1. A Noun Clause is a subordinate clause used as a noun.

2. A Noun Clause may be used in the following ways:
As a Subject
As the Object of the Preposition
As a Compliment
Predicate nominative
Direct object
Indirect object

3. The Noun Clause used as a SUBJECT:
What Mary Anne did was brave and earned her praise from everyone. The entire Noun Clause comes before the main verb or predicate of the sentence and is therefore the Subject of the sentence.

4. The Noun Clause used as an OBJECT of the PREPOSITION:
He checks the ID cards of whoever visits. The Noun Clause follows a Preposition.

5. The Noun Clause as a PREDICATE NOMINATIVE:
The winner will be whoever runs fastest. The entire Noun Clause follows the main verb or predicate of the sentence and is therefore called the “noun in the predicate” or Predicate Nominative. It explains the subject of the sentence.

6. The Noun Clause used as a DIRECT OBJECT:
She finally discovered what the answer was. The entire Noun Clause in this sentence follows the verb and does not refer to the subject of the sentence. In this case, the Noun Clause receives the action of the verb or shows the results of the action. It answers “Whom?” or “What?” after the action verb.

7. The Noun Clause used as an INDIRECT OBJECT:
The clerk should tell whoever calls the sale prices.

8. Noun Clause Signal Words:
A Noun Clause will begin with one of the following eight words.
That
What
Whatever
Who
Whoever
Whom
Whomever
How
*Note that some of these words are the same as Adjective Clause signal words.

9. Find the Noun Clauses:
We moved to Massachusetts and did not know what we would find there.
What surprised me first were the yellowish green fire engines.
I had thought that fire engines were always red.

10. Find the Noun Clauses (cont.):
4. Our neighbors said that this color kept the fire engines from being confused with other large, red trucks. 5. My sister Michelle made another discovery at the bowling alley. 6. The grapefruit-sized bowling balls with no holes weren’t what she was used to!

11. Find the Noun Clauses (cont.):
7. Whoever can knock down the pins with one of those bowling balls must be an expert. 8. We learned that this sport is called candlepin bowling. 9. Later on, I was pleasantly surprised by the delicious baked beans.

12. Find the Noun Clauses (cont.):
10. Someone should give whoever invented Boston baked beans an award. 11. Now, after we have lived in New England for a year, both Michelle and I are happy in our new home.