Noun Clauses

Introduction
• A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb.
e.g. He ran.
• A phrase is a group of words that does not contain a subject
and a verb.
e.g. on the table, under the tree
• An independent clause is a complete sentence. It contains
the main the subject and verb of a sentence. It can stand
alone.
e.g. I was late to work.
• A dependent clause is not a complete sentence.
It cannot stand alone.
e.g. When we arrived in class
Noun Clauses
• A noun clause is a dependent clause that
functions as a noun in a sentence. It is used
as a subject, an object of a verb, an object of
a preposition, and a complement.
Examples:
Subject
That Ahmad can fly is unbelievable.
The story is unbelievable.

Object of a verb
•People once believed that the world was flat.
•They believed the story.
Object of a preposition
I listened to what he said.
I listened to the story.

Complement
A major concern is how fast these changes are
happening.
A major concern is the fast changes.
Noun Clauses Beginning with a
Question Word
• Information questions can be used as
noun clauses. Questions words such as
what, when, why, … are used to begin
such clauses. The subject precedes the
verb like in statements. Auxiliary verbs
added to form the questions are not used
in forming noun clauses.
 I don’t know where
Where does she live?
she lives.

I couldn’t hear what

What did he say?
he said.

How much will you She wants to know

make? how much I’ll make.

She wondered how

How old is Salma?
old Salma is.
 Do you know what
What time is it?
time it is?

I don’t know what time

What time is it?
it is.

Do you remember
Where is the lecture?
where the lecture is?

I am not sure where the

Where is the lecture?
lecture is.
What did she say? What she said surprised
me.

When do they arrive? Do you know when

they arrive?

Whose pen is this? Do you know whose

pen this is?

Which one do you Can you tell me which

want? one you want?
S V S V The word order is the
Who lives there? I don’t know who same in both the
lives there. question and the
Who is at the door? I wonder who is at noun clause because
the door. who is the subject in
both.
V S Here those men is
Who are those men? I don’t know who the subject of the
S V question, so it is
those men are. placed in the front of
the verb be in the
noun clause.
What did she say? What she said A noun clause
What should they surprised me. subject takes a
do? S singular verb.
What they should do
V
is obvious.
Noun Clauses with if / whether
• Yes/no questions can be used as noun
clauses. If / whether are used to begin
such clauses. The subject must come
before the verb. Auxiliary verbs added
to form the questions are not used in
forming noun clauses
Noun Clauses with if / whether

• If is used in both conversational and formal

English. It implies that there is a yes/no

answer.

• Whether is more common in formal

English. It implies choice among
alternatives.
Does he need I wonder if he needs help.
help? I wonder whether he needs
help.

I wonder if she will come or

not.
I don’t know whether she will
come.
Will she
I wonder whether or not she
come?
will come.
I wonder whether she will
come or not.
Question Words followed by
Infinitives
• Question words may be followed by an
infinitive.
• I don’t know what I should do.
• I don’t know what to do.

• Jim told us where we could find it.

• Jim told us where to find it.

• Notice that the meaning expressed by the

infinitive is either should or can/could.
Noun Clauses Beginning with
That
• Using that in sentences such as the following is more
common in formal writing than in everyday spoken
English i.e. it doesn’t have to be included and it is often
omitted in speaking.
• We hope something.
• We hope (that) Nora will bring us donuts again this morning.

• Something is expected by all of us.

