Transcript Noun Clauses

Noun Clauses
A clause is a group of words that contain
a subject and a verb. Clauses can take
the place of different parts of speech.
Uses of Noun Clauses
• After some verbs and adjectives
• To include a question in a statement
• To report what someone has said or asked
you are familiar with adjective clauses.
• The man, who looked sleepy, sat down.
• Who looked sleepy is an adjective clause. It is
taking the place of an adjective. An adjective
is used to describe nouns and so do adjective
clauses.
• We could re-write the sentence with an
adjective.
• The sleepy man sat down.
• Similarly, a noun clause can take the place of a
noun. This lesson will explain noun clauses,
give examples of noun clauses, and then
provide several quizzes to practice forming
noun clauses.
* Verbs are often followed by objects. The object is usually
a noun, a noun phrase, or anoun clause.
• I saw a girl. (noun)
• I saw his sister. (noun phrase)
• I know his address. (noun phrase)
• I know where he lives. (noun clause)
* A noun clause has its own subject and verb.
• where he lives
(he is the subject of the noun clause)
(lives is the verb of the noun clause)
* A phrase doesn’t contain a subject and a verb.
There are three basic types of noun clauses.
These types are:
1) noun clauses that start with a question word
(where, how, who, when, why)
2) noun clauses that start with whether or if
3) noun clauses that start with that.
SO, A noun clause can begin with:
• a question word
I know where he lives.
Do you know when they left?
Please tell me what she said.
I wonder why Tom is absent.
• if or whether
Do you know if Eric is at home?
I don’t know whether he is married or not.
• That
I know that the world is round.
Noun clauses can follow certain verbs and adjectives that
express mental activities
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Agree
Believe
Decide
Doubt
Feel
Forget
Guess
Hear
Hope
Imagine
Know
notice
realize
remember
see
show
suppose
think
understand
wonder
say
tell
afraid
angry
aware
certain
clear
convinced
disappointed
glad
happy
pleased
sad
positive
sorry
surprised
sure
worried
1. Noun Clauses that Start with a
Question
• Noun clauses that start with a question are
usually used to answer a question.
The following examples should better explain
this.
• Where does Sadri live?
I don't know where Sadri lives.
"where Sadri lives" is a noun clause. We could
answer this question without a noun clause by
saying the following.
I don't know Sadri's address. The noun phrase,
Sadri's address, replaces with the noun clause,
where Sadri lives.
• What time is it?
I don't know what time it is.
• "what time it is" is a noun clause. We could
answer this question without a noun clause by
saying the following.
I don't know the time. In this case, the noun
phrase, the time, replaces the noun clause,
what time it is.
2. Noun Clauses that Start with
Whether or If
• Noun clauses that start with whether or if are
used to answer yes/no type
questions. Whether and if are usually
interchangeable.
* When a yes/no question is changed to a noun clause,if
is usually used to introduce the clause.
Did Alice go to Chicago?
I wonder if Alice went to Chicago.
Do you know if Eric is at home?
I don’t know if Eric is at home.
* When if introduces a noun clause, the expression or
not frequently comes at the end of the clause.
I don’t know if Eric is at home or not.
* Whether has the same meaning as if.
I don’t know whether Eric is at home.
I don’t know whether Eric is at home or not.
I don’t know whether or not Eric is at home.
(NOT to use for if)
• Does Judy own a Honda?
I don't know if Judy owns a Honda.
"if Judy owns a Honda" is a noun clause. We
could answer this question without a noun
clause by saying the following.
I don't know the answer. In this case, the
noun phrase, the answer, replaces the noun
clause, if Judy owns a Honda.
• Will Sadine be at work on Friday?
I don't know whether Sadine will be at work on
Friday.
• "whether Sadine will be at work on Friday" is a
noun clause. We could answer this question
without a noun clause by saying the following.
I don't know the answer. In this case, the noun
phrase, the answer, replaces the noun clause,
whether Sadine will be at work on Friday.
3. Noun Clauses that Start with That.
• Noun clauses that start with that are used to
answer questions in which person who is
answering is thinking, giving an opinion, or
using a mental activity verb.
• A noun clause can be introduced by the word that.
I think that Mr. Jones is a nice person.
I hope that you can come to the game.
Mary realizes that she should study harder.
I dreamed that I was on top of a mountain.
* The word that is often omitted, especially in speaking.
I believe that everyone should do he or her part.
I believe everyone should do he or her part.
