English Grammar Drills

Wh- clauses
Noun Clauses 99
The second type of noun clause always begins with a wh- word. The term wh- word refers to a
special group of words, most of which happen to begin with the letters wh-. Here are the most
common wh- words that begin noun clauses, classified by their parts of speech:
NOUNS
what
which
who
whom
whose
whatever
whichever
whoever
whomever
ADVERBS
when
where
why
whenever
wherever
how
The fact that wh- clauses can begin with adverbs does not change the fact that these introductory
words are used to create noun clauses. Here are some examples of adverb wh- words used
to create noun phrases functioning as objects of verbs, followed by substitution of it to verify the
function of the noun phrase:
it
I don’t know when they will be here.
it
We saw where they were going.
it
They soon discovered why we had packed our umbrellas.
it
Did you ever learn how they were able to finish so quickly?
Wh- clauses can play all four noun roles of subject, object of verb, object of preposition, and
predicate nominative (complement of a linking verb). Here are some examples:
Subject
It
Whatever you want to do is OK with me.