Noun Clauses

Noun clauses work as a subject, object or complement and open with that, a wh-word, if or whether. Inside a noun clause the subject comes before the verb, as in a statement: I know where she lives. Tell me what you want.

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CheatsheetB2–C1

Point	Rule	Example
That-clause	that + subject + verb; that drops after common verbs	I know (that) he left.	B2
Wh-clause	wh-word + subject + verb; no do, does or did	Tell me where he lives.	B2
If and whether	if or whether after ask and wonder; whether after a preposition or to	I wonder whether she knows.	B2
Wh-word and to	wh-word + to + V	I don't know what to do.	B2
Embedded question	a polite question starts Could you tell me and keeps statement order	Could you tell me where the station is?	B2
‑ever words	words in ‑ever mean any person, thing, time, place or way that	Take whatever you like.	B2
Exclamation	what or how opens it; the subject comes before the verb	I can't believe how beautiful it is.	B2
Noun and clause	the noun names what the clause says: the fact that, the question whether	Despite the fact that it was late, we stayed.	C1
After be	The problem is, This is why, That's what + clause	The problem is where to park.	C1
After a preposition	a wh-word or whether follows; before that the preposition drops	It depends on whether we can park.	C1
Verbs of demand	insist / demand / recommend + that + subject + base verb; British English often adds should	She recommends that he rest.	C1
Trap	a noun clause keeps statement order, with no do	I don't know where the station is.	B2

OverviewB2

Function	Example
Subject	What she said surprised me.	B2
Object	I know that he left.	B2
Complement	The problem is that we have no money.	B2
After a preposition	I'm interested in what you think.	B2

A noun clause has its own subject and verb and does the work of a noun phrase. I know the answer. / I know what she said.
Reported statements and questions are noun clauses. See Reported Speech.

Form: that-clausesB2

Follows	Common words	Example
A verb	believe / say / know / hope / decide / realise / discover	I realised that I had lost my keys.	B2
An adjective	afraid / certain / glad / sure / aware / surprised	I'm glad that you came.	B2
A noun	idea / fact / news / hope / belief / claim	We heard the news that she had won.	B2

That is optional after common verbs and adjectives, and speech usually drops it. I hope (that) you feel better.
Formal verbs and nouns keep that. The report states that prices fell. / He has the idea that it is easy.

That-clauses as subjectB2

Pattern	Example
That + clause + verb	That he left surprised me.	B2
It + verb + person + that + clause	It surprised me that he left.	B2
It + is + adjective + that + clause	It is clear that she is tired.	B2

A that‑clause subject sounds formal; speech prefers it first.

Form: wh-clausesB2

Pattern	Rule	Example
wh-word + subject + verb	statement order, with no do, does or did	Tell me where he lives.	B2
wh-word + verb	the wh-word is the subject, so the verb follows it	I wonder who called.	B2
wh-clause + singular verb	a wh-clause as subject takes a singular verb	What he does is his business. / What they need is more time.	B2

Embedded questionsB2

Change	Direct question	Embedded question
The subject goes before the verb	Where is the station?	Could you tell me where the station is?	B2
do, does and did drop	What time does it start?	Do you know what time it starts?	B2
if or whether replaces the inversion	Is she at home?	I wonder whether she is at home.	B2

Use	Example
A polite request for information	Could you tell me how much this costs?	B2
A question to someone who may know	Do you know who is coming?	B2
A doubt, or a question to yourself	I wonder why she left.	B2
Not knowing	I have no idea when the shop opens.	B2

Wh-words with toB2

Pattern	Example
wh-word + to + V	I don't know what to do. = I don't know what I should do.	B2
whether + to + V	We can't decide whether to go. = We can't decide whether we should go.	B2

The to-clause has no subject; the doer is the subject or the object of the main verb. She doesn't know where to park. / He told me where to park.
The verbs that take these phrases are listed in Gerund vs Infinitive.

Compare: if and whetherB2

Point	if	whether
After ask, wonder, know, find out	I wonder if she knows.	I wonder whether she knows.	B2
After a preposition	—	It depends on whether it rains.	B2
Before a to-infinitive	—	I can't decide whether to go.	B2
At the start of a sentence	—	Whether she agrees doesn't matter.	B2
Right before or not	—	I'll ask whether or not she agrees.	B2

If is more usual in speech; whether is more usual in formal writing.
A noun-clause if reports a question; a conditional if sets a condition. I wonder if it will rain. ≠ I stay in if it rains.
Conditional clauses are in Conditionals.

