Level 10 – Step 09 : Noun Clauses that Function as Subjects (that-clauses / whether-clauses) (That she passed surprised everyone. Whether he will come is unknown.)
/Level 10 – Step 09 : Noun Clauses that Function as Subjects (that-clauses / whether-clauses) (That she passed surprised everyone. Whether he will come is unknown.)
🚪 Let’s Begin
/🚪 Let’s Begin
🦉Professor Owl: Today we will study noun clauses used as subjects — how whole clauses like “that she passed” or “whether he will come” can act like a noun in a sentence.
/🦉Professor Owl: Today we will study noun clauses used as subjects — how whole clauses like “that she passed” or “whether he will come” can act like a noun in a sentence.
🐧Igupen: Sounds big, but is it hard?
/🐧Igupen: Sounds big, but is it hard?
🦉Professor Owl: Not at all — they’re just ideas acting as the subject.
/🦉Professor Owl: Not at all — they’re just ideas acting as the subject.
Keep going — two more steps and this grammar set is complete.
/Keep going — two more steps and this grammar set is complete.
You’re almost there; keep it up.
/You’re almost there; keep it up.
📚 Lesson
/📚 Lesson
What is a noun clause used as a subject?
/What is a noun clause used as a subject?
A noun clause is a group of words that makes a complete idea and acts like a noun.
/A noun clause is a group of words that makes a complete idea and acts like a noun.
When it comes at the start of a sentence, it can be the subject.
/When it comes at the start of a sentence, it can be the subject.
Two common subject clause forms are: that-clauses and whether/if-clauses.
/Two common subject clause forms are: that-clauses and whether/if-clauses.
That-clauses as subjects
/That-clauses as subjects
Structure: That + clause (that + subject + verb).
/Structure: That + clause (that + subject + verb).
Use: to state a fact, idea, or surprising information.
/Use: to state a fact, idea, or surprising information.
Example: That she passed surprised everyone.
/Example: That she passed surprised everyone.
The whole clause “that she passed” is the subject; the rest comments on it.
/The whole clause “that she passed” is the subject; the rest comments on it.
Whether/if-clauses as subjects
/Whether/if-clauses as subjects
Structure: Whether/If + clause.
/Structure: Whether/If + clause.
Use: to show doubt, choice, or uncertainty about something.
/Use: to show doubt, choice, or uncertainty about something.
Example: Whether he will come is unknown.
/Example: Whether he will come is unknown.
The clause expresses a question or uncertainty as the subject.
/The clause expresses a question or uncertainty as the subject.
Simple rules to help you decide
/Simple rules to help you decide
1. Use a that-clause when you state a fact, belief, or result.
/1. Use a that-clause when you state a fact, belief, or result.
He said that he was ready → That he was ready surprised us.
/He said that he was ready → That he was ready surprised us.
2. Use whether/if when the idea is about possibility, yes/no question, or uncertainty.
/2. Use whether/if when the idea is about possibility, yes/no question, or uncertainty.
I wonder whether she will join → Whether she will join is unclear.
/I wonder whether she will join → Whether she will join is unclear.
3. After subject clauses, verbs usually agree with the clause as a whole; use singular verbs when the clause is treated as one fact.
/3. After subject clauses, verbs usually agree with the clause as a whole; use singular verbs when the clause is treated as one fact.
That she passed is good news.
/That she passed is good news.
Short form note (style)
/Short form note (style)
In spoken or informal written English, speakers sometimes avoid heavy subject clauses by using it + be + adjective + that-clause.
/In spoken or informal written English, speakers sometimes avoid heavy subject clauses by using it + be + adjective + that-clause.
It is surprising that she passed.
/It is surprising that she passed.
This moves the clause later and feels lighter.
/This moves the clause later and feels lighter.
🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
/🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
Ask: Is this idea a fact or an uncertainty?
/Ask: Is this idea a fact or an uncertainty?
If it’s a fact or reported idea, think “that …”.
/If it’s a fact or reported idea, think “that …”.
If it’s a yes/no possibility or doubt, think “whether/if …”.
/If it’s a yes/no possibility or doubt, think “whether/if …”.
Then put the clause where you put the subject.
/Then put the clause where you put the subject.
Quick checks inside the lesson
/Quick checks inside the lesson
That she passed surprised everyone.
/That she passed surprised everyone.
Whether he will come is unknown.
/Whether he will come is unknown.
It is surprising that she passed.
/It is surprising that she passed.
🌼 Sample Sentences
/🌼 Sample Sentences
No.01 That she passed surprised everyone.
/No.01 That she passed surprised everyone.
