Noun Clauses as Subjects and Objects

• Noun clauses function as subjects or objects in complex sentences. We use words like what, whether, how, and the fact that to introduce them when discussing abstract design leadership challenges.
• Function
• Introducer
• Example
• Subject
• What
• What worries me is whether we have a seat.
• Object
• Whether
• They discussed whether design representation matters.
• Subject
• The fact that
• The fact that board composition lacks designers is alarming.
• Remember
• Use 'what' clauses as subjects to highlight a specific issue or concern.
• Use 'whether' to introduce alternative possibilities or indirect yes/no questions.
• Use 'the fact that' when presenting a known reality as a subject or object.
• Ensure the noun clause takes a singular verb when it acts as the subject of a sentence.
• Examples
• What surprises the executive committee is how little commercial literacy designers demonstrate.
• She questioned whether our strategic voice would ever be heard at the top.
• The fact that corporate governance ignores aesthetics frustrates studio founders in Boston.
• Common mistakes
• What worries me is that we get a seat.
• What worries me is whether we get a seat.

Complete the sentences

• ___ at the boardroom table depends entirely on our financial arguments. (what) ____
• The chief design officer wondered ___ the board pack included the new impact metrics. (whether) ____
• ___ design representation remains absent from corporate governance is troubling. (fact) ____
• We must consider ___ to brief the chair before tomorrow's meeting in Chicago. (how) ____
• ___ keeps studio founders awake at night is board composition. (what) ____
• They debated ___ a non-executive director would support our strategic voice. (whether) ____

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