IELTS Writing: Noun And Gerund Clauses

Noun clauses and gerund clauses are super important in English, especially when you're writing or speaking formally, like in the IELTS exam. Noun clauses can act as subjects, objects, or complements, usually to express ideas or questions, while gerund clauses are all about actions or activities and work as nouns. 

Getting the hang of both will definitely help you make your sentences more detailed and boost your IELTS scores!

What is a Noun Clause?

A noun clause is a type of dependent (subordinate) clause that functions as a noun in a sentence. Since it is dependent, it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence but instead complements an independent clause.

Examples of Noun Clauses:

• I appreciate what you have done.
• That she passed the exam surprised everyone.
• The teacher explained how the experiment works.

General Structure:

Though different forms are possible for noun clauses, here is a basic structure to understand it.

Independent Clause + [Introductory Word] + Subject + Verb (+ Other Elements)

Noun clauses often begin with relative pronouns or subordinating conjunctions such as:

Functions of Noun Clauses

Noun clauses can serve multiple grammatical roles in a sentence. Let’s explore them in detail:

1. Noun Clauses as Subjects

A noun clause can act as the subject of a sentence, meaning it performs the main action. Because noun clauses are longer than single-word subjects, sentences with noun clauses as subjects often sound more formal or complex.

Examples:

• What she said is true.
• How he completed the project amazed everyone.
• That he studies every night is evident.

2. Noun Clauses as Direct Objects

A noun clause can act as the direct object of a verb, receiving the action. A direct object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb in a sentence.

Examples:

• He doesn’t know where she went.
• The professor explained why the hypothesis was incorrect.
• I believe that hard work leads to success.

3. Noun Clauses as Indirect Objects

A noun clause can also function as the indirect object of a verb, which means it receives the action indirectly and typically tells us to whom or for whom something is done.

Examples:

• She told whoever was listening the truth.
• They gave whoever applied a fair chance.

4. Noun Clauses as Objects of Prepositions

A noun clause can function as the object of a preposition, meaning it follows a preposition (about, on, for, with, etc.) and completes its meaning.

Examples:

• We talked about what happened yesterday.
• She is concerned about whether he will pass.
• They argued over who should be responsible.

5. Noun Clauses as Predicate Nominatives

A predicate nominative is a noun or noun clause that follows a linking verb and renames or defines the subject of a sentence. Linking verbs do not show action but instead connect the subject to more information about it. Common linking verbs include is, are, was, were, become, seem, appear, feel, and remain.

For example, in "The truth is that he never arrived", the noun clause "that he never arrived " defines the truth. 

Examples:

• My biggest concern is how we will afford it.
• The problem is whether we have enough time.

Advanced IELTS Usage of Noun Clauses

In IELTS Writing and Speaking, complex sentence structures demonstrate advanced grammatical proficiency. Noun clauses help create formal and well-structured responses.

Writing Task 1 (Academic Reports & General Letters)

When describing trends or explaining processes, noun clauses can improve clarity and sophistication.

Example:

Instead of: "The chart shows that the population increased."

Use: "One notable observation from the chart is that the population increased steadily over the period."

Writing Task 2 (Essays)

In argumentative or opinion essays, noun clauses add depth and complexity to ideas.

Example:

Instead of: "I believe people should work hard."

Use: "I firmly believe that working hard is the key to success."

Speaking Part 3 (Discussion Questions)

Using noun clauses in responses demonstrates a higher level of fluency and grammatical control.

Example Question: "How important is higher education?"

Basic Response: "Higher education is important because it helps people get jobs." 

Advanced Response: "I strongly believe that higher education plays a crucial role in shaping an individual’s career prospects and that it provides essential knowledge and skills for the competitive job market."

Common Mistakes with Noun Clauses

1. Using Incorrect Word Order

In a noun clause, the word order should be subject-verb (statement structure), even if the clause contains a question word.

Incorrect: "I don’t know what is the answer." 

Correct: "I don’t know what the answer is."

2. Confusing Noun Clauses with Relative Clauses

Noun clauses act as nouns in a sentence, serving as subjects, objects, or complements, and typically answer "What?" or "Who?" They begin with words like "what," "who," "how," or "where." On the other hand, relative clauses provide additional information about a noun, acting as adjectives, and start with relative pronouns like "who," "which," or "that."