• That Maria had a great vacation is expected by all of us.
Verb + That-Clause
•(a) I think that Bob will come.
•(b) I think Bob will come.
•In (a): that Bob will come is a noun clause. It is used as the object of
the verb think.
•See the list below for verbs commonly followed by a that- clause.
•agree that feel that believe that find out that
•decide that forget that discover that hear that
•explain that hope that know that remember that
•learn that say that notice that tell someone that
•promise that think that read that understand that
Person + Be + Adjective+ That-
Clause
•(c) Jan is happy (that) Bob called.
•That-clauses commonly follow certain adjectives, such as
happy in (c), when the subject refers to a person (or
persons).
•See the list below.
•I’m afraid that* Al is certain that
•I’m amazed that Al is confident that
•I'm angry that Al is disappointed that
•I’m aware that Al is glad that
Person + Be + Adjective+ That-
Clause
•We’re happy that Jan is sorry that
•We’re pleased that Jan is sure that
•We’re proud that Jan is surprised that
•We’re relieved that Jan is worried that
It + Be + Adjective + That-
Clause
•(d) It is clear (that) Ann likes her new job.
That-clauses commonly follow adjectives in sentences that
begin with it + be, as in (d).
•See the list below.
It's amazing that It's interesting that It’s obvious
that It’s true that It’s clear that It's likely that It’s
possible that It’s undeniable that It’s good that It's
lucky that It's strange that It’s well/known that
It’s important that It's nice that It’s surprising that
It’s wonderful that
That-Clause Used as a Subject
•(e) That Ann likes her new job is clear. It is possible but
uncommon for that-clauses to be used as the subject of a
sentence, as in (e).
• The word that is not omitted when the that-clause is
used as a subject.
•( f ) The fact (that) Ann likes her new job is clear.
•(g) It is a fact (that) Ann likes her new job.
•More often, a that-clause in the subject position begins
with the fact that, as in ( f ), or is introduced by it is a fact,
as in (g).
Exercise 26, p. 254.
•Sample answers:
•2. It’s too bad that Tim hasn’t been able to make any
friends, or That Tim hasn’t been able to make any friends is
too bad.
•3. It’s a fact that the earth revolves around the sun. OR
That the earth revolves around the sun is a fact.
• 4. It’s true that exercise can reduce heart disease, or That
exercise can reduce heart disease is true.
•5. It’s clear that drug abuse can ruin one’s health, or That
drug abuse can ruin one’s health is clear.
• 6. It’s unfortunate that some women do not earn equal
pay for equal work, or That some women do not earn
equal pay for equal work is unfortunate.

• 7. it’s surprising that Irene, who is an excellent student,

failed her entrance examination, or That Irene, who is an
excellent student, failed her entrance examination is
surprising.

• 8. It’s a well-known fact that English is the principal

language of business throughout much of the world. OR
That English is the principal language of business
throughout much of the world is a well- known fact.
•Exercise 28, p. 255
•2. The fact that Rosa didn’t come made me angry.
•3. The fact that many people in the world live in
intolerable poverty must concern all of us.
•4. I was not aware of the fact that I was supposed
to bring my passport to the exam for identification.
•5. Due to the fact that the people of the town
were given no warning of the approaching tornado,
there were many casualties.
•Exercise 29, p. 255.
•2. The fact that traffic is getting worse every year
is undeniable.
•3. The fact that the city has no funds for the
project is unfortunate.
•4. The fact that the two leaders don’t respect each
other is obvious.
•5. The fact that there were no injuries from the car
accident is a miracle.
Quoted speech
Quoted speech refers to reproducing words
exactly as they were originally spoken i.e. the
exact words that a person has used to state
something.
- Quoted speech appears between quotation
marks. In addition, quotations are preceded or
followed by a comma. We begin quotations with
verbs such as say, tell, ask, wonder, etc.
Example:
Susan said, “Chris is at work.”
“Chris is at work,” Susan said
Quoted speech
• It is important to use quotation marks correctly.

• My dog said Mary needs a new collar.

•If the punctuation is incorrect, the dog might appear to be

speaking:
•INCORRECT: My dog said, “Mary needs a new collar.”

•
•CORRECT: “My dog,” said Mary, “needs a new collar.”
Quoting One Sentence
•(a) She said, “My brother is a student.”
Use a comma after she said. Capitalize the first word of the
quoted sentence. Put the final quotation marks outside the
period at the end of the sentence.

•(b) “My brother is a student,” she said.

Use a comma, not a period, at the end of the quoted sentence
when it precedes she said.

•(c) “My brother,” she said, “is a student.”

If the quoted sentence is divided by she said, use a comma after
the first part of the quote. Do not capitalize the first word after
she said.
Quoting More Than One
Sentence
• (d) “My brother is a student. He is attending a
university,” she said.
Quotation marks are placed at the beginning and end of
the complete quote. Notice: There are no quotation marks
after student.

• (e) “My brother is a student,” she said. “He is attending a

university.”
Since she said comes between two quoted sentences, the
second sentence begins with quotation marks and a capital
letter.
Quoting a Question or an
Exclamation
• (f) She asked, “When will you be here?”
The question mark is inside the closing quotation marks.

