Skill 7 : Noun Clause Connectors

A noun clause is a clause that function as a noun; because the noun clause functions as a noun, it is used in a sentences as an object of a verb (it follows a verb) or an object of a preposition (it is follows a preposition). Study the clauses and connectors in the following sentences.

I don't know why he said such things.
I am thinking about why he said such things.

In the first example, there are two clauses , I don't know and he said such things . These two clauses are joined with the connector why. Why changes the clause he said such things into a noun clause which functions as the object of the verb don't know.

In the second example, the two clauses I am thinking and he said such things are also joined by the connector why. Why  changes the clause he said such things into a noun clause which functions as the object of the preposition above.
The following example shows how theses sentence patterns could be tested in the Structure section of the TOEFL test

Example :
The citizens worry about....is doing.

1. what the government 
2. the government
3. what
4. what the government a 

In this example, the sentences contains the main subject and verb, The citizens worry, and it also contains an additional verb, is doing. The sentence needs a subject for the verb is doing and a connector to join two clauses. The best answer is answer (1) because it has the connector what and the subject government. Answer (2) is incorrect because it does not have a connector. Answer (3) is incorrect because it does not have a subject for is doing. Answer (4) is incorrect because it has two subjects for is doing.

The following chart list the noun clause connectors and the sentence patterns used with them.

Noun clause connectors

When Whether, if that

S         V            NOUN CLAUSE                 S               V