NOUN CLAUSE

As a clause must have a verb, noun clauses are a group of words with a verb that represent, or can be substituted by, a simple noun (for example, this/these). That is, the clause has the function of a noun. Noun clauses (nominal clauses) can be finite or non-finite and are always dependent clauses (subordinate).

e.g. THAT THE SUPERBOWL IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS IN AMERICAN SPORTS CANNOT BE DISPUTED.
- "That the Superbowl is one of the most important events in American sports" is the subject. As it contains a verb (is), it is a clause, however, it is not the main clause.
- This group of words represents a noun. It can be substituted with the noun "this" (this cannot be disputed).
- As the noun clause has a subject (the Superbowl) and the verb is conjugated (is), it is classified as a finite noun clause.
- As this noun clause makes no sense by itself, it is dependent (subordinate).

e.g. TO UNDERSTAND DEMOCRACY REQUIRES IN-DEPTH STUDY OF ALL POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES.
- "To understand democracy" is the subject. As it contains a verb (to understand), it is a clause, however, it is not the main clause.
- This group of words represents a noun. It can be substituted with the noun "this" (this requires in-depth study of all political ideologies).
- As the noun clause has no subject and the verb is not conjugated (to understand - infinitive), it is classified as a non-finite noun clause reduced by the infinitive.

e.g. HIGH TAXES MAKE SELLING PROPERTY DIFFICULT AT THIS MOMENT.
- "selling property" is a direct object. As it contains a verb (selling), it is a clause, however, it is not the main clause.
- This group of words represents a noun. It can be substituted with the noun "this" (High taxes make this difficult at this moment).
- As the noun clause has no subject and the verb is not conjugated (selling - gerund), it is classified as a non-finite noun clause reduced by the gerund.

e.g. WHAT I FOUND MOST DELIGHTFUL AT THE VINEYARDS WAS EXPERIMENTING THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF WINE.
- "experimenting the different types of wine" is the subject complement. As it has a verb (experimenting), it is a clause, however, it is not the main clause.
- This group of words represents a noun. It can be substituted with the noun "this" (What I found most delightful at the vineyards was this).
- As the noun clause has no subject and the verb is not conjugated (experimenting - gerund), it is classified as a non-finite noun clause reduced by the gerund.

e.g. THEY SWORE TO SETTLE THE SCORE. THEY SWORE (THAT) THEY WOULD SETTLE THE SCORE.
- In the first example, "to settle the score" is the direct object. As it contains a verb (to settle), it is a clause, however, it is not the main clause.
- This group of words represents a noun. It can be substituted with the noun "this" (They swore this).
- As the noun clause has no subject and the verb is not conjugated (to settle - infinitive), it is classified as a non-finite noun clause reduced by the infinitive.
- In the second example, "(that) they would settle the score" is the direct object (finite noun clause).