Noun Clauses

A
NOUN CLAUSE
is a group of words
with a subject
and a verb
WHO WHOM WHEN
WHICH HOW WHERE
IF WHY THAT
WHAT WHETHER

WHOEVER WHEREVER
WHICHEVER HOWEVER
WHOMEVER WHATEVER
WHENEVER
You can recognize a noun clause
by one of the relative pronouns or
adverbs that begin the clause
 A noun clause consists of three
components:

• A relative pronoun or adverb

• A subject

• A verb
Noun clauses function like nouns.
They can be:
subject

subject complement

object

object of prepositions
 Uses of Noun Clauses

• After some verbs and adjectives

• To include a question in a statement

(embedded questions)

• To report what someone has said or asked

Noun clauses can follow certain verbs
and adjectives that express mental
activities

• Agree notice afraid positive

• Believe realize angry sorry
• Decide remember aware surprised
• Doubt see certain sure
• Feel show clear worried
• Forget suppose convinced
• Guess think disappointed
• Hear understand glad
• Hope wonder happy
• Imaginesay pleased
• 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 ---------- Simple past

Present progressive----------- Past progressive

Simple past--------------------- Past perfect

Present perfect----------------- Past perfect

 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.
He said: • He told me (that)
I’ll leave now.” He would leave then.
“I’m going to drive” He was going to drive
“Traffic may be bad” Traffic may be bad
“She might move.” she might move
“He can help.” he could help
“They have to stay.” They had to stay
“You must be careful.” I must be careful
 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
clauses

“Bring the book!”

She told me to bring the book.
The End!