概念：起名词作用的从句叫名词从句。它和名词一样，在句中可充当主语，表语，宾语和同位语。名词从句包括主语从句，表语从句，宾语从句和同位语从句。
名词从句的引导词通常有： 1. 连词 that, whether, if. 2. 连接代词what, whatever, who, whoever, whose, which 3. 连接副词when, where, how, why
I. 主语从句
主语从句在从句中作主语，主语从句可以位于句首，但常见的主语从句多放在句末，句首则用形式主语it。
例如： 1. That the earth is round is true. = It is true that the earth is round.
2. Whether he will come hasn’t been decided. = It hasn’t been decided whether he will come.
注意：连词that, whether在从句中不担任句子成分，只起连接作用，不能省略。并且whether引导主语从句时不能用if代替。 3. Who let out the news remained unknown. = It remained unknown who let out the news.
4. How this happened is still a question. 5. It is not clear when we will start.
6. Why he didn’t come here is not clear to anyone. = It is not clear to anyone why he didn’t come here.
7. Which is right isn’t known to us.
注意：who, which, how, when, where, why在所引导的主语从句中可担任主语，宾语，状语，不能省略。可以用形式主语it引导。
8. What he said at the meeting is important. 9. Whoever leaves the office should tell me.
10. Whenever the Olympic Games will be held in Beijing is not known yet.
注意：who, whom, which, what等可以和ever构成合成词，引导主语从句和宾语从句。此类主语从句不能用it引导，引导词在句中担任句子成分，不能省略。
另外，有的“It …＋主语从句”已成为固定结构。如：
a. It is +名词＋从句 It is a pity that we can’t go.
b. It is ＋形容词＋从句 It is clear that Tom has returned.
c. It is ＋过去分词＋从句 It is said / reported / believed / known …
II. 表语从句
在复合句中用作表语的从句是表语从句。
That’s what we should do. That’s why I want to see you. The reason for my absence was that I was ill.
1. be, seem, look等动词后均可跟表语从句：
My suggestion is that we should go shopping. It seems that it is going to rain.
2. as if, because 也可引导表语从句。
It looks as if it’s going to rain. It was because I got up late.
3. 在非正式文体中，引导表语从句的that可以省略。如：
The trouble is （that）he is ill.
注意：在表语从句中，当reason作主语时，引导词只能用that，不能用because，如：他迟到的原因是因为他没有赶上早班车。 The reason why he was late was that he didn’t catch the early bus.
III. 宾语从句
在复合句中用作宾语的从句是宾语从句
1. 作动词宾语
I don’t know what I was thinking of. I wonder if I might give you a necklace.
I expect （that）I shall be back on Sunday.
在口语中，that引导宾语从句时常常省略。但两个that从句并列时后边的that一般不省略。
若有补语，则宾语从句要放到补语之后，在宾补前用形式宾语it.
He doesn’t want it to be known that he is going away. I consider it necessary that he should do it again.
在think, believe, suppose, expect等动词之后，宾语从句中谓语的否定常转移到主句的谓语上。如：
I don’t think he will see you. I don’t believe he will go.
We don’t expect he is coming. I don’t think he can do it, can he?
注：此种用法主句的主语必须是第一人称I或we. 而且它的反意疑问句的助动词由从句的助动词来定。
I don’t think he can do it, can he? I don’t think you are right, are you?
在suggest, insist, demand, order, require 等表示建议，命令，要求的动词后，从句的谓语动词要用虚拟语气。如：
I insisted that he （should）do it at once. She suggested that the work （should）be finished at once.
2. 作介词宾语 The teacher is satisfied with what I said.
3. 作afraid, glad, certain, sure等形容词的宾语。 I’m afraid that I will be late. I’m glad that you passed the exam.
IV. 同位语从句
如果担任同位语的是个句子，则这个句子是同位语从句。同位语从句表示先行名词的具体内容，能跟同位语从句的名词常见的有news, idea, belief, doubt, fact, rumour, question, order, hope, thought, reply, problem, reason等。
引导同位语从句常用连词that，它在句中不担任句子成分，没有词意。除that外，还有whether, when, where, who, what, which, why, how等。可以引导同位语从句。 The rumour that there will be an earthquake soon spread all over the area. They have no hope that he will recover. I have no idea where they have gone.
同位语从句与先行名词有时也可以分开。 Suddenly the thought came to me that he could go blind.
