NOUN CLAUSES 1

Grammar review A noun clause is a clause that works like a noun in a sentence, as the subject, the object of a verb or preposition, or the complement. Noun clauses often begin with words like that, if, whether, what, who, when, where, why, and how.

The rule tested in every question here: even when a noun clause is based on a question, it keeps normal statement word order, subject before verb. It does not flip into question word order the way a real question does.

✗ John asked me where was his wallet.
✓ John asked me where his wallet was.

This holds no matter what role the noun clause plays in the sentence: as the object of a verb (I don't know what he wants), the subject (What she said was sad), or the object of a preposition (We aren't responsible for what you do).