In the sentence “I can’t tell you why I am late”, the part “I am late” is?

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In the sentence “I can’t tell you why I am late”, the part “I am late” is? Answer: Noun clause

In “I can’t tell you why I am late,” the larger clause “why I am late” functions as the object of “tell.” Within it, “I am late” forms the subject-predicate portion of the subordinate noun clause introduced by “why,” so the expected grammatical category is noun clause.

Question context

This question is part of 🗣️ Verbal Ability within the broader 🧠 Aptitude Mastery subject and appears in the PPSC Punjab Public Service Commission preparation collection. Reviewing the answer together with nearby questions helps reinforce the underlying concept and identify how it may appear in competitive exams.