Identify the noun clause in the following sentence:
What the guide told us about the old fort surprised even our history teacher.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → What the guide told us about the old fort
Noun clause as the subject:
- A noun clause does the work of a noun. It can be the subject of a verb. Such a clause often begins with what, that or whatever.
- Here the clause is the subject of “surprised”. It runs from “What” to “fort”.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: the guide told us about the old fort — Incorrect. This is only part of the clause. It leaves out the joining word “What”.
Option 2: surprised even our history teacher — Incorrect. This is the verb and object of the main clause. It has no subject of its own.
Option 3: What the guide told us — Incorrect. This is only part of the clause. It leaves out “about the old fort”.