UNIT 19

NOUN CLAUSE AND ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

Learning Objective

By the end of the unit, the student would be able to analyze parallel structure in a given
context.

A. Let’s Learn!

A noun clause is a clause that functions as a noun; because the noun clause is a noun, it is
used in a sentence as either an object of a verb, an object of a preposition, or the subject of
the sentence.
I know when he will arrive. (Noun clause as object of the verb)
I am concerned about when he will arrive. (Noun clause as object of the preposition)
When he arrives is not important. (Noun clause as subject)
I know two clauses in the first example, and he will arrive. These two clauses are joined
with the connector when. When he changes the clause, he will arrive at a noun clause that
functions as the object of the verb knows.
In the second example, the two clauses I am concerned about, and he will arrive, are
joined by the connector when. When he changes the clause, he will arrive at a noun clause
that functions as the object of the preposition about.
In the third example, there are two clauses, but they are a little harder to recognize. He
will arrive at one of the clauses and the connector when he changes it into a noun clause
that functions as the subject of the sentence. The other clause has the noun clause when he
will arrive as its subject and is as its verb.
The following example shows how these sentence patterns could be tested in the Structure
section of the TOEFL test.

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Example
1. Was late, caused many problems.
(A) That he
(B) The driver
(C) There
(D) Because

In this example, there are two verbs (was and caused), each of which needs a subject. Answer (B)
is wrong because the driver is one subject, and two subjects are needed. Answers (C) and (D) are
incorrect because there are no subjects. The best answer is answer (A). If you choose answer(A), the
completed sentence would be: That he was late caused many problems. In this sentence, he is the
subject of the verb was, and the noun clause that he was late is the subject of the verb caused.
The following chart lists the noun clause connectors and the sentence patterns used with
them:

NOUN CLAUSE CONNECTORS

* what, when, where, why, how * whatever, whenever *

whether, if * that

NOUN CLAUSES AS OBJECT

S V NOUN CONNECTOR S V

I Know What you did

NOUN CLAUSES AS OBJECT
NOUN CONNECTOR S V V
What you did was wrong

e. USE NOUN CLAUSE CONNECTOR/SUBJECTS CORRECTLY

Noun clause connectors were used to introduce noun subject clauses or noun object clauses. In
some cases, a noun clause connector is not just a connector; a noun clause connector can also be
the subject of the clause at the same time.

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 I do not know in the box. (Noun clause as object of the verb)
We are concerned about (Noun clause as object of the preposition)
must bring a gift. (Noun clause as subject)

The first example contains two clauses: I do not know, and what is in the box? These two clauses
are joined by the connector what. It is important to understand that in this sentence, the word what
serves two functions. It is both the subject of the verb is and the connector that joins the two clauses.
In the second example there are two clauses. In the first clause we is the subject of are. In the
second clause who is the subject of will do? Who also serves as the connector that joins the two
clauses. The noun clause who will do the work functions as the object of the preposition about.
In the last example, there are two clauses: whoever is the subject of the verb is coming, and the
noun clause who is coming to the party is the subject of must bring. The word whoever serves two
functions in the sentence: It is the subject of the verb is coming, and it is the connector that joins the
two clauses.
The following example shows how this sentence pattern could be tested in the structure section
of the TOEFL test.

Example
1. ______________ was on the television made me angry.
(A) It

(B) The story

(C) What

(D) When

In this example, you should notice immediately that there are two verbs, was and made, and
each of those verbs needs a subject. Answers (A) and (B) are incorrect because it and the story
cannot be the subject for both was and made at the same time. Answer (D) is incorrect because when
is not a subject. In answer (C), what serves as both the subject of the verb was, and the connector
that joins the two clauses together; the noun clause that was on television is the subject of the verb
made. Answer (C) is, therefore, the best answer.

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f. USE ADJECTIVE CLAUSE CONNECTORS CORRECTLY
An adjective clause is a clause that describes a noun. Because the clause is an adjective, it is
positioned directly after the noun it represents.

The woman is filling the glass

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

The glass contains milk.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

In the first example, there are two clauses: the woman is the subject of the verb is filling, and she
is the subject of the verb put. The adjective clause connector joins these two clauses, and the adjective
clause she puts on the table describes the noun glass.
In the second example, there are two clauses: glass is the subject of the verb contains, and she
is the subject of the verb put. In this sentence, the adjective clause connector joins these two clauses,
and the adjective clause that she put on the table describes the noun glass.
The following example shows how these sentence patterns could be tested in the Structure
section of the TOEFL test.

