Noun Clauses
What Is It?
A noun clause acts as a subject, object, or complement. It often starts with that, what, or a wh- word: [connector] + S + V → “What caused the bug is unknown.”
Why Use Noun Clauses?
- Embedding — nests ideas without new sentences.
- Abstraction — treats complex info as a single unit.
- Cohesion — links thoughts smoothly in research papers.
When to Choose Noun Clauses
Bug-root-cause analyses, design-decision logs, API specs (“Return whatever the handler outputs.”).
Forming Noun-Clause Sentences
| Role | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | [Wh/That] + S + V + … | “That the app scales matters.” |
| Object | V + that-clause | “We confirmed that the app scales.” |
| Complement | Be + what/why/how-clause | “The issue is why latency spiked.” |
Tips for Writing with Noun Clauses
- Prefer that for clarity in object clauses.
- Avoid empty “it” (“It is known that…”) unless emphasis needed.
- Keep the clause short; use summaries when long.
- Verify subject-verb agreement inside the clause.
Exceptions & Nuances
Whether introduces alternatives (“Decide whether to shard ASAP”). Omit that in informal writing when no confusion arises.