In grammar, a clause is a grammatical structure that consists of a subject and a predicate. A dependent or subordinate clause is a clause that cannot function independently as a complete sentence but that must appear with another independent or main clause. A noun clause is a type of dependent clause that performs a nominal function.
In grammar, a noun phrase complement is a word, phrase, or clause that completes the meaning of a noun or noun phrase. The grammatical form that most frequently functions as the noun phrase complement in English grammar is the noun clause. Examples of noun clauses as noun phrase complements include the following:
- The claim that the earth is flat was once considered true.
- My problem is the fact that you are never on time for work.
- Our hope that peace will be achieved is possible.
- The supposition that men are smarter than women is untrue.
- The fact that you never wash your hands before dinner drives me crazy.
- I am partial to the idea that you will bring the side dishes for dinner.
Noun Clause as Noun Phrase Complement
References
Brinton, Laurel J. & Donna M. Brinton. 2010. The linguistic structure of Modern English, 2nd edn. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Hopper, Paul J. 1999. A short course in grammar. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
Huddleston, Rodney. 1984. Introduction to the grammar of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
