Week 5 Dio Nugraha Putra
Week 5 Dio Nugraha Putra
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].
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.
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).