Noun Clauses as Subjects and Objects

• Noun clauses function as subjects or objects in advanced business discourse, allowing you to highlight specific concerns, variables, or outcomes. They are introduced by markers such as the fact that, whether, what, and how.
• Marker
• Function
• Example in Business Context
• What
• Subject clause highlighting a thing or issue
• What concerns our board in Boston is rising overhead.
• Whether
• Object clause expressing an alternative or doubt
• Executives must evaluate whether we should integrate vertically.
• The fact that
• Subject or object clause stating a reality
• The fact that Seattle operations lag behind cannot be ignored.
• Remember
• Use 'what' when you want to emphasize a specific action, problem, or factor as the subject.
• Use 'whether' or 'if' (though 'whether' is preferred in formal C1/C2 writing) to present a binary choice or decision point.
• Use 'the fact that' to introduce an undisputed premise that acts as a subject or object.
• Ensure the noun clause takes a singular verb when it acts as the subject of a sentence.
• Examples
• What worried Sarah in Chicago was whether the vendor could scale.
• We must consider how outsourcing affects our core versus non-core activities.
• The fact that Austin office expenses surged surprised the finance director.
• Common mistakes
• What we need is that we upgrade our software.
• What we need is to upgrade our software.
• The management discussed about whether we should buy or make.
• The management discussed whether we should buy or make.

Complete the sentences

• ___ (matter) to the executive committee in New York is whether the third-party supplier can meet our deadlines. (matter) ____
• Our main dilemma revolves around ___ (decide) we should build an in-house capability. (decide) ____
• The board in London focused on ___ (how) the new logistics framework would reduce total cost of ownership. (how) ____
• ___ (fact) that licensing deals require careful IP protection is undeniable. (fact) ____
• What perplexed the COO in Bristol was ___ (whether) we ought to form a joint venture or a strategic alliance. (whether) ____
• ___ (what) drove our decision in Manchester was the need for a robust white-label product. (what) ____

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