注：同位语从句与定语从句的区别：
（1）同位语从句的先行名词极为有限，而定语从句的先行词则不计其数。
（2）引导同位语从句的连词that在句中不担任句子成分，而引导定语从句的that则在从句中作主语，宾语等。引导同位语从句的wh一词多具有疑问意义，而引导定语从句的wh一词则没有疑问意义。
（3）同位语从句与先行名词是等同关系，一个具体，一个抽象，两者常可以转述为主表关系，而定语从句与先行词是修饰与被修饰关系。比较： The news that our team won the game is true. （________）
The news is that our team won the game. （_______） The news that you have heard isn’t true. （_______）
Whether与if在名词从句中的用法
Whether可以用于所有的名词从句中，if只用于宾语从句中，两者都不能省略。
1. 在引导宾语从句（动词宾语从句）时，whether和if可以互换，但如果出现or not则只能用whether.
I don’t know whether / if I can come. = I don’t know whether I can come or not.
2. 介词的宾语从句只能用whether引导。 We worried about whether he was in good health or not.
3. 引导主语从句，表语从句，同位语从句时都用whether. The question is whether you can do it yourself. （_____）
Whether they will win is all the same to me. （_____）
The question whether he should come himself or send another one hasn’t been decided. （____）
4. 和动词不定式连接时，只能用whether. I haven’t decided whether to go there or not.
随堂练习
Ⅰ.用适当连词填空
1. ________ you need is more practice. 2. ________ we need more equipment is quite obvious.
3. I have no idea _________ we want to go next. 4. The fact is ________ we are behind the other groups.
5.That is ______ we are firmly against. 6. That is _______ the key lies.
7.________ is troubling me is ____ 8. I don’t have much experience in this kind of work.
1. The teacher asked the students ________ they had understood the text. 9. He told us all ______ he knew.
Ⅱ. Choose the right word to the following sentences.
1. The news _______ he was kidnapped surprised us greatly. A. what B. that C. why D. when
2. Nantong is no longer ________ used to be ten years ago.
A. how B. what C. that D. where
3. His suggestion ________ the meeting be delayed was turned down.
A. which B. that C. / D. it
4. The thought ______ he might fail in the exam worried him.
A. when B. which C. what D. that
5. Tom is greatly different from ________ he was when he was young.
A. what B. how C. where D. that
6. He often asked me the question ______ the work was worth doing.
A. whether B. if C. that D. when
7. Father made a promise ______ I passed the examination he would buy me a bike.
A. that B. if C. whether D. that if
8. The question ________ we need it has not yet been considered.
A. if B. whether C. that D. which
9. I’ve come here to find someone, but I’m not sure ______ is the one I want to find.
A. whatever B. whoever C. who D. whom
10. ________ breaks the law should be punished.
A. Anyone B. Who C. Whoever D. Whatever
11. It was quite noisy there and I couldn’t hear________.
A. how he said B. that he said C. what he said D. anything which he said
12. Can you tell me ______ the railway station?
A. how I can get to B. how can I get to C. where I can get to D. where can I get to
Ⅲ. Translate the following sentences into English.
1. 他姐姐是个歌星,这大家都知道.
2. 他在门口告诉我们的事真令人兴奋.
3. 她无论说什么都不能感动我们.
4. 下周日是否去野炊取决于那天是否天好.
5. 请告诉我你是怎么做这道难题的.
Keys:
Ⅰ1.What;2.That;3.where;4.that;5.what;6.where;7.What;8.whether;9.what
Ⅱ1.B;2.B;3.B;4.D;5.A;6.A;7.D;8.B;9.C;10.C;11.C;12.A
Ⅲ1.That his sister is a singing star is known to us all. 2.What he told us at the gate was really exciting. 3.Wharever she said couldn’t move us. 4.Whether we’ll go for a picnic next Sunday depends on whether it will be fine or not. 5.Please tell me how you worked out the difficult problem.
名词性从句专练、
1． She is a rich woman is known to all in the city. A. / B. That C. Who D. Because
2. My cousin asked me I could lend him the Chinese novel.
A. whether B. / C. that D. which
3. The difficulty lies in we have no money.
A. that B. which C. the fact D. the fact that
4. The fact he was successful proves his ability. A. that B. what C. which D. why
5.“What are you doing here, Joan?” Robert asked.