No.02 Whether he will come is unknown.
/No.02 Whether he will come is unknown.
No.03 That the team won made the city happy.
/No.03 That the team won made the city happy.
No.04 Whether we should wait is the question.
/No.04 Whether we should wait is the question.
No.05 That the movie ended early upset many viewers.
/No.05 That the movie ended early upset many viewers.
No.06 Whether you agree matters a lot.
/No.06 Whether you agree matters a lot.
No.07 That he ignored the warning caused trouble.
/No.07 That he ignored the warning caused trouble.
No.08 Whether the train is on time is important to travelers.
/No.08 Whether the train is on time is important to travelers.
No.09 That she changed her mind surprised her friends.
/No.09 That she changed her mind surprised her friends.
No.10 Whether they can finish on time remains doubtful.
/No.10 Whether they can finish on time remains doubtful.
🎓 Practice exercises
/🎓 Practice exercises
Note: Think first, then check the answers.
/Note: Think first, then check the answers.
Q1: Choose the correct subject clause: (A) That he left early (B) He left early — which is the subject in “___ surprised the class”?
/Q1: Choose the correct subject clause: (A) That he left early (B) He left early — which is the subject in “___ surprised the class”?
Q2: Fill in with that-clause: ___ (the teacher / arrive) surprised the students.
/Q2: Fill in with that-clause: ___ (the teacher / arrive) surprised the students.
Q3: Fill in with whether/if-clause: ___ (they / join) is not decided yet.
/Q3: Fill in with whether/if-clause: ___ (they / join) is not decided yet.
Q4: True or False: Use whether to state a clear fact.
/Q4: True or False: Use whether to state a clear fact.
Q5: Change to a sentence with a subject clause: “It is strange that she knows the answer.” → ___ strange.
/Q5: Change to a sentence with a subject clause: “It is strange that she knows the answer.” → ___ strange.
Q6: Choose the correct verb form: That they (is / are) late worries the coach.
/Q6: Choose the correct verb form: That they (is / are) late worries the coach.
Q7: Fill in: ___ (the event / be cancelled) would disappoint many people. (use that-clause)
/Q7: Fill in: ___ (the event / be cancelled) would disappoint many people. (use that-clause)
Q8: Identify the clause type: “Whether the plan will work is unclear.” — Is the clause a that-clause or a whether-clause?
/Q8: Identify the clause type: “Whether the plan will work is unclear.” — Is the clause a that-clause or a whether-clause?
Q9: Correct the sentence if needed: “That she are ready is good.”
/Q9: Correct the sentence if needed: “That she are ready is good.”
Q10: Change to the light-it structure: “That he failed surprised us.” → It ___ that he failed.
/Q10: Change to the light-it structure: “That he failed surprised us.” → It ___ that he failed.
◆ Answers
/◆ Answers
A1: A — That he left early surprised the class.
/A1: A — That he left early surprised the class.
A2: That the teacher arrived surprised the students.
/A2: That the teacher arrived surprised the students.
A3: Whether they will join is not decided yet.
/A3: Whether they will join is not decided yet.
A4: False — whether usually shows doubt or choice; that states fact/belief.
/A4: False — whether usually shows doubt or choice; that states fact/belief.
A5: That she knows the answer is strange.
/A5: That she knows the answer is strange.
A6: are → That they are late worries the coach.
/A6: are → That they are late worries the coach.
A7: That the event be cancelled would disappoint many people.
/A7: That the event be cancelled would disappoint many people.
A8: whether-clause.
/A8: whether-clause.
A9: Correction: That she is ready is good.
/A9: Correction: That she is ready is good.
A10: It was surprising that he failed.
/A10: It was surprising that he failed.
🦉 Closing
/🦉 Closing
🦉Professor Owl: Excellent — you learned how whole clauses can be the subject of a sentence and when to use that or whether.
/🦉Professor Owl: Excellent — you learned how whole clauses can be the subject of a sentence and when to use that or whether.
Two more steps and this grammar series is done — you’re nearly at the finish line.
/Two more steps and this grammar series is done — you’re nearly at the finish line.
🐧Igupen: I’ll practice by making subject clauses from short sentences and asking whether the idea is fact or doubt.
/🐧Igupen: I’ll practice by making subject clauses from short sentences and asking whether the idea is fact or doubt.
🦉Professor Owl: Great plan.
/🦉Professor Owl: Great plan.
Keep practicing these clauses in short sentences and you’ll feel confident very soon — you’re doing wonderfully.
/Keep practicing these clauses in short sentences and you’ll feel confident very soon — you’re doing wonderfully.