Noun Clause: "She told me where the station is." (acts as the object)

Relative Clause: "She told me about the place where the station is." (modifies the noun "place")

3. Forgetting Subject-Verb Agreement

If the noun clause refers to a singular subject (like "what"), the verb should be singular (e.g., "is," not "are").

Incorrect: "What she say are important." 

Correct: "What she says is important."

What is a Gerund Clause?

A gerund clause begins with a gerund — the -ing form of a verb — and acts as a noun in the sentence. Because a gerund clause is formed from a verb, it still retains a sense of action or process. However, like any noun, it can function as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence.

Structure of a Gerund Clause:

• Gerund (Verb + -ing) + Object/Other Elements
  • Example: Eating too much sugar is unhealthy.

Gerund clauses can have a variety of structures depending on what the action is related to. It might be a simple gerund (verb + -ing), or it could include additional objects or modifiers for clarity.

Examples:

• Running in the morning is good for your health.
• Watching movies is my favorite hobby.
• Reading books expands your knowledge.

Functions of Gerund Clauses

Gerund clauses can serve multiple functions in a sentence, performing roles usually associated with nouns. Let’s explore these functions in detail:

1. Gerund Clauses as Subjects 

A gerund clause can act as the subject of a sentence, meaning it performs the action of the sentence. When a gerund clause is the subject, the sentence may sound more formal or complex.

• Example: Reading books is essential for personal growth.
• Example: Swimming every day keeps you fit.

2. Gerund Clauses as Direct Objects 

A gerund clause can also serve as the direct object of a verb, receiving the action of the verb. It answers the question "What?"

• Example: She enjoys playing the piano.
• Example: I dislike waking up early.

3. Gerund Clauses as Objects of Prepositions 

Gerund clauses often follow prepositions in sentences. The gerund after the preposition acts as the object, completing the meaning of the preposition.

• Example: We talked about going to the beach.
• Example: He’s excited about starting his new job.

4. Gerund Clauses as Complements 

A gerund clause can also function as a complement, providing additional information about the subject or object in the sentence.

• Example: His goal is learning how to play the guitar.
• Example: My dream is traveling the world.

Common Mistakes with Gerund Clauses

1. Using the Wrong Form After Certain Verbs

Some verbs are followed by gerund clauses, and others are followed by infinitive verbs. It's important to know which verbs are used with gerund clauses and which with infinitives.

• Incorrect: She enjoys to swim.
• Correct: She enjoys swimming.

2. Forgetting to Use a Gerund After Prepositions

After prepositions, always use gerund clauses instead of infinitives.

• Incorrect: He’s interested to learn about science.
• Correct: He’s interested in learning about science.

3. Omitting the Gerund Clause’s Subject

If the gerund clause needs a subject to be complete, make sure it’s included.

• Incorrect: I enjoy singing loud.
• Correct: I enjoy singing loudly.

Gerunds vs. Infinitives

Gerunds and infinitives are two ways in which verbs can function as nouns, but they are used differently in certain contexts.

A gerund is the -ing form of a verb and acts as a noun in a sentence. It's often used to refer to activities or actions in a general sense.

• Example: I love swimming (activity as a noun).

An infinitive is the base form of a verb preceded by "to." It can also act as a noun, but it is typically used to express purpose, intention, or after certain verbs and adjectives.

• Example: To swim is my goal (purpose as a noun).

Key Differences:

• Gerunds are more commonly used when the activity is real, specific, or already happening.
  • Example: I enjoy reading books.
• Infinitives are often used when the action is abstract, hypothetical, or not yet happening.
  • Example: I want to read books.

Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or infinitive, but the meaning may change. For example:

• I love dancing (enjoyment of the activity).
• I love to dance (indicating intention or preference).

But there are cases where one must use either a gerund or infinitive, like with prepositions or certain verbs.

• Gerund after prepositions: "I look forward to meeting you."
• Infinitive with certain verbs: "I plan to travel next summer."

Noun Clauses vs Gerund Clauses