Identify the noun clause in the following sentence:
After the new mall opened, the old shopkeeper wondered whether his regular customers would still come to him.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → whether his regular customers would still come to him
Noun clause as the object:
- A noun clause does the work of a noun. After verbs like wonder, ask and know, it is often the object and may begin with whether.
- Here the clause answers “wondered what?”, so it is the object of “wondered”. It runs from “whether” to the last word, “him”.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: After the new mall opened — Incorrect. This is an adverb clause of time. It tells when the shopkeeper wondered.
Option 3: whether his regular customers would still come — Incorrect. This is only part of the clause. It leaves out “to him”.
Option 4: his regular customers would still come to him — Incorrect. This is only part of the clause. It leaves out the joining word “whether”.