Usually noun clauses begin
with that, what, where, when, who, whom, which, whose, how, why, whether,
etc.
Examples:
He said that he would not come.
We were all curious to
know what he had done.
Nobody knows when the registration
will begin.
We all wanted to find out who the winner was.
Whom they were in contact with on the day of the
robbery is of great
interest to the police.
Jane is not sure which university she
should apply for.
The judges had a hard time
deciding whose painting
was the best.
How the baby fell from the window is a mystery.
They asked the boy why he had hit his
classmate.
Whether you like it or not is not the issue.
Uses of Noun Clauses
n After some verbs and
adjectives
n To include a question in a
statement (embedded questions)
n To report what someone has
said or asked
Noun clauses can follow certain verbs and adjectives that express
mental activities
n Agree notice afraid positive
n Believe realize angry sorry
n Decide remember aware surprised
n Doubt see certain sure
n Feel show clear worried
n Forget suppose convinced
n Guess think disappointed
n Hear understand glad
n Hope wonder happy
n Imagine say pleased
n Know tell sad
To include a question in a statement
I don’t know what time it is.
I wonder how he found out.
To report what someone has said or asked
He said that he would return.
He asked me what I wanted
There are three types of Noun
Clauses:
noun clauses with that
noun clauses with WH-word
noun clauses with if and whether
Noun clauses with THAT can be used with all verbs mentioned except wonder
I think that this book will be interesting.
The word that can often be omitted. However it can not be omitted if it is in
the subject position
The fact that is used as the object of the preposition
We are curious about the fact that she is here today.
Noun clauses with Wh-words
They have statement word order, even when they occur within questions
Wh + subject + verb
I don’t know what he is doing
I wonder how he feels today.
Where I put my book is a mystery.
In conversation, noun
clauses can be replaced by so after
think
hope
believe
suppose
expect
know
Noun clauses with If/whether
are often followed by or not.
They are often used in statements that express uncertainty
Noun clauses after verbs that show importance
or urgency:
advise forbid recommend
ask insist require
beg order suggest
urge request demand
Some expressions that show importance or urgency:
It is advisable
It is essential
It is imperative
It is important
It is necessary
It is urgent
After verbs that show importance or urgency, the base form is used.
Use the subject pronoun before a base form.
For negatives, put not before the base form
It is essential that babies have
stimulation.
I advise that she stay home with her children.
Direct (quoted) Speech vs Indirect (reported) Speech
Direct speech
Indirect speech
Simple present ----------
Present progressive-----------
Simple past---------------------
Present
perfect-----------------
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Simple past
Past progressive
Past perfect
Past perfect
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Direct (quoted) speech
States the exact words a speaker used.
In writing, use quotation marks.
John said, “ I love this class.”
Indirect (reported) speech
Reports what a speaker said without using the exact words. There are no quotation marks.
John said that he loved this class.
The reporting verbs say and tell are usually in the simple past for
both direct and indirect speech.
He said, “It’s great.”
He said it was great
“I’m leaving.”
She said she was leaving
“I made it.”
He said that he had made it.
He said to her, “I’ve never lied.”
he told her that he had never lied
Remember to change pronouns, time and place expressions this
and here in indirect speech to keep the speaker’s original meaning.
Ann told Rick, “I bought this dress here.”
Ann told Rick that she had bought that dress there.
Some Modals change forms can – could may –might will – would have to, must – had to could, might, should, would, ought to, and had better do not change form
“Are you bringing any fruit into the country?”
The customs officer asked the tourists if they were bringing any fruit into
the country.
“Do you have your transcripts with you?”
The registrar asked me if I had my transcripts with me.
“Can you fix my car?”
I asked the mechanic if he could fix my car.
“Did you see the accident?”
The police officer asked me if I had seen the accident.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
My first grade teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up.
Reported commands and requests
Commands and requests are reported using infinitives, not noun clause
“Bring the book!”
She told me to bring the book.
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