What kind of clause is the underlined part of the sentence given below?
At the chemist’s counter, the old man asked if the new tablets had to be taken before meals.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Noun clause
The man asked what? He asked “if the new tablets had to be taken before meals”. Here if means whether, and the clause reports a yes-or-no question.
| Clause | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Adverb clause | an adverb clause with “if” gives a condition; this clause tells what the man asked | If you hurry, you will catch the bus. |
| (2) Adjective clause | describes a noun that comes just before it; this clause comes after the verb “asked” | The man who runs the chemist’s shop is my uncle. |
| (3) Principal clause | the main clause; it makes full sense on its own | The shop stays open till the last customer leaves. |
| (4) Noun clause (answer) | does the work of a noun; it can be the object of a verb | Ask the conductor if this bus goes to Howrah. |