Noun Complements in English

A noun complement is a phrase or clause that follows a noun and gives information closely connected to its meaning.

For example:

• the need for change
• the belief that he is innocent
• her decision to leave

The words after need, belief, and decision make the meaning of those nouns more specific. Noun complements are especially common with abstract nouns such as idea, belief, fact, possibility, decision, need, hope, and reason.

What Is a Noun Complement?

A noun complement gives information that helps complete or specify the meaning of a noun.

In the possibility of rain, possibility is the head noun and of rain is its complement. The complement tells us what the possibility concerns.

In the belief that everyone is equal, belief is the head noun and that everyone is equal gives the content of the belief.

Noun complements normally come after the nouns they complement:

Noun + Complement

Examples include the need for change, her knowledge of English, the fact that he apologized, and their decision to leave.

The noun and its complement together form part of a noun phrase. For example, the possibility of rain can be the subject in The possibility of rain worried us or the object in We discussed the possibility of rain.

Forms of Noun Complements

Noun complements commonly appear as prepositional phrases, that-clauses, whether-clauses, and to-infinitive clauses.

When a clause complements a noun, it can be called a noun complement clause. For example, that she was right is a noun complement clause in the belief that she was right.

Prepositional Phrases as Noun Complements

Many nouns are followed by prepositional phrases that complete or specify their meaning:

• the need for change
• her knowledge of English
• his interest in science
• their objection to the proposal
• the reason for the delay
• the possibility of rain

Different nouns naturally occur with different prepositions. Common patterns include:

• noun + of: knowledge of, fear of, possibility of, importance of
• noun + for: need for, reason for, demand for, request for
• noun + in: interest in, increase in, difficulty in
• noun + to: objection to, solution to, response to

The complement may also contain an -ing form after the preposition:

• the possibility of winning
• her fear of flying
• the importance of practising regularly

When a verb follows a preposition, the -ing form is normally used. Because different nouns take different prepositions, these combinations are best learned together.

That-Clauses as Noun Complements

A that-clause can give the content of a noun:

• the belief that everyone is equal
• the fact that the door was open
• the idea that we should leave early
• the possibility that the plan may fail
• the claim that the product is safe

In the belief that everyone is equal, the clause tells us what the belief is. Similarly, that the door was open gives the content of fact in the fact that the door was open.

This structure is common after nouns such as assumption, belief, claim, fact, hope, idea, news, possibility, and suggestion.

A that-clause after a noun is different from a that-clause after a verb:

• She believes that he is innocent.
• her belief that he is innocent

In the first example, the clause follows the verb believes. In the second, it complements the noun belief.

Whether-Clauses as Noun Complements

Some nouns can be followed by a whether-clause, especially when the noun expresses a question, doubt, choice, or uncertainty.

Examples include:

• the question whether we should continue
• doubt whether the plan will work
• uncertainty whether the changes will help

The whether-clause gives the question or uncertainty connected with the noun.

In the question whether we should continue, the clause whether we should continue tells us what the question is.

To-Infinitive Clauses as Noun Complements

Some nouns can be followed by a to-infinitive clause:

• her decision to resign
• his attempt to escape
• their plan to expand the business
• our ability to solve the problem
• the opportunity to study abroad

In her decision to resign, to resign tells us what she decided to do.

This pattern commonly occurs with nouns such as ability, attempt, decision, desire, opportunity, plan, promise, refusal, and willingness. Not every noun can naturally take a to-infinitive complement, so the correct pattern depends on the particular noun.

Noun Complements vs. Modifiers

A phrase or clause that comes after a noun is not automatically a noun complement. Some words after a noun are modifiers instead.

A noun complement is closely connected to the meaning of the noun:

• the need for more staff
• the belief that she was right
• the decision to leave

A modifier adds descriptive or identifying information:

• the house on the corner
• the student with the red bag
• the woman who called yesterday

A modifier that comes after a noun is often called a postmodifier.

The difference is especially important with clauses:

• the idea that we should leave
• the idea that surprised everyone

In the idea that we should leave, the clause gives the content of the idea, so it is a noun complement clause.

In the idea that surprised everyone, the clause tells us which idea is meant. It is a relative clause modifying idea.

The same distinction appears in:

• the claim that the product is safe
• the claim that appeared in the newspaper

The first clause tells us what the claim says. The second identifies the claim.

Prepositional phrases can also have different functions. In the need for change, for change is closely connected with the meaning of need. In the book on the table, on the table simply tells us which book is meant.

This is why position alone cannot tell us whether something is a complement or a modifier.

