Here's why:
* Noun clauses function as nouns. They act as the subject, object, or complement of a verb. They can answer questions like "Who?", "What?", or "Whom?".
* "Whatever you do be late" is a phrase. It's a collection of words that functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying the verb "be". It tells us *how* something is being done.
Let's break down the phrase:
* "Whatever you do" is a noun clause functioning as the object of the verb "be".
* "be late" is a predicate adjective, describing the state of the subject, which is implied to be "it".
Example:
* "Whatever you do, be late" means "No matter what you do, be late." The entire phrase tells us the circumstances under which the subject should be late.
A noun clause example:
* "What you do is important"
* "What you do" is the noun clause functioning as the subject of the verb "is".