season starts is determined by the weather.

2 Why dinosaurs became extinct is not clear to researchers.

3 Because on two people think exactly alike, there will always be disagreement, but
disagreement should not always be avoided. It can be healthy if handled creatively.

4 Hail is formed when a drop of rain is carried by an updraft to an altitude where the air is
cold enough to freeze it.

5 Why the condition o f the patient deteriorated so rapidly it was not explained.

6 The schedule indicated if the teams would be playing in the final game.

7 He refused to enter a plea could not be determined by the lawyer.

8 He always talked with whomever he pleased and did whatever he wanted.

 9 That the professor has not yet decided when the paper is due.

10 Talked about where we should go for dinner.

SKILL 10: USE NOUN CLAUSE CONNECTORS / SUBJECTS CORRECTLY

In skill 9, we learnt noun clause connectors in its use to introduce noun subject clauses or noun object
clauses. In skill 10, we will find that in some cases, a noun clause connector is not only as a connector,
but also as the subject of the clause at the same time.
Example:
1. Noun clause as subject
Whoever is entering the room must show his identity card
2. Noun clause as object of verb
I cannot understand how is your feeling
3. Noun clause as object of preposition
We are discussing about who will go for the conference.

In the first example, there are two clauses: whoever is the subject of the verb is entering, and
the noun clause whoever is entering the room is the subject of must show. The word whoever serves
two functions in the sentence: it is the subject of the verb coming, and it is the connector that joins the
two clauses.

In the second example, there are two clauses: I cannot understand and how is your feeling.
These two clauses are joined by the connector how. It is important to understand that in the sentence,
the word how serves two functions; it is both the subject of the verb is and the connector that joins two
clauses.

In the last example, there are also two clauses: we are discussing and who will go for the
conference. In the first clause, we is the subject of are discussing. In the second clause, who is the
subject of will go. Who also serves as the connector that joins the two clauses. The noun clause who will
go for the conference functions as the object of the preposition about.

The following example shows how this sentence pattern could be tested in the structure section
of the TOEFL test.

Example: …. was inside her bag made me laughing.

a. Whom
b. It
c. The fun
d. What
Option a. whom is incorrect as it is used to explain an object. Option b. it and c. the fun are also
incorrect since the cannot serve as the subject for was and made at the same time. They also cannot be
as the connector for the two clauses. The correct answer is d. what because it serves as both the subject
of the verb was and the connector that joins the two clauses together. The noun clause what was inside
her bag is the subject of the verb made. Answer d. what is therefore the best answer.

The followings are the noun clause connectors/subjects and the sentence patterns used with them.

EXERCISE 10. Each of the following sentences contains more than one clause. Underline the subjects
once and the verbs twice. Circle the connectors. Put boxes around the noun clauses. Then indicate if the
sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

C 1 You may spend your time with whomever is important to you.

2 What was written in the letter angered him beyond belief.

3 It was difficult to distinguish what was on sale and what was merely on display.

4 The employee was unhappy about what was added to his job description.

5 The voters should elect whichever of the candidates seems best to them.
 6 You should buy whatever the cheapest and most durable.

7 The game show contestant was able to respond to whatever was asked.

8 Whoever wants to take the desert tour during spring break signing up at the office.

9 The motorist was unable to discover who he had struck his car.

10 You should find out which the best school for your children.

REVIEW EXERCISE (SKILL 9-10). Questions 1-15 are incomplete sentences. Beneath each sentence you
will see four words or phrases, marked (A), (B), (C), and (D). Choose the one word or phrase that best
completes the sentence, and circle the mark.

1. Scientists cannot agree on ______ related to other orders of insects.

(A) that fleas are
(B) how fleas are
(C) how are fleas
(D) fleas that are

2. It was in 1875 ______ joined the staff of the astronomical observatory at Harvard University.
(A) that Anna Winlock
(B) Anna Winlock, who
(C) as Anna Winlock
(D) Anna Winlock then

3. ______ is a narrow strip of woods along a stream in an open grassland.

(A) Ecologists use the term "gallery forest"
(B) What do ecologists call a "gallery forest"
(C) "Gallery forest" is the term ecologists use
(D) What ecologists call a "gallery forest"
4. ______ developed very rapidly in Alabama primarily because of its rich natural resources.
(A) That heavy industry
(B) Heavy industry
(C) Heavy industry that was
(D) When heavy industry

5. ______ so incredible is that these insects successfully migrate to places that they have
never even seen.
(A) That makes the monarch butterflies' migration
(B) The migration of the monach butterflies is
(C) Wnat makes the monarch butterflies' migration
(D) The migration of the monarch butterflies, which is

6. Art critics do not all agree on what ______ a painting great.

(A) qualities make
(B) are the qualities for making
(C) qualities to make
(D) do the qualities that make

7. In order to grow vegetables properly, gardeners must know _____

(A) what the requirements for each vegetable are
(B) that the requirements for each vegetable
(C) what are each vegetable's requirements
(D) that is required by each vegetable

8. When _____ is not known.

(A) was the wheel invented
(B) the invention of the wheel
(C) inventing the wheel
(D) the wheel was invented

9. For many years people have wondered ______ exists elsewhere in the universe.
(A) that life
(B) life which
(C) whether life
(D) life as it

10. ______ of all modern domestic poultry is the red jungle fowl is widely believed.
(A) The ancestor
(B) The ancestor is
(C) How the ancestor
(D) That the ancestor

11. ______ the right side of a person's brain is dominant, that person is left-handed.
(A) That
(B) If
(C)Which
(D) For

12. ____ young, chimpanzees are easily

trained.
(A) When are
(B) When
(C) They are
(D) When they

13. The type of plant and animal life living in

and around a pond depends on the soil of
the pond, ____, and the pond's
location.
(A) what the quality of the water is
(B) how is the water quality
(C) the quality of the water
(D) what is the water quality

14. ____ was on television made me angry.

(A) It
(B) The story
(C) What
(D) When

15. Scientists are now beginning to conduct experiments on ____ trigger different sorts of health risks.
(A) noise pollution can
(B) that noise pollution
(C) how noise pollution
(D) how noise pollution can