A noun clause is usually introduced by the conjunction that.

Interrogative pronouns and adverbs are also used to introduce noun clauses.

Examples are given below.

I know who took the money. (Here the noun clause ‘who took the money’ is the object of the verb ‘know’.)

I couldn’t understand what he meant. (Here the noun clause acts as the object of the verb ‘understand’.)

I don’t know when the accident occurred. (Here the noun clause ‘when the accident occurred’ is the object of the verb ‘know’.)

What we hear is not always true. (Here the noun clause ‘what we hear’ is the subject of the verb ‘is’.)

This is how it happened. (Here the noun clause ‘how it happened’ acts as the complement of the subject.)

Whether he will accept the offer is not certain. (Here the noun clause ‘whether he will accept the offer’ acts as the subject of the verb is.)

You have to explain why you were absent from work yesterday. (Here the noun clause acts as the object of the verb ‘explain’.)

Everything depends on what happens in the next few days. (Here the noun clause acts as the object of the preposition ‘on’.)

How to write a sentence with a noun-clause?

Writing a sentence with a noun-clause is relatively easy.

Consider sentence fragments given below.

• He said that…
• I want to know …
• She asked me ….

Any clause that goes after these incomplete sentences is a noun clause.

• He said that he would come.
• I want to know why you don’t talk to me.
• She asked me why I was upset.