Example

Because
Was
Since
Which we

In this example, you should notice quickly that there are two clauses: gift is the subject of the
verb was, and the verb selected needs a subject. Because there are two clauses, a connector is
also needed. Answers (A) and (C) have connectors, but there are no subjects, so these
answers are incorrect. Answer

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(B) changes selected into a passive verb; in this case, the sentence would have one subject and two
verbs, so answer (B) is incorrect. The best answer to this question is answer (D). The correct sentence
should say: The gift which we selected for the bride was rather expensive. In this sentence gift is the subject
of the verb was, we is the subject of the verb selected, and the connector which joins these two clauses.
The following chart lists the adjective clause connectors and the sentence patterns used with
them:

g. USE ADJECTIVE CLAUSE CONNECTOR/SUBJECTS CORRECTLY

Adjective clause connectors were used to introduce clauses that describe nouns. In some cases,
an adjective clause connector is not just a connector; an adjective clause connector can also be the
subject of the clause at the same time.

The woman is filling the glass

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

The glass that is on the contains milk.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

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 In the first example, there are two clauses: a woman is the subject of the verb is filling, and that is
the subject of the verb is. These two clauses are joined with the connector. Notice that in this
example, the word serves two functions simultaneously: the subject of the verb is, and it is the
connector that joins the two clauses. The adjective clause that is on the table describes the noun glass.

In the second example, there are also two clauses: glass is the subject of the verb contains, and
that is the subject of the verb is. In this example that also serves two functions: it is the subject of the
verb is, and it is the connector that joins the two clauses. Because that is on the table is an adjective
clause describing the noun glass, it directly follows glass.
The following example shows how these sentence patterns could be tested in the Structure
section of the TOEFL test.

Example

is on the table has four sections.

a. The notebook
b. The notebook which
c. Because the notebook
d. In the notebook

In this example, you should immediately notice that the sentence has two verbs, is and has, and
each needs a subject. (You know that table is not a subject because it follows the preposition on; the
table is the object of the preposition.) The only answer that has two subjects is answer (B), so answer
(B) is the correct answer. The correct sentence should say: The notebook which is on the table has four
sections. In this sentence, the notebook is the subject of the verb has, and which is the subject of the
verb is. Which is also the connector that joins the two clauses.

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The following chart lists the adjective clause connector/subjects and the sentence patterns used with
them:

EXERCISE (Skills 9-12): Each sentence contains more than one clause. Underline the subjects
once and the verbs twice. Circle the connectors. Put boxes around the clauses. Then, indicate if
the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect(I).
1. No one explained to me whether was coming or not.
2. The part of the structure that has already been built needs to be torn down.
3. The girl who she just joined the Softball team is a great shortstop.
4. I have no idea about when the meeting is supposed to start.
5. We have been told that we can leave whenever want.
6. The racquet with whom I was playing was too big and too heavy for me.
7. I will never understand that he did.
8. He was still sick was obvious to the entire medical staff.
9. What is most important in this situation it is to finish on time.

10. The newspapers that were piled up on the front porch were an indication that the

residents had not been home in some time.

TOEFL EXERCISE: Choose the letter of the word or group of words that best
completes the sentence.
1. Dolphins form extremely complicated allegiances and continually change.
(A) enmities that
(B) that are enmities

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 (C) enmities that are
(D) that enmities
2. Scientists are now beginning to conduct experiments on trigger different sorts of
health risks.
(A) noise pollution can
(B that noise pollution
(C) how noise pollution
(D) how noise pollution can
3. The Apollo 11 astronauts of the Earth’s inhabitants witnessed on the famous
the first moonwalk on July 20, 1969, were Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.
(A) whom
(B) whom millions
(C) were some
(D) whom some were
4. At the end of the nineteenth century. Alfred Binet developed a test for measuring
intelligence served as the basis of modern IQ tests.
(A) has
(B) it has
(C) and
(D) which has
5. have at least four hours of hazardous materials response training is mandated
by federal law.
(A) All police officers
(B) All police officers must
(C) That all police officers
(D) For all police officers

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