Words in ‑everB2

Word	Meaning	Example
whoever	any person who	I'll talk to whoever is in charge.	B2
whatever	anything that	Take whatever you like.	B2
whichever	any one that	Choose whichever is cheaper.	B2
whenever	at any time that	Call me whenever you want.	B2
wherever	in any place that	Sit wherever you like.	B2
however	in any way that	Do it however you want.	B2

Exclamative clausesB2

Pattern	Example
what + a + noun + subject + verb	What a mess it was! / I can't believe what a mess it is.	B2
how + adjective + subject + verb	How cold it is! / I can't believe how beautiful it is.	B2
how + adverb + subject + verb	How fast he runs! / Did you see how fast he runs?	B2

Appositive clausesC1

Phrase	Use	Example
the + fact / idea / claim / belief + that + clause	the noun names what the clause says	The claim that prices will fall is false.	C1
the question + whether + clause	question takes whether	The question whether we can afford it remains.	C1
despite the fact that	although	Despite the fact that it was late, we stayed.	C1
in view of the fact that	because of; formal	In view of the fact that prices rose, we waited.	C1

An appositive clause names the noun's content; a relative that clause has a gap and can become which. the news that she won ≠ the news that she told us

Wh-clauses after beC1

Use	Example
A problem or question: The problem is, The question is	The problem is where to park. / The question is whether we can afford it.	C1
A reason: This is why	This is why I called.	C1
A way: That's how	That's how it works.	C1
A place: This is where	This is where we met.	C1
A thing meant: That's what	That's what I mean.	C1

Clauses after prepositions and adjectivesC1

Phrase	Example
aware / sure + of + wh-word	She is aware of how much it costs. / I'm not sure of what he meant.	C1
depends on + whether + clause	It depends on whether we can park.	C1
the extent + to which + clause	The report shows the extent to which prices have risen.	C1
in what way + clause	She asked in what way the plan had failed.	C1

Before a that‑clause the preposition drops, or the fact carries it. She is aware that it closed. = She is aware of the fact that it closed.

Compare: free relative and interrogative clausesC1

Point	Free relative	Interrogative
Meaning	what = the thing that	what = which thing	C1
Example	I eat what she cooks.	I wonder what she cooks.	C1
Test	replace what with the thing that	turn the clause into a direct question	C1
Result	I eat the food that she cooks.	What does she cook?	C1

Verbs such as know, remember and see take both kinds; the test shows which a sentence means. I remember what she said.

That-clauses after verbs of demandC1

Pattern	Rule	Example
verb + that + subject + base verb	the subjunctive: the base verb for every subject	The manager demanded that he apologise.	C1
verb + that + subject + should + base verb	the usual British form	The manager demanded that he should apologise.	C1
verb + that + subject + should not / not + base verb	negative: not before the verb, with no do	We suggest that he should not wait. / We suggest that he not wait.	C1

Verbs of demand and advice take it: insist, demand, require, request, suggest, recommend, propose.
Adjectives such as essential take the same clause. See The Subjunctive.

Typical errorsB2–C1

Wrong	Right	Rule
I don't know where is the station.	I don't know where the station is.	the subject goes before the verb in a noun clause	B2
Tell me what do you want.	Tell me what you want.	a noun clause takes no do	B2
She asked me if or not I was ready.	She asked me whether or not I was ready.	or not right after the word takes whether	B2
I can't decide if to go.	I can't decide whether to go.	whether goes before a to‑infinitive	B2
What he does are his business.	What he does is his business.	a wh-clause as subject takes a singular verb	B2
Despite he was tired, he came.	Despite the fact that he was tired, he came.	despite takes a noun phrase or the fact that	C1
The problem is where do we park.	The problem is where we park.	a wh-clause after be keeps statement order	C1
He is afraid of that he will fail.	He is afraid that he will fail.	the preposition drops before that	C1
The question that we can afford it remains.	The question whether we can afford it remains.	question takes whether	C1
I am aware about how much it costs.	I am aware of how much it costs.	aware takes of before a wh-clause	C1

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The AlphabetA0The 26 letters of the English alphabet and their names, used to spell words aloud.

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Adjectives and Adjective OrderA1C1Where adjectives go, their fixed order, and -ed and -ing adjectives.

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Adjectives and Adjective OrderA1C1Where adjectives go, their fixed order, and -ed and -ing adjectives.

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Adjectives and Adjective OrderA1C1Where adjectives go, their fixed order, and -ed and -ing adjectives.

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Participle ClausesB2C2Participle clauses use -ing, having with a past participle, or a past participle alone, to give time, reason, result, condition and description.

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Participle ClausesB2C2Participle clauses use -ing, having with a past participle, or a past participle alone, to give time, reason, result, condition and description.

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CheatsheetB2–C1

OverviewB2

Form: that-clausesB2

That-clauses as subjectB2

Form: wh-clausesB2

Embedded questionsB2

Wh-words with toB2

Compare: if and whetherB2

Words in ‑everB2

Exclamative clausesB2

Appositive clausesC1

Wh-clauses after beC1

Clauses after prepositions and adjectivesC1

Compare: free relative and interrogative clausesC1

That-clauses after verbs of demandC1

Typical errorsB2–C1

Contents

English

01Foundations

02Nouns and determiners

03Pronouns

04Verbs

05Tenses

06Modal verbs

07Sentence building

08Adjectives and adverbs

09Prepositions

10Word formation

A0Starter

A1Beginner

A2Elementary

B1Intermediate

B2Upper intermediate

C1Advanced

C2Proficiency

Level