• Common verbs followed by “that-clauses”
admit, agree, assume, believe, conclude, decide,
demonstrate,discover, doubt, dream, fear, feel, figure out, find out,
forget,guess, hear, hope, imagine, indicate, know, learn,
notice,observe, predict, presume, pretend, prove, read, realize,
recall,recognize, regret, remember, reveal, show, suppose,
suspect,teach, think, understand
* It follow expressions with be + adj. or be + past participle.
I am sure that the bus stops here. (that can be omitted)
I’m glad that you’re feeling better today.
I’m sorry that I missed class yesterday.
I was disappointed that the peace conference failed.
* Two very common expressions.
It is true that the world is round.
It is a fact that the world is round.
* Other common expressions followed by “that-clauses”
be afraid that, be amazed that, be angry that, be ashamed that, be aware
that, be certain that, be convinced that, be delighted that, be fortunate that,
be furious that, be happy that, be horrified that, be impressed that, be lucky
that, be pleased that, be positive that, be proud that, be sad that, be
shocked that, be terrified that, be surprised that, be worried that
• Do you know the location of an ATM?
I believe that there is an ATM in the
supermarket.
"that there is an ATM in the supermarket" is a
noun clause.
• Is Dr. Elimelech a good instructor?
I think that Dr. Elimelech is a good instructor.
"that Dr. Elimelech is a good instructor" is a
noun clause. This noun clause could be
omitted by saying the following.
I think so.
Other That Clauses
* It follow expressions with be + adj. or be + past participle.
I am sure that the bus stops here. (that can be omitted)
I’m glad that you’re feeling better today.
I’m sorry that I missed class yesterday.
I was disappointed that the peace conference failed.
* Two very common expressions.
It is true that the world is round.
It is a fact that the world is round.
* Other common expressions followed by “that-clauses”
􀁺 be afraid that, be amazed that, be angry that, be ashamed that, be aware
that, be certain that, be convinced that, be delighted that, be fortunate that, be
furious that, be happy that, be horrified that, be impressed that, be lucky that, be
pleased that, be positive that, be proud that, be sad that, be shocked that, be
terrified that, be surprised that, be worried that
Most of the time, native speakers will
drop the word that. It is perfectably
acceptable to say the following.
• I think that Dr. Elimelech is a good instructor.
OR I think Dr. Elimelech is a good instructor.
• I believe that there is an ATM in the
supermarket.
OR I believe there is an ATM in the
supermarket.
• The words whoever, whatever,
wherever, whichever, whenever and
however have similar meanings to ‘it
doesn’t matter who, what, which etc.,’ it
may be.
• A word of this kind has a double function:
1. it acts as a subject, object or adverb in its
own clause.
2. It also acts as a conjunction joining its
clause to the rest of the sentence.
-ever clauses
1 Whoever (refers to a person)
2 whatever (refers to nouns—discoveries)
3 whenever (refers to “every time that . . . ”)
4 Wherever (refers to places)
5 Whichever
6 However
• Whatever you may say I am not going to
take him back. (= It doesn’t matter what
you say, I won’t take him back.)
• Wherever you go, I shall follow you. (It
doesn’t matter where you go, I shall follow
you.)
• Whoever disobeys the law must be
punished. (It doesn’t matter who disobeys
the law, he/she must be punished.)
• Keep calm, whatever happens.
• However much he eats, he never gets fat.
These words are also used to suggest
something not definitely known.
• I shall come whenever I can slip away.
• We shall send whoever is available.
• You will have to be content with whatever
you can get.
• We can think about the 'W' -ever words semantically as the
'W' word + the quantifier 'any'. The trick to understanding
these terms is to realise that they apply to any single one of
the referents, and at the same time refer to all of the
referents.
• Whatever - Any thing (This could also be every thing)
• Whenever - Any time (This could also be 'every time')
• Wherever - Any 'where' (Anywhere or everywhere).
• Whoever - Anyone (Any person or every person, or
sometimes used to refer to a person unknown to the speaker)
• Whichever - Any 'which' (Choice between a group or set).
• However - Any 'way' (In any manner or way, regardless of
how).