• (g) “When will you be here?” she asked.

Since a question mark is used, no comma is used before
she asked.

• (h) She said, “Watch out!”

The exclamation point is inside the closing quotation
marks.
Quoted speech
• (i) “My brother is a student,” said Anna.
• “My brother,” said Anna, “is a student.”
The noun subject (Anna) follows said. A noun subject
often follows the verb when the subject and verb come
in the middle or at the end of a quoted sentence.

• Note: A pronoun subject almost always precedes the

verb.
• “My brother is a student,” she said.

• Very rare: "My brother is a student," said she.

Quoted speech
• (j) “Let’s leave,” whispered Dave.
• (k) “Please help me,” begged the unfortunate
man.
• (l) “Well,” Jack began, “it’s a long story.”
• Say and ask are the most commonly used quote
verbs.
• Some others: add, agree, announce, answer,
beg, begin, comment, complain, confess,
continue, explain, inquire, promise, remark, reply,
respond, shout, suggest, whisper.
•Exercise 33, p. 259.
•1. Henry said, “There is a phone call for you.”
•2. “There is a phone call for you,” he said.
•3. “There is,” said Henry, “a phone call for you.”
•4. “There is a phone call for you. It’s your sister,” said Henry.
•5. “There is a phone call for you,” he said. “It’s your sister.”
•6. I asked him, “Where is the phone?”
•7. “Where is the phone?” she asked.
•8. “Stop the clock!” shouted the referee. “We have an injured player.”
•9. “Who won the game?” asked the spectator.
•10. “I’m going to rest for the next three hours,” she said. “I don’t want
to be disturbed.” “That’s fine,”
•I replied. “You get some rest. I’ll make sure no one disturbs you.”
• Exercise 34, p. 259.
When the police officer came over to my car, he
said, “Let me see your driver’s license, please.”
“What’s wrong, Officer?” I asked. “Was I
speeding?”
“No, you weren’t speeding,” he replied. “You went
through a red light at the corner of Fifth Avenue
and Main Street. You almost caused an accident.”
“Did I really do that?” I said. “I didn’t see a red
light.”
Reported Speech: Verb Forms
in Noun Clauses
• Reported speech refers to using a noun clause to
report what someone has said.

• It involves paraphrasing. You tell the same ideas

but with different words. There is no need for
commas or quotation marks. Also, some changes
are required in reported speech.
Quoted Speech vs. Reported
Speech
• Quoted speech represents the actual words and when
they were actually said.
• Reported speech is a more conversational way to explain
what someone else said. Reported speech also uses
tense changes rather than quotation marks.

• Ouoted speech is also called “direct speech.” Reported is also

called “Indirect speech.”

•Quoted Speech Reported Speech

•
•quotation marks no quotation marks
•verbs in real time noun clause used
•no change in tense verbs in past tense
Reported Speech
• If the reporting verb (the main verb of the
sentence, e.g., said) is simple past, the verb in
the noun clause will usually be one of the past
tenses.
Quoted Speech Reported Speech
(a) “I watch TV every day.” She said she watched TV every
day.
(b) “I am watching TV.” She said she was watching TV.
(c) “I have watched TV.” She said she had watched TV.
(d) “I watched TV!” She said she had watched TV.
(e) “I had watched TV.” She said she had watched TV.
(f) “I will watch TV.” She said she would watch TV.
(g) “I am going to watch TV. She said she was going to watch
TV.
(h) “I can watch TV.” She said she could watch TV.
(i) “I may watch TV.” She said she might watch TV.
(i) “I must watch TV.” She said she had to watch TV.
(k) “I have to watch TV.” She said she had to watch TV.
(l) “I should watch TV.” She said she should watch TV.
In (l): should, ought to, and might do not
change.

Quoted Speech Reported Speech

“I should watch TV." She said she should watch

TV.

“I ought to watch TV." She said she ought to watch

TV.

“I might watch TV." She said she might watch TV.

•Changing verbs to past forms in reported speech is
common in both speaking and writing. However,
sometimes in spoken English, no change is made in the
noun clause verb, especially if the speaker is reporting
something immediately or soon after it was said.
(m) Immediate Reporting:
• - What did the teacher just say? I didn’t hear him.
- He said he wants us to read Chapter 6.