Noun Complement Clauses vs. Relative Clauses

Noun complement clauses and relative clauses can look similar because both can come after a noun, but they do different jobs.

A noun complement clause gives the content or meaning associated with the noun:

• the belief that everyone is equal
• the idea that we should leave
• the news that she had won

A relative clause describes or identifies the noun:

• the belief that changed his life
• the idea that surprised everyone
• the news that shocked us

Compare the idea that we should leave with the idea that surprised everyone. In the first expression, that we should leave tells us what the idea is, so it is a noun complement clause. In the second, that surprised everyone describes the idea, so it is a relative clause.

There is also an important structural difference. In a relative clause, the relative word has a role inside the clause. In the book that I bought, that refers back to the book: I bought the book.

In a noun complement clause such as the fact that he lied, that does not replace fact inside the clause. He lied is already complete; the clause tells us what the fact is.

How to Identify a Noun Complement

First find the head noun. Then look at the phrase or clause that follows it and ask how it relates to the noun.

In Her decision to study abroad surprised us, decision is the head noun and to study abroad tells us what she decided to do. It is therefore a noun complement.

In The fact that he lied shocked everyone, fact is the head noun and that he lied gives the content of the fact.

In There is a need for more teachers, for more teachers tells us what the need is for.

A useful way to identify a noun complement is to ask whether the phrase or clause completes or specifies the meaning of the noun, or whether it simply describes or identifies the noun.

Not every phrase or clause after a noun is a complement, so the relationship with the head noun is more important than position alone.

Common Mistakes with Noun Complements

One common mistake is choosing the wrong preposition:

• the reason of the delay ✗
• the reason for the delay ✓

Many nouns are associated with particular prepositions, so the noun and preposition often need to be learned together.

A that-clause normally follows nouns such as belief directly:

• the belief about that he was innocent ✗
• the belief that he was innocent ✓

Another common mistake is using the base form of a verb after a preposition:

• the possibility of win ✗
• the possibility of winning ✓

When a verb follows a preposition, the -ing form is normally required.

Learners may also choose a complement pattern that is not natural with a particular noun:

• her decision of leaving ✗
• her decision to leave ✓

The noun decision normally takes a to-infinitive when we say what someone decided to do.

Another common problem is confusing a noun complement with a modifier or relative clause:

• the idea that we should leave → noun complement
• the idea that surprised everyone → relative clause

The first clause gives the content of the idea. The second describes or identifies the idea.

Noun Complement Exercises

Identify the noun complement or choose the correct form.

1. In the possibility of rain, identify the head noun and its complement.
2. In the belief that he was innocent, identify the head noun and its complement.
3. In her decision to resign, identify the head noun and its complement.
4. Choose: the reason for the delay / the reason of the delay
5. Choose: her decision to leave / her decision of leave
6. Choose: the possibility of winning / the possibility of win
7. Complete: the need ___ more information
8. Complete: his interest ___ English grammar
9. Complete: the question ___ we should continue
10. Is the bold part a noun complement or a modifier?
    the idea that we should wait
11. Is the bold part a noun complement or a modifier?
    the idea that surprised everyone
12. Is the bold part a noun complement or a modifier?
    the book on the table
13. Is the bold part a noun complement or a modifier?
    the need for more time
14. Is the bold clause a noun complement or a relative clause?
    the claim that the product was safe
15. Is the bold clause a noun complement or a relative clause?
    the claim that appeared in the newspaper

Answers

1. possibility = head noun; of rain = noun complement
2. belief = head noun; that he was innocent = noun complement
3. decision = head noun; to resign = noun complement
4. the reason for the delay
5. her decision to leave
6. the possibility of winning
7. for
8. in
9. whether
10. noun complement
11. modifier; more specifically, a relative clause
12. modifier
13. noun complement
14. noun complement
15. relative clause

FAQs About Noun Complements

What is a noun complement?

A noun complement is a phrase or clause that follows a noun and gives information closely connected to its meaning, as in the need for change or the belief that she was right.

What forms can noun complements take?

Common forms include prepositional phrases, that-clauses, whether-clauses, and to-infinitive clauses.

What is a noun complement clause?

A noun complement clause is a clause that complements a noun. For example, that we should leave is a noun complement clause in the idea that we should leave.

What is the difference between a noun complement and a modifier?

A noun complement helps complete or specify the meaning of a noun, while a modifier adds descriptive or identifying information. In the need for help, for help is a complement. In the man with glasses, with glasses is a modifier.

What is the difference between a noun complement clause and a relative clause?

A noun complement clause gives the content or meaning associated with a noun, as in the belief that she was right. A relative clause describes or identifies the noun, as in the belief that changed his life.

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