Here's a breakdown:
Noun Clause as Subject:
* What you said surprised me.
* Whether or not she will come is unknown.
* That he is honest is evident.
In these examples, the noun clause (in bold) acts as the subject of the sentence, performing the action of the verb.
Noun Clause as Direct Object:
* I know that she is happy.
* She explained why she was late.
* We discussed what to do next.
Here, the noun clause (in bold) receives the action of the verb, acting as the direct object.
Remember, a noun clause is a group of words that functions as a noun. It typically starts with words like:
* that
* whether
* who
* what
* why
* how
So, next time you encounter a sentence with a group of words acting like a noun, see if it fits the role of the subject or direct object. You might just discover a noun clause in disguise!