• (n) Later Reporting:

• - I didn’t go to class yesterday. Did Mr. Jones give
any assignments?
- Yes. He said he wanted us to read Chapter 6.
• Also, sometimes the present tense is retained
even in formal English when the reported
sentence deals with a general truth or technical or
scientific facts, as in (o).

• (o) “The world is round.”

• She said the world is round.
When the reporting verb is simple present,
present perfect or future, the noun clause verb
is not changed.

Quoted Speech Reported Speech

p) “I watch TV every She says she watches
day.” TV every day.
q) ) “I watch TV every She has said she
day.” watches TV every day.

r) “I watch TV every She will say she

day.” watches TV every day.
•In reported speech, an imperative sentence is changed to an
infinitive. Tell is used instead of say as the reporting verb.

•(s) “Watch TV." - > She told me to watch TV.*

•* Note: Tell is immediately followed by a (pro)noun object,

but say is not:

•He told me he would be late.

• He said he would be late.
•Also possible: He said to me he would be late.
• Exercise 37, p. 262.
• 2. if/whether I needed a pen.
• 3. what I wanted.
• 4. if/whether I was hungry.
• 5. (that) she wanted a sandwich.
• 6. (that) he was going to move to Ohio.
• 7. if/whether I enjoyed my trip.
• 8. what I was talking about.
• 9. if/whether I had seen her grammar book.
• 10. (that) she didn’t want to go.
• 11. if/whether I could help him with his report.
• 12. (that) he might be late.
• 13. that I should work harder.
• 14. she had to go downtown.
• 15. why the sky is blue.
• 16. where everyone was.
• 17. (that) he would come to the meeting.
• 18. if/whether he would be in class tomorrow.
• 19. he thought he would go to the library to study.
• 20. if/whether Omar knew what he was doing.
• 21. if/whether what I had heard was true.
• 22. the sun rises in the east.
• 23. someday we would be in contact with beings from
outer space.
•Exercise 44, p. 266.
•1. Tell the taxi driver where you want to go.
•2. My roommate came into the room and asked me why I wasn’t in class. I
said (that) I was waiting for a telephone call from my family, o r I told him
(that) . . . .
•3. It was my first day at the university, and I was on my way to my first
class. I wondered who else would be in the class and what the teacher
would be like.
•4. He asked me what I intended to do after I graduated.
•5. What a patient tells a doctor is confidential.
•6. What my friend and I did was our secret. We didn’t even tell our parents
what we did. (also possible: had done)
•7. The doctor asked if/whether I felt okay. I told him that I didn’t feel well.
•8. I asked him what kind of movies he liked. He said to me / He told me
that he liked romantic movies.
•9. “Is it true you almost drowned?” my friend asked me. “Yes,” I said. “I’m
really glad to be alive. It was really frightening.”
•10. The fact that I almost drowned makes me very careful about water
safety whenever I go swimming.
•11. I didn’t know where I was supposed to get off the bus, so I asked the
driver where the science museum was. She told me the name of the street.
She said she would tell me when I should get off the bus.
•12. My mother did not live with us. When other children asked me where
my mother was, I told them (that) she was going to come to visit me very
soon.
•13. When I asked the taxi driver to drive faster, he said he would drive
faster if I paid him more. OR When I asked the taxi driver to drive faster, he
said, “I will drive faster if you pay me more.” At that time I didn’t care how
much it would cost, so I told him to go as fast as he could.
•14. My parents told me it is essential to know English if I want to study at an
American university.
• Exercise 40, p. 264.
• 1. was scheduled
• 2. was snowing
• 3. needed
• 4. had applied
• 5. could come
• 6. was going to continue
Using -ever Words
• The following -ever words give the idea of "any.” Each
pair of sentences in the examples has the same meaning.

Whoever
• (a) Whoever wants to come is welcome.
Anyone who wants to come is welcome.
• (b) He makes friends easily with whoever he meets.*
• He makes friends easily with anyone who he meets.
Whatever
• (c) He always says whatever comes into his mind.
• He always says anything that comes into his mind.
Using -ever Words
Whenever
• (d) You may leave whenever you wish.
• You may leave at any time that you wish.

Wherever
• (e) She can go wherever she wants to go.
• She can go anyplace that she wants to go.

However
• (f) The students may dress however they please.
• The students may dress in any way that they please.