A. Robert asked Joan: what she is doing there. B. Robert asked Joan what she was doing there.
C. Robert asked her what was she doing there. D. Robert asked Joan she was doing what there.
6. Is a fact that English is being accepted as an international language.
A. There B. This C. That D. It
7.They have no idea at all .
where has he gone B. which place he has gone C. where he has gone D. where did he go
8. The reason he has been such a success he never gives up.
A. is because B. is what C. is that D. is
9. Mathematics is the base of all other sciences.
A. This is because B. This is that C. It is that D. Because
10. China is becoming stronger and stronger. It is no longer .
A. what it used to be B. what it was used to being
C. what it used to being D. what it was used to be
11. The reason why he hasn’t come is .
A. because his mother is ill B. because of his mother’s being ill
C. that his mother is ill D. for his mother is ill
12. The man asked .
A. what was going on there B. what it was going on there
C. what’s going on there D. what going on there
13. leaves the room last ought to turn off the light.
A. Anyone B. The person C. Whoever D. Who
14. It was possible, but not probable manager of the firm.
A. he will be elected B. he must be elected
C.that he would be elected D. that he must be elected
15.It’s uncertain the experiment is worth doing. A. if B. that C. whether D. how
16. I have will be yours sooner or later.
No matter what B. No matter whatever C. Whatever D. That
17.I’ll eat you give me.
A. no matter what B. no matter whatever C. whatever D. what
18. I can’t understand is he wants to change his mind.
That; that B. Which; what C. What; what D. What; why
19.I wonder how much .
A. cost these shoes B. do these shoes cost
C. these shoes cost D. are these shoes cost
20. I will accept the gift is none of your business.
A. If B. Whether C. What D. Which
21.We could see the tower clearly from we were standing.
where B. there C. which D. it
22. there is life on another planet is almost impossible.
A. How B. That C. Why D. Whether
23.The demand the workers ask for higher wages seemed reasonable.
A. what B. that C. which D. when
24. was a well-known fact.
That their team was weak B. That their team being weak
C. Their team was weak D. If their team was weak
25.Has it been announced the planes are to take off?
A. when B. what C. where D. who
26.Nobody knew .
A. where he comes B. where he was from
C. where he is from D. where does he come from
27.Father asked .
A. what was wrong with me B. what’s wrong with me
C. what wrong was with me D. what wrong is with me
28.The trouble is we are short of tools.
A. what B. that C. how D. why that
29.It is possible he misunderstood ____ I said.
A. that; that B. what; what C. what; that D. that; what
30.The fact he is an orphan is well known. A. what B. that C. which D. /
31. I was free that evening.
A. It happened to B. It happened that C. That happened D. It was happened that
32. in the newspaper that the Japanese Minister will arrive next Monday.
A. It says B. It is said C. It has said D. He is said
33.Comrade Wang is to give us a talk on he saw and heard in Britain.
A. what B. all what C. that D. which
34.The problem is will go.
A. that B. that who C. who D. whoever
35. nothing to do with us.
A. What he did is B. What he has done C. What did he do D. What he has done has
36.The reason is I missed the bus. A. that B. when C. why D. what
37.That is we were absent last time. A. that B. when C. why D. what
38. is announced, all the schools will reopen soon.
A. It B. That C. As D. When
39. is announced that all the schools will reopen soon.
A. It B. That C. Which D. As
40.She will give needs help a warm support. A. what B. which C. whoever D. whom
41. she needs is to have a good rest.
A. That B. What C. Whoever D. The things what
42.They couldn’t understand I refused. A. what B. why C. that D. where
43. I am anxious to know is we can visit the Museum.
What; that B. What; when C. That; where D. Where; when
44. was lying.
Those who told you that B. Anyone told you C. Whoever told you D. Whoever told you that
45.A man’s worth lies not so much in he has as in he is.
A. that; what B. what; what C. that; that D. what ; that
46.. shall finish the work before May Day is possible.
A. What we B. That we C. Because we D. We
47..I have not found my bike yet; in fact, I could have done with it I’m not sure.
A. where B. whether C. how D. what
48. It is doubtful ____ he knows it or not. A. whether B. what C. when D. that
49. It was ____ he said ____ disappointed me most. A. what, that B. that, that C. what, what D. that, what
50. ---I rang you at about ten, but there was no reply. ---Oh, that was probably ____ I was seeing the doctor.
A. when B. why C. what D. that
The answers:
1-5 BADAB 6-10 DCCAA 11-15 CACCC 16-20 CCDCB
21-25 ABBAA 26-30 BABDB 31-35 BBACD 36-40 ACCAC
41-46 BBBDB 46- 50 BBAAA