Examples of Whatever
* Whatever you do, pay attention to the road when you are
driving. (You can do anything as long as you pay attention to
the road)
• They say you can buy whatever you desire in Harrods, as long
as you have the money. (You can buy anything in Harrods, if
you have enough money)
• The student was so intelligent that whatever we taught, she
understood. (She understood everything that she was taught)
• The criminal said he would do whatever he could in order to
get out of jail. (He would do everything or anything he could
to get out of jail)
Examples of Whenever
• Whenever the neighbors flush the toilet, water
comes through our ceiling. (Every time they flush the
toilet it happens)
• Whenever she calls, the landlord is busy. (Every time
she calls the landlord, he/she is busy)
• Call me whenever you need something. (Call me any
time you need something)
• Whenever he comes home, he acts like a hungry
dog. (Ever time he comes home, she is like that)
• Whenever I go to sleep early, I have extraordinary
dreams. (Every time I go to sleep early, I have these
dreams)
Examples of Wherever
• Wherever you go in the world, remember where you
came from and where you are going. (Anywhere you
go in the world, remember those things)
• With a good education in English, wherever you go,
you will have a good time. (If you are taught well, you
will have a good time anywhere)
• Wherever we put the TV in the room, the reception
is bad. (Anywhere we put the TV the reception is
bad)
• You can stick the present that she gave you wherever
you want, just don't let her know if you put it in the
rubbish bin. (You can stick that present anywhere)
Examples of Whoever
• Whoever broke the vase, can you please replace it? (Any
specific person who broke the vase, please replace it)
• Whoever goes to the shop, please don't steal anything. (Any
one or more of the people who will go to the shop, don't steal
anything)
• Whoever it was that knocked on the door last night must have
been drunk, because they dropped twenty dollars as they ran
away. (The unknown person who knocked on the door
dropped twenty dollars)
• Whoever you just spoke to, she must have some special
powers, because you look like you fell in love. (The unknown
person who you spoke with must have some special powers)
Examples of Whichever
• You can drive whichever of the cars you want. (You can
choose to drive any of the cars)
• Whichever dress I wear tonight, I'm worried that my butt will
look fat. What do you think? (Person is worried that the
person's butt looks fat in any of the selected dresses)
• Whichever road you take to Rome, you will need to drive
carefully. (There are a number of roads to take, and it is
necessary to drive carefully on any one that you take)
• Whichever pizza you ordered for her, it must have had some
very delicious ingredients. (The pizza that was ordered from
those available had some special ingredients)
Examples of However
• You can dress however you like for the party, it's not
formal. (You can dress the way that you want for the
party)
• However much she eats, she never puts on weight.
(It doesn't matter how much she eats, she never gets
fat)
• You can do it however you like, I don't really care as
long as it gets done. (you can do it any way that you
want)
• However rich they may be, it still isn't enough for
them. (It doesn't matter how rich they may be)
Now, answer the followingquestions by forming
noun clauses with your instructor’s help
1. Where is the Multimedia Classroom?
I don't know _____________
2. When is spring break?
I don't know _____________
3. How much will it cost to register for classes
this summer?
I don't know _____________
4. What is the special in the cafeteria?
I don't know _____________
5. Where did Sophorn go?
I don't know
6. How long will it take me to master noun
clauses?
I don't know _____________
7. Is Keila in the Writing Center?
I don't know _____________
8. Does LaTasha have any classes on Friday?
I don't know _____________
9. Can Elizabeth speak French?
I don't know _____________
10. All the students will pass the test.
We hope _____________
11. It might rain this weekend.
Everyone is sad _____________
12. All the students know where the library is.
The teacher assumed _____________
13. Harold will write more noun clause quizzes.
I think _____________
14. Coffee is good for you.
I don't belive _____________
15. Maria used to live in Sweden.
I doubt _____________
THAT or WHAT
1. I wonder if this is ______you are looking for.
2. Our school is quite different from _______ it was
before.
3. Father made a promise ______ if I passed the
examination he would buy me a computer.
4._______ I can’t understand is why he has changed his
mind.
5.___________ the earth is round is known to us all.
16.You can hardly imagine
______when he heard the news .
A. how he was excited
B. how was he excited
C. how excited he was
D. he was how excited
Whether or IF
1. I don’t know _______ I’ll be free
tomorrow.
2. I don’t know _______ I’ll be free
tomorrow or not.
3. The question is ______ this
book is worth writing.
4. It depends on ______ we will
have enough money.
5. ______ they can do it matters
little to us.
6._______ you are not free
tomorrow , I’ll go without you
what,whatever,who,whoever
1._________ was said here must be
kept secret.
2. _______we need is more time.
3._______ made the long distance call
to him is not important.
4._________ beaks the law will be
punished.